Some thoughts on our experiences in France

France (excluding northern France which we will visit later):
Our most memorable experiences:

1. Patisseres, particularly the strawberry mille feulie we devoured in Brittany.
   
2. The Pyrenees
   
3. D Day landing sites
   
4. Maximun St Baume and associated abbey
   
5. The Verdon gorge
   
6. Oradour sur Glane memorial village
   
7. The architecture of the villages, including the balconies, shutters and flowers.
   

Favourite villages:

1. Ansouis, Provence
   
2. Lautrec, Dordogne
   
3. Moustiers-Ste-Marie, Verdon
   
4. Kermouster, Brittany
   
   Favourite city: Strasbourg - Architecturally an interesting mix of French and German, cobbled streets and great coffee.
   

The most surprising things:

1. The beauty of the French countryside.
   
2. The friendliness of the people.
   
3. The French love of order, this is most evident in the immaculate way they stack their wood.
   
4. How many people smoke (NZ is ahead of the ball game).
   
5. The number of old people limping with sore hips (health system?).
   
6. Lack of any sort of border control.
   

Most annoying things:

1. The size and frequency of their judder bars.
   
2. Queing in the supermarkets while the only two checkout operators had private conversations with each other.
   
3. The lack of steak and cheese pies.
   

Scariest moment – getting a flat tyre on a motorway with wet weather and a procession of trucks heading to Spain.
Most enjoyable drink – Creme de Cassis (syrup of blackcurrants).
Most useful phrase – Je suis une imbicile, je ne parle Francais.
Greatest realisation – The importance of a common language in binding people together socially.
 
Biggest disappointments:

1. The Mediterranean coast.
   
2. The cheeses.
   

What we were most grateful for:

1. The large network of mostly free aires (campsites).
   
2. The help given to us when we got a flat tyre on a motorway.
   

Cost of living:
a. Diesel – 1.10 euro per litre.
b. Wine 3 - 6 euro per bottle
c. Steak 25 – 30 euro per kg


Lasting impression – French people buying white bread sticks and eating them as they went home.


What we missed most – Family and friends, wholegrain bread, peanut butter, marmite (we have run out, Johan please bring some over), steak and cheese pies and school.