tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037228677751543902024-02-18T20:06:28.517-08:00Kiwis Say Oui - A Family's Year in Francekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-49717706131108674182018-05-24T03:18:00.000-07:002018-05-24T03:43:19.683-07:00Bordeaux with toddlersWe are a family of four who lived for a year in France.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5F8lLVSH8kOJ5sSVphe05VTiyRo_2Lmr27_fYcyfu4vmGO66cNQNjlmyma3npqZUMR1SxIctGLk0vsS4oW_wQNGtxyDNU5ZeAW_8EeRcWghT1rLcLepHJ4-zlokLMCfGUQ5lxxMdpLM/s1600/jordan-whitt-89812-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Child splash puddle france" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5F8lLVSH8kOJ5sSVphe05VTiyRo_2Lmr27_fYcyfu4vmGO66cNQNjlmyma3npqZUMR1SxIctGLk0vsS4oW_wQNGtxyDNU5ZeAW_8EeRcWghT1rLcLepHJ4-zlokLMCfGUQ5lxxMdpLM/s400/jordan-whitt-89812-unsplash.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash</td></tr>
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My youngest was 2 at the time and needed things to explore, play with, touch. There are so many great things for little kids to do in Bordeaux and surrounds. This is my guide of what to do with toddlers.<br />
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Many of these are free or cheap activities.<br />
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<h3>
<u>
Parks/Playgrounds:</u></h3>
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Jardin Public<br />
- Playgrounds<br />
- See my <a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/my-kids-are-my-french-teachers.html?m=1" target="_blank">post about the gardens</a><br />
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Parc du Majolan<br />
- Playground<br />
- See my post about this beautiful park<br />
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Parc Floral<br />
- Lovely park to walk in with international gardens<br />
- Great for picnics<br />
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Parc de l'Ermitage<br />
- Hillside park with bike tracks<br />
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Parc at Ecosite du Bourghail, Pessac<br />
- Forest park with heaps to explore, walks, look for the tiny trunk house<br />
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Rives d'Arcins<br />
- Walks by the river<br />
- See my <a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/living-small.html?m=1" target="_blank">post</a> about the tiny owl house<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Maxime Bhm on Unsplash </td></tr>
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<h3>
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Play parks (covered):</u></h3>
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Perfect on a wet day: ball pits, slides, climbing frames.</div>
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Happy Park<br />
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Youpi Park<br />
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<h3>
<u>
Swimming:</u></h3>
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Begles Beach<br />
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Plage du Lac - the beach beside the lake has a playground, walks, picnic tables<br />
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Swimming pools:<br />
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- Remember swimming caps must be worn<br />
- No board shorts/ trunks. Speedos only for men.<br />
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- There are 4 public covered pools<br />
Piscine Judaique<br />
Piscine du Grand Parc<br />
Piscine Tues or<br />
Piscine Galin<br />
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- Piscine Stehelin - open air, only open in summer<br />
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<h3>
<u>
Fair: (summer)</u></h3>
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Foire de Bordeaux at certain times in the Place des Quinconces, Centre Ville.<br />
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<h3>
<u>
Toy libraries:</u></h3>
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You can play on-site as well as borrow toys. The staff are knowledgeable about which games and toys are best for different age groups. You might have to sign up but it was definitely worth it for us.<br />
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Ludotheques are at the following locations:<br />
- Berges du Lac (Ginko)<br />
- Interlude (Bastille)<br />
- Interlude (Chartrons)<br />
- Ludo Ludik (Gare St Jean)<br />
- Bouliac<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Rawpixel on Unsplash</td></tr>
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<h3>
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Libraries:</u></h3>
<div>
- Meriadeck have a good Childrens section</div>
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<h3>
<u>
Zoos:</u></h3>
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Zoo de Bordeaux-Pessac<br />
- See the <a href="http://www.zoo-bordeaux-pessac.com/" target="_blank">site</a> for more information<br />
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Ferme Exotique de Cadaujac<br />
- See the site <a href="https://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/offre/fiche/ferme-exotique-de-cadaujac/LOIAQU033FS0002N">here</a></div>
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Also see my post on Bordeaux with Kids (<a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/bordeaux-with-kids-like-local.html?m=1" target="_blank">click here</a>) for lots more free or cheap activities for families.<br />
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Catch up with me on <a href="https://facebook.com/kiwissayoui" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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<br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-84795486437136702842018-05-07T02:58:00.000-07:002018-05-10T03:46:36.311-07:00Coming Home to Culture Shock<div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoASycwNzIr70omn6090zG-lWJrsmoVbsh2zTiRwD8SR7WYC8yK5-7gRowJn6LzLmtt3cBIYi4Tl_R86t6vjI6fv2vk5SYiyhxQm-D3cM7mBef4XqcLE6CBcRVNHWub81inWHrzTpZ-s/s1600/culture+shock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoASycwNzIr70omn6090zG-lWJrsmoVbsh2zTiRwD8SR7WYC8yK5-7gRowJn6LzLmtt3cBIYi4Tl_R86t6vjI6fv2vk5SYiyhxQm-D3cM7mBef4XqcLE6CBcRVNHWub81inWHrzTpZ-s/s400/culture+shock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What is going on? Coming home to New Zealand should be a wonderful experience, right? We missed our friends and family until it ached. We yearned for good sushi and a mouthwatering leg of New Zealand lamb. </div>
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It was amazing to see everyone again and tell them everything and look at all the familiar roadscapes. Soon, it started to get hard. Not surprising, we had been travelling for a year; no work, husband and I together, everything new and interesting. After a little while, friends started getting sick of talking about our travels and we realized we had changed a little bit and New Zealand had not. It was not that we were better, just that we had slightly changed shape, like a puzzle piece that no longer fits. People clucked and sighed, "back to reality". A quick search shows this is a phenomenon called reverse culture shock.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reverse Culture Shock</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><br /></div>
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Who knew this even existed? I certainly didn't until after I got back. With the growing contingent of 'digital nomads' and mobile workers, this will be an important issue. </div>
