image… from ProvenceBeyond

Fayence, in the Var (region), is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful villages I have visited! It looks like one of those villages I have seen on TV or in films. Typically French of the medieval ages.

Today, we went to see several villages after a short visit and picnic at Lake Saint Cassien. Looking at them really overwhelmed me, even if I have seen them before! But, it’s unfortunate that we could not explore more because my father-in-law is too weak to walk. All we did were.. sit in cafés and walk for not more than 10 minutes!

It makes me realize that life is short and good health is precious. We have to take the opportunity while we are young and active. There is so much beauty on this earth that a lifetime is not enough to discover them. Like what I read somewhere…..”Someday never comes!”

Image from wikipedia
If 15 August does not signify anything in the Philippines, in France, it’s a public holiday. In fact, this year, it’s a 4-day weekend for those who work in August (Note that majority of the people normally take their holidays in August).

The feast of the Assumption is celebrated in France every 15 August. It was in Lourdes where the Virgin Mary made her apparitions to the young Bernadette Soubirous on a cave in Massabielle 148 years ago. Every year, pilgrims, where the majority of them are the sick and the handicapped, come from around the world.

Several processions also take place on the streets and churches of France for the feast. In Paris, for its third year, the river procession on the Seine expects thousands of people consisting of Parisians and tourists enthusiasts. Eight boats of 4 thousand seats will be occupied. Free tickets are available at the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The British come in brand-new cars or the latest models…. big and shiny. They rent holiday homes or apartments which normally lasts from one to two weeks.

The Dutch come in caravans or motor caravans, stay in campsites and bring all, from food to everything from their houses, the bicycles, one for each member of the family, so that they do not have to spend a single centime.

The Germans travel in big motor caravans, as big as buses. Sometimes, these motor caravans are computerized. They also take their motorbikes, their high-tech tents, several pairs of shoes, one for each activity hence, up to maybe five – one for hiking, one for motorcycling, one for relaxing, one for walking, etc.

The Italians, aaahhhh! One recognizes them by the manner they drive…. the motor caravan sometimes roll in the middle of the road, between two lanes, driving in zigzags, sometimes overspeeding, sometimes too slow that one thinks the driver is sleeping….. or, hands dancing in the air, because the Italians, when they talk, they make a lot of hand gestures!

Despite its low population of 235 inhabitants, it has…..a campsite, a moviehouse, a church, a hairdresser, a tourist office, 2 restaurants, a hotel, a bed and breakfast, a house that offers room and board, a primary school; a cemetery, a fire department, a train station; 2 groceries, a town hall, a veterinarian, a library…

The last one was a fascinating adventure!… discovering the pre-historic engravings of the first inhabitants of this region during the Bronze age, also, the life of the herdsmen (one who looks after sheeps), from 5,000 years ago up to the last century. What is amazing to see, is the kind of house where they lived two centuries ago….. it is exactly the same as our house! Someone said that our house is 200 years old. Then, we live in a real museum! 

(For those who are wondering, Fontan is 20 minutes from the Italian border.)

This is our village store in Fontan. I like its rusticity! It sells fruits and vegetables, canned goods, frozen foods, etc. If you need something in particular, the owner will find it from a nearby town and will bring it specially for you.

That France is the top tourist destination in the world followed by Spain and the US.
In 2005, she (France) has received 76 million foreign tourists, 90% of the total population of the Philippines!
Tourist earnings was 34 Billion Euros.
Monthly arrivals of more than 50,000 came from China.
The Japanese spent 204 euros per day, followed by the Americans at 162 euros, then by the Europeans at 50 euros.
There were 3 million American tourists as compared to 20 million coming from Asia.
Among Europeans, the Germans came second with 13.2 million visitors, behind the British (14.9 million) and ahead of the Dutch (11.6 million)

Who are the players?

1. The Frenchwoman

The French woman seems to always manage how to look like a model without a single speck of imperfection! My own words to describe the french woman – she is unique!

Each one creates her own style of dressing, of donning accessories, of fixing her hair or manipulating a scarf or a belt. It always amazes me to find a different beauty on each French woman. The only few things they have in common are – a slim figure, a nicely done-up pair of eyelashes and an accessory either to emphasize a nice part of her body or to divert attention away from the not-so-nice part.

