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Are you going to France for your holidays?
As you probably know, France deserts the towns and cities to go to the seaside, the mountains or the countryside during the summer holidays.
People take a whole month off either in July or August. Yes, it is usual, and it means a real break from it all.
But if you didn’t know about it, you might get a few surprises, good or bad, on the way so before you head off to the ferry or the Tunnel, here are a few things to think about and take into account:
- Because of such a rush to go on holiday, the motorways can end up extremely busy, nightmarish actually, so avoid going by car on weekends if you can and check what the traffic will be like wherever you are driving ahead of time. You can go on the Bison Futé (clever bison) Website and check the predictions to avoid being stuck in traffic jams. The address is https://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr. There will be other ways to check of course.
- Make sure to have plenty of water with you in the car, as well as some food.
- Have your route well mapped.
- For any emergency, you can call 112 free from any mobile phone. This is a EU-wide number to contact the police, firefighters, ambulance, etc. But not UberEat…
- A lot of businesses and shops close down for up to a month, except in tourist areas, so wherever you drive through you might not find what you need, so think ahead of what you want to have in the car before setting off.
- Learn a few words of French. Saying Bonjour, Merci, Au revoir, goes a long way to ingratiate you with the locals. Teach your children, there’s nothing as heart warming as a little cutie making the effort to speak the local language.
- Don’t forget to pack plug adaptors.
- Try and work out the things you won’t find easily in France and that you will need and make sure to bring them with you.
- There have been major fires raging in the South, and various areas are being marked as presenting risk of further fires. This is due to human negligence and very hot, dry conditions; check whether the region you are about to visit is on the list of those regions that could see some fires.
- But most of all… Don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Bonnes vacances!
What do French people really eat?
Is it all escargots and boeuf bourguignon?
Quite often, when people find out that I am French, the conversation turns to food and specifically what French people cook and eat at home.
A lot of people seem to think that we French people all cook like Raymond Blanc. This is very flattering, however most of us eat quite simply most days, just differently to how one eats in the UK or in other countries.
The food can also vary widely whether you are in the North or in the South of France, or in one of the French islands, i.e. Réunion, Guadeloupe, Corsica, etc.
One major difference is that we eat our main meals at lunchtime and a light dinner in the evening. And often, lunchtime is a two-course meal, with a simple starter and a main, sometimes a main and a pudding.
Most days, dessert will come in the form of a yogurt, a piece of fruit or some cheese. Or all three. At my parents, there were always 3 or 4 cheeses on offer. When I told my (British) grandchildren that yogurt or fruit was pudding when I grew up, they thought it was sad, i.e. how can that be pudding, but that was the norm. We had a sweet pudding on Sundays, or when having guests, but not usually during the week. Often, this would be a cake or tart bought from the neighbourhood boulangerie.
But what type of dishes do we eat? It is true that boeuf bourguignon is on the table often. Cheap to make and delicious, in my childhood home it was eaten with rice, some have it with potatoes. To this day, I make it regularly at home; it is not something I can do without.
But sometimes it will be simple steak and chips with a salad. Fish is the staple on Fridays for a lot of people.
We usually have a roast on Sundays with roast potatoes and vegetables. Gravy is made with the cooking juices.
Starters are simple, such as “crudités”, i.e. carrot or beetroot salad, or it could be a soup or asparagus with homemade mayonnaise. Simple stuff.
In the evenings, we often have soup, or salad with cold meats and cheese, or pasta.
However, for big occasions, such as marriages, anniversaries, etc. then meals go on forever. You could be eating from lunchtime well into the evening, with breaks in between to walk about or dance. Those types of meals could comprise 3 starters, 3 mains, cheeses galore, 3 sets of puddings, with drinks flowing constantly, alcoholic or not.
But back in the UK, I really like a good fish and chips. And a proper full English breakfast is so satisfying. And believe it or not, when I go to visit family in France, I am asked to bring Blue Stilton, Cornish Yard and a good Cheddar. So, I do. And this year, I will be bringing Cornish pasties across the English Channel. We’ll see what the verdict is. I’m sure they will like it.
Until next time, Au revoir!
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