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Culture shock is the anxiety of not knowing the social norms in a new place. Reverse culture shock is similar but relating to re-adjustment. It turns out that there is a wealth of information on reverse culture shock for returning expats. The high of the adventure over, the stress of setting up life all over again sets in. <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3d1f/cb3f46c1f397d894db5e5222025d1ec979c3.pdf">An article by Gaw (2000)</a> states some of the reported re-adjustment problems. Problems are more severe the more trips away, the longer the stay, the less of a support network back home and if return was involuntary (ie due to visa requirements).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">New Zealand ferns - P<span style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">hoto by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/8nYPmrtMeUc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; transition-delay: 0s, 0s; transition-duration: 0.2s, 0.2s; transition-property: color, opacity; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1), cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1);">Tim Marshall</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/fern-flower?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; transition-delay: 0s, 0s; transition-duration: 0.2s, 0.2s; transition-property: color, opacity; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1), cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1);">Unsplash</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /></div>
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There was the added tension of returning to a damaged city. Christchurch was shaken by a series of huge earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. It is still in the process of being fixed up and rebuilt. There are some wonderful new places that have emerged from the rubble, but when we came back in 2015, not much had changed from a year earlier. Returning to the city also brought back the memories and anxieties of the quakes that we had escaped from in France.<br />
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We have settled back into a life in New Zealand, a different life from the one we left. Relatives were born and grew up while we were away. Friends grew closer or grew apart. We have moved house, schools and jobs. If we ever talk about all the challenges we faced while we were away, people ask us if we would go back. We are happy but if we won the lottery tomorrow, we wouldn't hesitate in going back.<br />
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I think the upshot of all of this is that our trip ignited a spark that we cannot quench by staying still. If the 'travel bug' is a burning curiosity for understanding new perspectives, for finding beauty in difference, then we well and truly have it.<br />
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So which place do you like best? </span></h4>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></b></div>
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This is an impossible question to answer. It is like asking, d<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">o you want to eat at your local Indian or at a steak house? T</span>he two countries are so completely different. There are good things and bad things about both places. Choosing which place to live in would depend on family circumstances at the time.</div>
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France has cheaper food and better service. <br />
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New Zealand has fresh ingredients and restaurants which open early making going out with kids easier.<br />
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France is a great base to travel from with regions that each have their own personalities.<br />
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New Zealand is a beautiful country to explore with natural attractions in close proximity.<br />
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France has free schooling, with more emphasis on the arts.<br />
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New Zealand has more progressive learning styles, more natural schoolyards.</div>
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Some other interesting French differences we noticed:</span></h4>
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At a house we rented in the South of France, I asked the owners if we had to mow the lawns as the grass was about a foot tall. We were going to be living there for two months over spring. I was told they usually don't worry about it. I must have looked shocked because their next comment was "Ah, you are like the British". Really? Is it that weird that I like a neatly trimmed lawn? </div>
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The above leads nicely onto speaking one's mind : Europeans in general seem more able to express their opinions without couching them in "I'm sorry but.." "I was going to say...". Quite redundant stuff. I didn't realize how much we use them in English until I was groping for a translation that doesn't exist or would sound painfully awkward. If it sounds too braggy, the French probably just wouldn't say it, unless they knew you really well.</div>
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We used online house-sharing apps to book accommodation which means using someone's house while they are away on business or for leisure. We never knew what we were going to get. Some had no parking space close by. Some houses had only enough hot water for one shower. Some had no toaster, washing machine or freezer. One that shall remain nameless was below road level and infested with rodents. In short, what is "fully equipped" and "family friendly" for one family is inadequate for another. One thing is absolutely certain though, every place in France has a great coffee machine.</div>
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In France, the 'monokini' is generally accepted on beaches everywhere as well as on TV and in carnivals. The women just cannot have a tog mark so they will sunbathe topless for hours. While this doesn't offend me, it is hard to reconcile with the fact that women don't breastfeed in public a lot. Is this due to some other factor?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also see my recent post on <a href="http://www.writersideoflife.com/lessons/">Lessons Learned from Living in France</a></span><br />
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**Note: I started this post when we came back to New Zealand but I was too 'reverse culture shocked' to finish it until now! **</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-92063295772445173142015-07-23T15:03:00.000-07:002018-05-24T04:21:16.036-07:00Battlefields of the North<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO5Tk8JIe-55ErzfDo3eCeh9DD7idCGQoU97C855e06fDRtdLVCNXa8WXYAkABK5ChFXepS7JXjOaybO-KmOZcW9P0C5lh86hIWopYjWeSt77DceQai1X7v3jd1ihRLU-Qcm-suc8IXs/s1600/20150706_151730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO5Tk8JIe-55ErzfDo3eCeh9DD7idCGQoU97C855e06fDRtdLVCNXa8WXYAkABK5ChFXepS7JXjOaybO-KmOZcW9P0C5lh86hIWopYjWeSt77DceQai1X7v3jd1ihRLU-Qcm-suc8IXs/s640/20150706_151730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American cemetery at Omaha Beach</td></tr>
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Are you interested in the Anzac war memorials of Normandy? We have spent the last two weeks in Normandy and Picardy, two rural regions in the North of France known for their war history and natural beauty. Both have had turbulent pasts, being invaded by France's neighbouring countries numerous times.</div>
