The first ever car I owned was a Peugeot, a 404 and I absolutely adored it. As far as I am concerned this little French car was the most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned. Being a young student I did not take as much care of it, for example I never got it regularly serviced and rarely checked the oil level, and yet never once did it let me down.
French cars of the past which are now real classics include such makes like Peugeot, Citroën and Renault. I had always wanted to own a Citroën 2CV but I remember my father absolutely forbidding me to buy one at the time. Nowadays an old 2CV is worth more than it was when it was new, so it is quite amusing to think how opinions change when it comes to old and some would consider as being vintage cars.
The story behind Citroën is a fascinating one which all started back in 1934 when the company brought out their first front-wheel drive car. The owner of Citroën automobiles was André Citroën, born in 1878 and after working for the Mors car company at the tender age of 27 he started his very own company, André Citroën & Cie which later became known as La Société des Engrenages Citroën” (The Citroën Cog Factory).
There are of course the American type fast food chains in France and even one along the Champs Elysée, although their well-known emblem is somewhat subdued compared to those in the rest of France and the world in general. However, for me the French have always had their own versions... [read more]
French Impressionist first appeared on the scene in the late 19th century and early 20th. This group of artists all had the same ideas, techniques and perceptions of how they saw a painting should be created. They used certain small brush strokes that simulated reflected light as well as using... [read more]
The story of how two brothers came up with the idea for removable pneumatic tyres is fascinating. It is sometimes the case when one simple thing happens that then leads on to bigger things, and this is so true of how Michelin tyres came into being. The two brothers were... [read more]
My husband is a keen fisherman and loves to spend hours sitting on the banks of a river waiting for the fish to bite. Whenever we go over to France, he vanishes for the day to enjoy this very peaceful pastime and invariably returns with some very nice fresh fish... [read more]
A while back I went to see a great movie called Asterix et Obélix. The film itself bought back many memories of the cartoon books I used to read about their adventures and battles with the Roman invaders. This movie stole my heart for this reason but also because the... [read more]
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Paris knows they have to visit the Eiffel Tower. I remember well my first ever journey to this wonderful city and how excited I was when my father told me we were going to see it. Paris is so full of gorgeous... [read more]
For many years now people have been flocking to France to get away from the hectic and sometimes humdrum lives they lead. People have loved to retire to a region in France so that their pace of life slows down a little, and the quality of their days improves no... [read more]
There is no doubt at all that the Roux brothers, Albert and Michel made an incredible impact on the world of modern cuisine both in the home and of course restaurants in the UK. With Michelin stars adorning their restaurants, these two chefs changed the concept of food forever in... [read more]
If you ever want to have a holiday of a lifetime surrounded by splendour in some of the most sumptuous houses and Chateaux in the world, then Relais & Châteaux are the people to talk to. This is an elite organization that operates in around sixty countries all over the globe offering pure luxury to those who want to visit and stay in the many residences they have in their fold.
Needless to say France and especially the Loire Valley, is one of the countries where Relais & Châteaux operate. It all started back in 1954 when the Association who set this up chose some of the finest properties so that discerning visitors and guests could spend some time in them. These properties were, and still are, historic landmarks with many castles, manor houses and other superb homes being selected to be part of the Association.