She only wears clothes that show the silhouette and the curves of her usually slim figure plus a bit of skin to seduce but in a subtle way. She doesn’t wear the micro-mini nor the blouse that shows the cleavage. In fact, it’s usually a long skirt or knee-length dress, but the seduction shows in the slits, in the holes, in half-exposed backs, in mini-tops that show the navel or the lower abdomen, as well as low-waisted trousers that show the upper half of a thong (string monokini) in red, or any colour!

She wears her makeup that you start to wonder how did she do it when you cannot see so much a speck of the rouges and the blushes but only that something is there that made her face looks so perfect!

She wears footwear which tend to enhance her femininity… not what i call sexy because i find the word too vulgar to describe a Frenchwoman… but shall I say elegantly charming.

She speaks and laughs like you wouldn’t hear anything at all, for she is so discreet and always conscious of propriety.

She walks with grace that you might wonder if she learned it in a finishing school or that her mother taught her that way.

That she doesn’t really follow a certain fashion fad but just an expert in mixing and matching colours and accessories.

Her hair, be it looking like she didn’t comb it all or just tied it in a knot, makes her look like a seductress.

3. The Lovers

Paris is not called ‘the city of lovers’ for nothing! They smooch, pet , cuddle without care in the world. It must be the famous La Tour Eiffel or La Seine or the magnificent architecture which excites the hormones but it surely is so infectious that every other couple do it regardless of age. But the most shocking thing i saw… when I was waiting outside a Café toilet, a girl and a boy came out together from the half-square meter cubicle. How did they manage to squeeze in there together, i wonder?
4. The dogs

Next to French babies, I adore les chiens français! (French dogs) They are so cute! the cutest four-legged creatures in the world! They come in different sizes – from the tiniest size of a rat to the largest shape of a mountain dog. they come in ribbons, in colorful sweaters, in designer collars with hair or fur newly coiffured that will put a hippie or even a yuppy to shame!

France is a real paradise for dog lovers! The only downside is, dog poop is everywhere! You have to walk the streets like playing the “patintero” or else, your shoes will be undescribably mudgy! This dog poop phenomenon is a real problem of the French government. Noticeboards, poop bags are widely displayed on every street corner but to no avail. There is even the poop picker on his motorbike – using a long tube to vacuum the poops, then deodorizing the pooped spot, but it solves the problem only for a while, because in no time, another dog will be crapping there again!

5. The tourists….(

The noise of drums woke me up this morning…. I quickly opened the windows and there!…… a drum parade was marching on the street, just below the house, playing flutes and drums. There were also teenagers – boys and girls – distributing colorful ribbons and knocking on doors calling everybody to get out of their houses and join in the parade!

Last night, there was dancing in the carpark which was converted into a dancing hall. It was covered with a giant tent and fitted with colorful lights like a discotheque! Until 2 o’clock in the morning, I could hear the music of the cha-cha, tango, etc. Unfortunately (or sayang! in Tagalog) my husband was not here because I really felt like dancing that moment!

My husband is in England right now to fetch his father who is going to spend two weeks with us here. My father-in-law is not well so the vacation (holidays) will be limited to sightseeing by car and sitting in cafés.

“It never rains, but it pours!”….This is a very popular French proverb.

And here is why it (this proverb) suits us. All these happened in one week:

1 – Our car broke down!
The car mechanic told us that it is “finished” (a goner!) unless we pay 1,000 euros to replace faulty parts. After a long thought, we decided to do it. It is better than throwing it into the junkyard and still pay 300 euros to tow it!

2 – For overspeeding while driving in the motorway, my husband has received a speeding ticket in which he has to pay 45 euros within 15 days!

3 – While chewing bread, his tooth broke and his dentist has to fit a crown. That costs 600 euros!

4 – For a new pair of eyeglasses, I just paid 560 euros!

5 – The digital camera suddenly stopped working, so, it has to be taken for repair. The cost could be another 500 euros!

So you see, in just one week, all these unexpected expenses will total to 3,000 euros!

It’s crazy, isn’t it?

And oh! I forgot to add another bad luck….

that a wasp has bitten me the other day! My left arm is a bit swollen and painful.

Since the start of Spring, four wasps have already bitten me! That’s the disadvantage of being surrounded by plants. My garden has probably thousands of types of insects! Last year, a nest of hornets as big as a 14″ TV was inside our garage. This year, it was a swarm of bees that we called up a beekeeper to take them away…. 80,000 in all!