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Normandy's lush countryside and long stretches of coastline tell a chilling tale about the war days in France. The beaches of the North coast are where the D day surprise invasion by the Allied forces took place which marked the beginning of the end of World War Two. You can easily imagine how the countryside may have looked and felt during the German Occupation.<br />
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There is a trail dedicated to D day directing tourists to the beach landing sites, cemeteries for the soldiers and bunkers. We visited Omaha Beach, where American troops landed on 5th June 1944. We went to the American cemetery and memorial which is pristinely kept and so surreal against the blue sky. It is one of those memorable moments when you see the rows of white crosses stretching infinitely into the distance in every direction. The burial sites for the German soldiers are much simpler in contrast.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlord D-day museum<br />
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The largest seaborne invasion in history, D-day was codenamed Operation Overlord. There were very specific conditions needed for the operation to take place; the moon had to be full for visibility and the weather had to be clear. The Allied army asked for postcards of Normandy to be sent for an exhibition in order to figure out the geography of the region. The German army had built up stronger fortifications near Nord Pas de Calais as that was where the Allieds were expected to strike. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Overlord Museum was an excellent place to visit, explaining the background to the invasion and why it was a successful surprise attack, with lots of diaramas and REAL TANKS. Master 7 was full of questions about World War Two. Why was the German army in France? Why did England help France? It has been a challenge to explain it to him.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: small;">We stayed in a beautiful part of Normandy called the Manche, full of ancient stone - walled farms. We had the run of an old manor house on what used to be a goat farm. Fresh baguette and croissants were on the table each morning. Sheep wandered past our kitchen window. It really was what you would imagine the quintessential French country escape to be. It was fantastic to see the kids running around with the gang of children that lived there and climbing trees and just BEING KIDS. We visited a farm park (Parc Animalier) with animals from around the world, including camels, lemurs and strange humped cows. But I think the biggest hits were feeding the lemurs and the pony rides.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A field of poppies in the Somme</td></tr>
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Next we stayed in the Baie de Somme, Picardy so it was World War One history time. The Somme area is part of the Western front where many battles took place between the German army and the French. The armies were stuck in deadlock, both in their trenches from 1914 to 1918. What a surreal feeling to stand in front of the New Zealand memorial in Longueval on an overcast day in France. The memorial displays the names of 1205 New Zealand men who died in the Battle of the Somme and whose bodies were never found.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NZ Memorial at Longueval</td></tr>
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From miles away, you can see this crater in a hillside. It is really sobering to walk around the huge Lochnagar crater, which was formed by Allied engineers detonating 27 tons of explosives to tunnel under the Nazi defences. It happened on July 1st, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. It is the largest man-made crater in the world at 91m across and 21 metres deep. Allied troops marched in a straight line towards the German defences and many thousands from both sides were killed on this site. The crater is now owned by an Englishman who saved it from being filled in and opened it to the public. </div>
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Not far away, the underground museum at Albert has a fascinating collection of letters, relics and dummy soldiers. A medieval tunnel under the town was transformed into an air raid shelter during World War Two. It has since been made into a museum about the trenches in the First World War and the bombing of the area. There is a collection of art made from the shell covers by the soldiers. At the end of the visit, there is a dark tunnel with sound and lights to show what it was like in the trenches. Yip, pretty scary for the kids...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert underground museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some houses in Ault</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chalk cliffs above Ault</td></tr>
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Picardy is dotted with towns full of brick buildings that have been rebuilt after the wars. It looks quite different to many other parts of France. It has been accused of lacking in culture but I think this area has paid a huge debt to the country. There are lovely beaches in this area (as in all regions we visited) such as Quend plage.</div>
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One morning, we woke up to find bugs crawling on our arms. Once we started looking, we noticed them all over us and the walls of the house. This wasn't just a few, they were literally covering everything. Of course, we thought there was some sort of flea infestation and went out to purchase the biggest baddest spray we could find. Later, I asked a guest at the accommodation about it and he said it was just 'mouches d'orage' and not to worry about it. These flies apparently turn up before a storm and disappear again after the rain. That is exactly what happened in the end - may be nothing to worry about but pretty annoying!</div>
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Our next step is to load our car onto the train under the Channel for a few weeks' sojourn in England. And so goodbye to France. I really should say au revoir as I'm sure I'll be back again.</div>
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I will leave you with some of France's bizarre old laws which are still in place today:</div>
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1. You cannot name a pig Napoleon in France</div>
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2. You must keep a bale of hay handy in case the king comes past (to feed his horse)</div>
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3. No alcohol is allowed in the work place, except wine, beer and cider</div>
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4. Ketchup is forbidden in school canteens (it is too American)</div>
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5. Men must wear speedos in French swimming pools</div>
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<br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-34258095051409161962015-07-10T14:05:00.000-07:002015-07-15T14:11:19.448-07:00Sun, sea and subs in BrittanySummer and for us, two months of travelling is under way. We have had a heat wave this week and the children have had trouble going to sleep before 9pm. That is pretty normal for French kids though. And not too big a deal as it is holidays now. The end of the school year is celebrated by a kermesse or school fete. At Master 7's school, each class performed a dance or play while parents sat in the sun with a cool wine or beer. Then the kids did archery, sack race or bet on which door a rabbit would run through. The start of two full months of summer holidays means one thing though: Tourist season is in full swing. Also, at this time of year, there are soldes, the government-mandated sales that only happen twice a year!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A house in the Gulf of Morbihan</td></tr>
