•A Bore Draw When Two Times Zero Equals One
The French have rather an appropriate expression for a football game that ends in a draw – “match nul”. And that just about sums up the general sentiment after France’s opening 0-0 non-thriller against Romania at Euro 2008.
With the Netherlands thrashing World Cup holders Italy 3-0 in the so-called “Group of Death’s” other game, perhaps the most comfort French coach, Raymond Domenech, can take from the result is that at least his team didn’t lose and managed to come away with one point.
“I...
•A Foodie In St Barth - Le Gaïac
Eating out is never exactly a chore in mainland France, and the visitor is in for just as much of a culinary delight on the French Caribbean island of St Barth.
There are over 50 restaurants mentioned in the excellent guide Saint-Barth Tables. It’s available free at the airport and lists all the menus and prices. In addition there are many smaller bars and eateries you might come across on your travels around the island.
Don’t expect too many “local” dishes as apart from fish, just about...
•Boonen Banned From Tour De France
Belgium’s former world cycling champion, Tom Boonen, has been forced out of this year’s Tour de France.
The rider was barred after it was revealed that he had tested positive for cocaine use outside of competition in May.
So drugs are yet again making the headlines of cycling’s annual “jewel in the crown” and it hasn’t even started. It doesn’t get underway until July 5.
There again drugs and cycling seem to be two words that are almost synonymous in a sport that is riddled with doping...
•Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Speaks Out
It’s just what France (and the world) has been waiting for – the real story behind the marriage of the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his third wife Carla.
And that’s exactly what it’s going to get on Thursday – apparently – with the release of a new book “La Véritable Histoire de Carla et Nicolas”.
On the whole since their marriage, Bruni-Sarkozy has remained pretty tight-lipped, gorgeously appearing at her husband’s side on state occasions and uttering the occasional “Hmmmn” and...
•Dati Does U-Turn on Virginity Annulment Marriage
The French justice minister, Rachida Dati, has once again shown that she has a less than a firm grasp of her job by doing a complete volte face in a case that has been making the headlines here in France over the past week.
On Monday Dati asked the public prosecutors office to appeal a court ruling, which had annulled a marriage because the wife had lied about being a virgin.
When the case first came to public attention last week, Dati refused to intervene (she actually supported the decision...
•French Parliament Delivers on Sarkozy's Promise
It's never easy following through on an electoral pledge, and if any politician knows how difficult it is, then it must be the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
So far he has failed miserably on last year's major presidential campaign promise to increase the purchasing power of the average man and woman on the street here in France and kick-start the sluggish economy he inherited.
But Hallelujah on Monday a minor miracle happened, when his plans to overhaul the French constitution - another...
•French Press Call For Domenech's Head After France Exit Euro 2008
In the time honoured tradition of the good old sporting cliché it’s time to break open the thesaurus, cry over the spilled milk and join the rest of the country in mourning France’s humiliating exit from Euro 2008.
On the morning after the night before, the French newspaper headlines are inevitably screaming for the head of the national team’s coach, Raymond Domenech.
Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Italy could have just been the final straw to break the camel’s back as far as Domenech’s future in...
•French Triumph At Cannes But Flop At Eurovision
For the first time in 21 years a French film has scooped top honours for best movie at the Cannes film festival.
“Entre les murs” (The Class) directed by Laurent Cantet won the coveted Palme d’Or on a unanimous decision by the jury.
It was only the fourth time a French production had triumphed since the gaggle of glitterati first started gathering for the annual film festival on the Côte d’Azur in 1946.
The film is a mix of documentary and fiction, following the lives of a class and their...
•Hallelujah For The Remote Control. Zap
It must be hard work being a television addict in the US. Not only are there far too many channels to choose from, but you can turn on the box just about any time of the day or night and be guaranteed to find something that’ll keep you watching – even if you don’t really want to.
Mind you, much of it seems to be regurgitated reruns that weren’t that spectacular first time around. Of the more up-to-date stuff available there’s an unlimited supply of semi-talent shows that come in all shapes and...
•Lyon - There’s No “s” In French
It’s about 450kms from Paris to Lyon (or Lyons if your prefer in English) but forget about the four-and-a-half hour drive and instead save money, time and the environment by taking the high-speed TGV train service. After all, the journey time is just under two hours.