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One thing I love about travelling around France is the real differences between the regions. Brittany has some 2800 kilometres of coastline and some of the most beautiful beaches and quaint ports. It is also the only Celtic place on the European mainland. Brittany has historically been a rural area with farms, fairytale villages, medieval town centres and even standing stones. Now though, it is the 4th most popular area in France for tourists and also has positive migration with people from around France and England moving there in retirement, offsetting the younger ones moving to Paris for jobs.<br />
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It even has its own Celtic language, entirely different from French and thought to be derived from Brittonic langauges that were spoken in Great Britain before the invasion of the Roman Empire (like Welsh and Gaelic). It is an highly endangered language. In 100 years, from 1914 to 2015, the number of speakers of Breton is estimated to have quartered from 1 million to 250,000 people.<br />
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Brittany (Armorica) used to be independent but was annexed to France in 1532 and formally came under French governance in the Revolution, at which time a single French language for the nation was enforced. Breton children were only allowed to speak French in school. There was also a law until 1993 stating that all French babies born could only be named from a set list of saints and national heroes. So people in Brittany would have had an official French name and also a Breton name used in every day conversation. There is still a minority calling for independence for the region.<br />
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Some Breton proverbs:<br />
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<em>Brizh diod hag a oar tewel, ouzh un den fur a so heñvel</em><br />
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Translation:</div>
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Complete idiot who can keep silent is similar to a wise man</div>
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<em>Ar ew vezw a zivezwo med ar re sod ne zi'sodont ket.</em></div>
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Translation:</div>
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The drunk ones will sober up, but the mad ones will not clever up.</div>
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We went to visit the standing stones of <strong>Carnac</strong>. It is one of the most important sites of these stones in the world and thought to be 4000 years old. A lot have been stood up again after having fallen over. There are stone tables (dolmens) and huge rocks standing upright (menhirs). There are also some beautiful beaches in this area but they can be quite busy (by NZ standards).<br />
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Brittany's political history is mixed up with that of World War 2 as it was the last place in France to be overcome by the Allied forces along with Germany itself. Breton nationalists co-operated with the German army as they thought there would be a chance of independance for them. (Turns out...) We visited the submarine base at <strong>Lorient</strong> which has three massive submarine pens and a submarine you can walk through. Standing on the sea front, a chill ran up my spine seeing the ships intentionally wrecked in the harbour by the German army as a trap. There is a great museum explaining about daily life on a submarine and their place in the war.<br />
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<b>Vannes </b>is a beautiful city with medieval half-timbered buildings in the historic centre. It was also the backdrop to a scary tale involving me and a razor. We had been pretty happy with our hairdressers in Bordeaux and should have heeded the advice of others about French salons. (Hindsight is a beautiful thing) As soon as we walked in, the signs were there. Madame wasn't happy to be interrupted from her work, there was no smile for the kids and no small talk. I asked for a cut and thin out. She started in with the clippers, hacking off locks and buzzing through my long tresses. The whole thing took about five minutes. She never once used scissors. The final result was not good. No more French haircuts for me.<br />
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-37565089695200320632015-06-23T15:10:00.001-07:002015-06-23T15:10:46.533-07:00Secrets of ParisIn the past month, we have spent seven hectic, crazy, beautiful days in Paris. As you probably know, people either love or hate the French city of light. Taking a romantic stroll to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, the place was packed with tourists and hawkers crying out "selfie stick, Madame". Some of the best time I have spent in Paris is just walking around the suburbs, looking at the beautiful architecture and getting away from the crowds. With that in mind, we were on the lookout to find some lesser-known attractions.<br />
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<em>"I am going to enjoy life in Paris I know... It is a real city, old and fine and life plays in it for everybody to see" - Katherine Mansfield</em></blockquote>
A highlight would have to be cruising <strong>Canal St Martin</strong> by boat. This is a tour through the very veins of Paris, the canals that were built in the early 1800's by order of Napoleon I. The canals are framed with delicate bridges that rotate or lift. We passed the site where a 25 metre high gallows stood until the revolution in 1789. We went through ancient locks, where the gates slowly close and the water pours out to lower the river level. What a feat of engineering. The tour ended with a spooky 2km tunnel under the city, the kids on the boat shrieking in delight and fear. The guide added casually that dead bodies are sometimes found in the canal. The kids enjoyed it, although it was slightly long for their attention spans at two hours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the boat on the Canal St Martin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market in the Bastille (12e arondissement)</td></tr>
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I had my heart set on visiting the <strong>Palace of Versailles</strong> to see the splendour of the French royalty up close. It turns out so did everyone else. We drove from Paris and had trouble finding a park. We could see the hordes of people already in the queue so we went through the <strong>gardens</strong> first. The gardens are brilliant and massive - it took us half a day to wander around probably half of the grounds. Each part is themed and there are fountains and sculptures based around Greek and Roman mythology. The palace is a must for anyone who can appreciate the history of the ancient regime in France and the opulence that incited the spirit of revolution. It's easy to imagine the ladies of the court taking a 'promenade' stuffed into corseted panier skirts and with head-dresses piled high.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The golden gates</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let them eat cake" - View from the Palace over the gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enceladus fountain - giant buried under rocks on Mount Olympus</td></tr>
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The Bois de Boulogne is a huge park in the inner west of the city which used to be a hunting ground for the French royals. I knew it as a haunt for the ladies of the night in the Da Vinci Code movie. But did you know it is also home to two racecourses, a roller skating rink, two lakes and a waterfall? <br />
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In one corner, we found the <strong>Jardin d'acclimatation</strong>, which is an amusement park, zoo and playgrounds all set in lovely gardens. Its bizarre past included a 'human zoo' showcasing the life and habits of the Kanaks (natives of New Caledonia) along with Siberians and many more, which was hugely popular from 1860 until the early 20th century. Thankfully, today the human exhibits are gone. The entry fee was 3 euros each but a lot of the attractions cost extra. Miss Two liked the Enchanted River boat ride, the aviary, farm animals and the petit train. Master 7 loved the bumper cars, rollercoaster and rope course. We ran out of time for the mini golf, archery and pony rides. If you visit, please plan for at least a day and take a picnic and togs for the kids.<br />
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Where to stay:<br />
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The suburbs of Paris are numbered in a spiral from the centre of the city, so the highest number arondissements are the furthest out. People often recommend to stay in the single digits so as to be closest to the tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee). However, the single digits can be very expensive (especially if you need a 3 bedroom place). I have now been to Paris three times and can recommend the <strong>12e </strong>arondissement as safe and with loads of great places to eat. The <strong>16e </strong>is also very safe and a little more upmarket. Everywhere in Paris has excellent transport links with the metro.<br />
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Highs:<br />
<ul>
<li>Letting off steam in French TWICE: 1. To the bus operators who ripped us off and 2. To the tourists who cut the line after we had been waiting an hour and a half outside Versailles</li>
<li>Being escorted through the Paris streets by half a dozen fast cars with darkened windows (or maybe we got caught in someone else's cavalcade)</li>
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There is a lot more to Paris than the Tour Eiffel and the Arc de Triomphe. Each time we visit, we stay in a different place to explore that area, it's boulevards, parks and squares. It is always an inspiring place.kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-85699215079239817422015-06-08T13:48:00.001-07:002015-06-26T13:13:24.596-07:00The Bad Boy of France - Marseille<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Oleander in front of our holiday house - exquisite but highly poisonous</td></tr>
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Every country has to have a 'bad boy' city and I think Marseille is that for France. You know the one - you may swoon over its beauty but clutch your bag a little tighter at the same time. You feign a bit of confidence and try not to look over your shoulder. Yet despite the rubbish in the streets and the warning cries about pickpockets ringing in my ears, I went back and would do so again in a heartbeat.<br />
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We spent three nights in Marseille as the start to a week-long Mediterranean cruise. My mum is in France visiting us so we thought it would be an easy way to see some beautiful places. The only problem is that 7 hour drive from Bordeaux right to the other side of France (toilet stop, food stop, toilet stop, toilet stop, no it's still four hours to go!).<br />
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Marseille is the oldest city in France and one of Europe's largest ports. It was settled in around 600 BC by the Greeks as a trading port, then captured by the Romans in 49 BC. It became a part of France in the 1480s but still retains its own identity. It is a sprawling metropolis of white buildings and set amongst the mountains. Everything seems to draw you toward the dazzling bright blue of the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Port viewed from the harbour</td></tr>
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Reminders of its turbulent past dot the city like scars. Fort St Jean was built in the 17th century and stands watch over the harbour gates with its forbidding presence. The German army used it to store ammunition during the Occupation. Just around the corner, you are surprised with beauty again with a modern slender pedestrian airbridge made of iron joins it to the next building.<br />
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Along with trade and people, ports bring disease. Marseille has had a history of epidemics and plague. Marseille was affected by fourteen epidemics in the 16th century alone. After World War Two, a sanitary station was built for efficient processing of migrant boat passengers into Marseille. We went to an interactive movie in the sanitary station about this prototype for stopping the spread of disease. The passengers were showered and disinfected, while their belongings were transported on hooks as they proceeded through the areas. It must have been a sobering experience for the passengers arriving after months at sea.<br />
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This visit we went on a boat trip of the islands and <em>calanques </em>around Marseille<em>. </em>These beautiful bays are hidden amongst limestone cliffs and and some are only accessible by boat or a long tramp in the hot sun. Some have no water or electricity supply. If I return, I would like to get a wee house in the bay of Sormiou (one with hot showers though please).<br />
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The smell of the sea pervades in Marseille, getting the saliva flowing for some seafood. We ate at a bustling restaurant on the seafront, where the waiter seemed to skate from table to table, barely pausing to take an order before floating back to the bar. The ingredients were fresh and the whole meal was designed to bring out the best flavours of the fish and shellfish. The heat was hot so we had no choice but to drink some wine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Island of the Chateau d'If</td></tr>
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I think Marseille is a city that belongs more to the Mediterranean than to France. The people even seem to be a little less reserved and refined but staunchly Marsellais. It is a beautiful, down-to-earth, intriguing, multi-cultural city with many traps for young tourists. <br />
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Also read about our last visit to Marseille and Provence in September <a href="http://kiwissayoui.blogspot.fr/2014/09/mint-and-pinesap.html" target="_blank">here: Taking a drop of eau de vie</a>.<br />
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Read more about <a href="http://marseille%27s%20cultural%20melting%20pot%20in%20this%20article/" target="_blank">Marseille's cultural melting pot in this article</a> if you are interested.<br />