Added to which there’s a regular service, although you’ll need to reserve your seat in advance – a requirement when buying a ticket on a TGV - as even though ours was one of those double-decker jobs, it was packed. Clearly proof...
•No Guns, No Drugs And Not A Terrorist
It can be a bit of a gruff experience trying to enter the United States as a tourist, and there’s one thing certain on arrival at New York’s JFK airport – a surly welcome awaits the visitor.
And unless you’ve been lucky enough to make it off the ‘plane at double-quick speed, the chances are the first sight of the good old US of A will be from the back of a mighty queue agonisingly snaking its way back from passport control.
There’s no chance of line hopping. This is democracy at its most...
•One Woman's French Foly
Right upfront it has to be said that this is far from being a hard-hitting news piece. And what's more it'll probably only have a limited appeal bearing in mind that among the roll call of names are those that will only be familiar to the French, or French ex-patriots, Francophiles, Francophones and France-watchers.
There again there are some that will strike a chord around the globe, so forgive the indulgence. And if you’re in the slightest bit curious keep reading to discover an account of a...
•Poppy's Plight
She first came to our attention after we had visited a local show at the village hall organised by a nearby refuge for abandoned dogs and cats.
At the ripe old age of eight Poppy, we were told, had been "rescued" from owners who had over time collected more than 30 dogs, many the result of interbreeding, and who understandably had found themselves no longer able to cope.
A little less easy to comprehend perhaps was how come these people had never heard of the possibility of spaying their...
•Sarkozy Muscles in on EU Reform
It's just under a fortnight until France takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union and already the rest of Europe is getting a taste of what it can expect.
At a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, Sarkozy said the Union would not be able to go ahead with any further expansion without ratification of the Lisbon treaty.
And guess what? He's right - but that isn't the immediate issue at hand.
Sarkozy is a somewhat lukewarm supporter of further expansion of...
•Sarkozy Outs Himself As Céline Dion Fan
Thankfully nobody broke into song but emotions were running high on Thursday as the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, bestowed this country’s highest honour, the Légion d'honneur, on the Canadian chanteuse Céline Dion.
The ceremony took place at the president’s official residence, the Elysée palace; the day after Dion had opened a series of sold-out concerts in the French capital – the first time she has performed in Paris since 1999.
In what might have been a speech inspired by listening to...
•Second Class Service At First Class Prices
Traveling first class on the Eurostar from Paris to London (or vice versa) isn’t really anywhere close to the romantic vision of a more genteel bygone era. It certainly isn’t luxury by any stretch of the imagination and is in fact much more oriented to the business traveller eager to cut down journey time and cram in a couple of hours work on the computer – or God help us all – shouting into the mobile ‘phone.
The trip becomes even less of a luxury and more of an indulgence if you’ve bought a...
•Sophie's Voice
It should have been clear from the very outset after Sophie, our train manager welcomed us all aboard the London-bound Eurostar from Paris that this was not going to be a regular, uneventful trip. There was something just a little too sing-songy in her tannoyed “bienvenue”, wishing us a pleasant journey and volunteering to answer any questions we might have had, to augur any thing other than premonitory misgivings. But those were easily ignored.
Although it’s generally meant as a polite yet...
•Spring-cleaning in the Summer at the Local Brocante
It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up - a chance for a jolly good clear out of all the junk that had been gathering dust in the attic forever with the added bonus thrown in of making a few cents into the bargain.
There’s a tradition here in France every summer for villages and towns up and down the country to throw open their doors so-to-speak and welcome the world to their brocante, or vide grenier.
Basically it’s a glorified sale – jumble, garage or car boot – call it what you...
•Trash TV's Secret Story
You can tell summer has arrived here in France because the signs are all around us.
First up there are the obvious ones - such as the weather and the dress code. Of course the latter, especially in the nation's capital, can still turn into something of a catwalk as this year's chic hits the streets big time in what for many is the Mecca of the fashion world.
Then there are the music festivals, concerts, outdoor productions, and jumble sales held up and down the country and let’s not forget...
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