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-85101946952153600602015-05-10T12:47:00.001-07:002018-05-24T14:27:20.150-07:00Bordeaux with Kids - Like a Local<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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The children are bored and hungry. Bordeaux beckons, but you need to feed the little mouths... and fast! Bordeaux is a beautiful city known for its' wine tours, art galleries, museums, shopping. But what about visiting Bordeaux with the kids? Where is the best place to eat dinner where the children can make a bit of noise?<br />
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Having lived in Bordeaux for the past twelve months, I feel almost qualified to share our best (cheap or free) finds for kids in this beautiful city.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What to do:</span></h3>
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<strong>Cap Sciences</strong> - Science museum with hands-on stuff. During the school holidays, there are also shows and workshops. Currently, there is a Space exhibition on and in 2014, there was a dinosaur exhibition with huge animatronic dinosaurs that were a huge hit. Buy a year family pass for 50 euros and go to all the new exhibitions.<br />
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<strong>Parc de Majolan - </strong>This is a gorgeous park about ten minutes from the edge of town. There are two great play areas (and a flying fox) among the trees, a huge duck pond and peacocks as well as caves and bridges evocative of Middle Earth. Bring a picnic or have a coffee in the café. <a href="http://kiwissayoui.blogspot.fr/2014/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like-christmas.html" target="_blank">See my blog post from December here.</a><br />
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<strong>Miroir d'eau - </strong>The water mirror opposite the Place de la Bourse is the quintessential image of Bordeaux. Kids love kicking off socks and shoes and walking in the water, through the clouds of mist. It is a great spot for photos too, with the beautiful backdrop of Place de la Bourse.<br />
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<strong>Cruising on the Garonne -</strong> Included free with a tram pass, you can ride the Bat cub ferries as much as you want. These are an efficient way to see some different spots along the Garonne river. Both kids loved this.<br />
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<b>Also check out my post <a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.com/2018/05/bordeaux-with-toddlers.html" target="_blank">Bordeaux with Toddlers</a> for ideas on what to do with under fives.</b><br />
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<strong>Dune du Pilat - </strong>The biggest sand dune in Europe is about an hour's drive from Bordeaux. It is a must-see as the views at the top are amazing and the slide down is a lot of fun too. <a href="http://kiwissayoui.blogspot.fr/2015/03/my-kids-are-my-french-teachers.html" target="_blank">We visited the dune in spring.</a><br />
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<strong>Submarine base - </strong>This suggestion may be a little out of left field but our son loved exploring the haunting U-boat base left over from World War 2 (and it makes a good history lesson). The German army started building it in 1941, with the help of Spanish prisoners of war. The base itself is a vast concrete structure rising up above its surroundings. There are 11 berths and the roof is an indestructible 9.2m thick concrete. Parts of it now house art exhibitions and the occasional concert.<br />
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<b>Plage du Lac - </b>Guaranteed fun at this popular man-made beach, with a playground suitable for all ages, picnic area, ping pong tables and a forest walk.<br />
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<strong>Jardin Public</strong> - We lived five minutes from <a href="http://www.kiwissayoui.blogspot.fr/2014/10/of-lavatories-leisure-and-luscious-red.html" target="_blank">these beautiful gardens</a> and the kids loved the massive playground with pirate ship, kicking a ball, statue -spotting, picnicking and feeding the geese and ducks.<br />
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<strong>Marche des Quais - </strong>Every Sunday morning, you can go and experience the feast for the senses that is this market. Walk along the quays lined with ripe produce of many colours and bakery stalls full of sweet cakes, pastries and giant loaves. Our noses were full of the smells of raw fish, hot chips, freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh bread. The vendors cry their wares and "sledge" each other in loud voices periodically. A lunch of paella and chips (with sangria for the adults) to a background of live clarinet music was absolute bliss to top off the experience.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where to eat:</span></h3>
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It can be hard finding good places to eat in France with kids. It is harder when the children don't eat dairy. Our good-old backstops when we first arrived were (dare I say it) McDonalds or the Ikea café for consistency, price and allergen labels. But since branching out, we have discovered a few gems that I would like to share.<br />
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<strong>Les Potins de Coline</strong> <a href="http://lespotinsdecoline.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">More Info</a><br />
Chartrons<br />
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This little creperie / café in the area of Chartrons is a great place to spend a <em>bon moment</em> with a coffee and the kids will be entertained with the playroom filled with toys and books. Oh, and did I mention the crepes and caramel sauce are to die for.<br />
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<strong>The Breakfast Club </strong><a href="http://thebreakfastclub.fr/" target="_blank">More info</a><br />
Centre ville<br />
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This café is a little slice of Britain for when you have a hankering for a good old brunch. Our kids tuck into the baked beans and hash browns. The staff are friendly and speak perfect English. It can get quite packed in the weekends though, so get in early before some shopping on Rue Sainte Catherine.<br />
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<strong>5th Avenue </strong><br />
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Centre ville </div>
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Modeled on a New York deli, this restaurant is great for families with a kids menu (kids served first) and continuous dining so no waiting til after 7pm. There are burgers of course, but also delicious Mexican dishes, like burritos and nachos.<br />
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<strong>Amarine</strong></div>
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Lac / Merignac / Quais</div>
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Yes, this is a chain seafood restaurant but we appreciated the service and they catered to kids with activity packs and children's menus (three courses and drink for €9). I ordered my son the salmon steak and fries. The food was great and a large range of seafood if you have a hankering for that.<br />
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<b>Hippopotamus</b><br />
Centre/ Bordeaux Lac<br />
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This is another chain restaurant which is a French steakhouse. What we appreciated most was that it opens a little earlier (Centre open from lunch, Lac open from 6) than most of the other nice restaurants, which can open at 7-7:30pm. Our 2-year old definitely appreciates the early dinner.<br />
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<strong>Rocher des pirates</strong><br />
Merignac<br />
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We stumbled on this awesome pirate - themed restaurant by accident. All the staff are dressed in costume, there is a a great playground and a fantastic show with sword-fighting, pyrotechnics and stunts. The price may be slightly more expensive than normal but it is worth it for the atmosphere. (68 euros for family of 4 with delish burgers, pizza and chips on offer). Miss Two was a little unsure of the pirate shanties and special effects but Master 7 was over the moon.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why not check out <a href="http://www.writersideoflife.com/lessons" target="_blank">What I Learned Spending a Year in France</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or some other popular posts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/stamped-queried-and-signed-in-triplicate.html">Bordeaux's Eco Quarter</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/battlefields-of-north.html">Battlefields of Normandy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://kiwissayoui.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/secrets-of-paris.html">Paris with Kids</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you like my content, please catch up with me on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/writersidelife" target="_blank">Writer Side of Life</a> or on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/shufflingpaper" target="_blank">My Twitter</a>. I look forward to connecting with fellow Francophiles.</span></div>
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<strong>Any other good ones to add? Any that cater to allergies?</strong> <strong></strong><br />
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-8485714848088254592015-04-23T13:36:00.001-07:002015-06-09T02:52:32.555-07:00Finding Home on the Basque Coast of FranceHave you ever heard of Guethary? We hadn't either. It is a small coastal town between the two tourist and surfing beaches of St Jean de Luz and Biarritz on the Atlantic coast of France. It is in the fiercely proud Basque region which is greener than anywhere else we have seen in France. It feels a little bit like New Zealand. Those hot days turn into warm evenings, with the smell of pine sap and the ever-present sound of the sea. It is a laid-back and friendly place and the locals are into barbecues "<em>a la plancha</em>" and rugby (the owners of our accommodation have a dog called Haka).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb92CBH9a6UYMt-je7XrZ2uFbMlSzt3qWzN4dDmAihrmX0bG6oD0Jnx0b7qzG3bWIgIrxaQlEH_wKqNvJietd3vEI-ho2biI4PHSsz3QP6zxClnVc9-y8yn_ZN56cxFAVAUhyphenhyphenhCIp4WSU/s1600/20150420_190024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb92CBH9a6UYMt-je7XrZ2uFbMlSzt3qWzN4dDmAihrmX0bG6oD0Jnx0b7qzG3bWIgIrxaQlEH_wKqNvJietd3vEI-ho2biI4PHSsz3QP6zxClnVc9-y8yn_ZN56cxFAVAUhyphenhyphenhCIp4WSU/s1600/20150420_190024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First barbie of the season</td></tr>
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We spent a day in Biarritz working on our sunglasses marks and restoring our Vitamin D levels. Made famous by Napoleon in the 19th century, Biarritz is deservedly well-known and oozes old school glamour. The city was the first place in France where people tried the new sport of surfing in the 1960's. The Grande Plage (main beach) is expansive and beautiful with the Palais hotel (which once was an actual palace) spilling out onto the sand. The aquarium is well worth a visit too (it wasn't cheap) as there is a massive main tank of sharks and a seal enclosure on the roof. The kids got their hands wet in the tactile basin, where you can touch sea urchins, sea cucumbers, starfish and more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygC1aYs4KTx175WzS7AYpwz_Ny4PiRlW_7kBf-PYvVftfARW9N7Wd0ZBiyOs8LOVl8Lx_2h1e1cEPrml3Qa1PACq0U0Zyre_qLHYfmtlhNvjADg5AOR9iK4KL3YL-wV1XOr3ElXWKvZA/s1600/20150420_141226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygC1aYs4KTx175WzS7AYpwz_Ny4PiRlW_7kBf-PYvVftfARW9N7Wd0ZBiyOs8LOVl8Lx_2h1e1cEPrml3Qa1PACq0U0Zyre_qLHYfmtlhNvjADg5AOR9iK4KL3YL-wV1XOr3ElXWKvZA/s1600/20150420_141226.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grande Plage, Biarritz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the light house in Biarritz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locals enjoying the sun</td></tr>
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Another short car ride from the coast is the town of Sare, with its gorgeous red and white Basque houses. From there, we caught a rack and pinion train up the mountain La Rhune in the Western end of the Pyrenees. The cable cars are quaint and creaky and take you nine hundred metres up in about half an hour with a cog system. The ascent gives you a view of a natural, lush part of France complete with wild ponies (called Pottok). A foal was trotting along behind the carriage in front. At the top, we were right on the border with Spain and the view all around is incredible. At the top, there are rock cairns and a few restaurants. A short drive from there were the 'Grottes de Sare'. A guided tour through the caves described the uses of the cave system over time, from a shelter for prehistoric man to an ammunitions store in World War Two. A movie projected on the cave wall at the end drew the tour to a spooky, atmospheric close. Mr Seven was in awe of the (apparently) 3000 bats that lived in the cave.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from La Rhune over St Jean de Luz and Guethary on the coast</td></tr>
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Guethary itself is a great base for a holiday if you like sleepy, beach towns. It is not quite as glitzy as its neighbours but has a casual and friendly feel about it which suits us (and it's just a short hop to Spain). The main beach is fine pebbly sand with the rough seas of the Atlantic; a surf spot but also fine for a dip with the kids. We have had fantastic weather while we have been here (mid-twenties every day). Summer can triple the people here so spring is a great time to come.</div>
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We have also visited the beautiful town of Bayonne in the Basque country. Read about it <a href="http://kiwissayoui.blogspot.fr/2015/01/its-not-france-its-not-spain.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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<br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-16879887383676981102015-04-20T13:09:00.000-07:002018-03-26T03:23:49.108-07:00Get a bank account in France<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is la banque. Or for all of you English speakers, the bank.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having worked in finance, I was interested in how the banking system here in France would be different to what we are used to in New Zealand. Do you want to know what I have discovered? Two words: <strong>cheques</strong> and <strong>fees</strong>.</span></div>
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Opening a bank account</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the first things we did when arriving was to open a French bank account. This meant signing about six different forms, an hour long appointment and the account took about two weeks to be operational.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">This is because the bank need to send out a registered letter to confirm you live at the address given. (A courier delivers the letter and you have to sign it).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had to request to have a bank card. This is called a <em><span style="color: blue;">carte bleue</span> </em>and is part of the Visa network. It is usually a debit card, meaning the money needs to be in your account in order to purchase something (as opposed to credit card). There is a monthly fee for having a card also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can also request to have a cheque book. In New Zealand, it is almost unheard of to have one these days so we were not sure at first. It has been handy in France as some <strong>merchants do not offer payment by carte bleue or only above a certain amount (from 5 to 20 euros).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the account and card were up and running, we attempted to make a purchase over the internet. Internet purchases were not authorised with our card. First, we needed a French cell phone number in order to receive secure codes when we buy things online. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are also limits on how much we can purchase with the card in a month. Each cardholder has a limit. If the limit is reached, the card will decline (Embarassing!).</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What you will need:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- <strong>piece d'identite: </strong>ID, usually your passport including,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong>- visa de long sejour: </strong>long stay visa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong>- justificatif de domicile: </strong>proof of address (utilities bill if you have one, otherwise should be able to use contract for accommodation)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- <strong>information on your earnings and assets in original country ie bank statements</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">French banking vocabulary:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le compte - account</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le titulaire - account holder</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le compte cheque - cheque account</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le compte d'epargne - savings account</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le montant - amount / sum</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">les frais - fees</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le solde - balance</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le bilan - balance</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rélévé - statement</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">liquidites - cash available</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">RIB (releve identite bancaire) - account number</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">IBAN - International bank account number </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le BIC - business identifier code / bank code (8+ letters)</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">un guichet - ATM / cash withdrawal machine</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le distributeur automatique - ATM / cash withdrawal machine</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le virement - transfer</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le virement electronique - internet transfer / direct credit</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">effectuer un virement - to make a transfer</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le compte destinataire - beneficiary account / person receiving money</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le beneficiaire - beneficiary account / person receiving money</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">deposer - to deposit money</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">retirer - to withdraw money</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le chequier - cheque book</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">la carte bleue - debit card</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">sans contact - Paywave / payment by contactless chip card</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">encaisser un cheque - to cash a cheque</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">opposition - reversed/cancelled payment</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">decouvert - overdraft</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">le pret / l'emprunt - loan</span></h4>
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-32850554991198668122015-04-08T13:56:00.003-07:002015-04-08T13:56:21.887-07:00Us versus London: And the winner is...Five nights in London! What a great idea. The flights are cheap (more on that later...) and it is just a quick hop over the Channel from Bordeaux to an English-speaking place. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-KD4Abw9DTfTd3UGBvc8FsdLWEinvTOWk3HKLhyApvJv2ofi8ruDWyFSE9e30YKST8SATdGZh9gPgfzRurqx1R3CFH4d-9tNKShseX9qjw95bgItFayRHoT-X6Bg58maY5KVqcfcSNo/s1600/20150327_155205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-KD4Abw9DTfTd3UGBvc8FsdLWEinvTOWk3HKLhyApvJv2ofi8ruDWyFSE9e30YKST8SATdGZh9gPgfzRurqx1R3CFH4d-9tNKShseX9qjw95bgItFayRHoT-X6Bg58maY5KVqcfcSNo/s1600/20150327_155205.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenwich</td></tr>
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We got on the plane the day after the Germanwings crash and there was a passenger behind me freaking out about it. I am already an armrest-gripper so that didn't help much. Arriving at the airport, we took a bus to catch a train to get on another train. The stations weren't accessible so Dave got a good workout hauling the pushchair and luggage up and down steps. Then after most of a day travelling, there was no-one at the apartment to let us in.<br />
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All right London, you win this round.<br />
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That evening, we were due to meet friends for dinner but thought we should just pop into the doctors first to check out Miss Two's cough. The secretary at the doctor's office sent us straight to the Accident and Emergency Department of the local hospital. Highlights were the comatose man in the recovery position who vomited periodically and endless replay of the first two minutes of Despicable Me 2 thanks to a scratched DVD. I stayed overnight with Miss Two in the hospital and we were discharged the next evening. (Needless to say we had to miss dinner.)<br />
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Things started looking up from there. The next morning was fine and we went for a walk along the South Bank Queen's Walk. We wandered along the riverside past Shakespeare's Globe on through the Borough Market and admired Hay's Galleria. We braved the queues for the London Eye to appreciate the sights. The trip takes about 30 minutes and you are in the pod with about twenty five people. Just make sure to get a good spot for photos (and a plan of what you are looking at helps). The views are interesting in every direction with famous landmarks and unique architecture.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Ben and Westminster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Eye and view over the city</td></tr>
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That afternoon, we took a boat down the Thames to Greenwich. We walked through the cute little village and down to the Greenwich Observatory at 0 degrees longitude. We then explored the Cutty Sark ship and museum. The famous ship was one of the last tea clippers ever to be built and was launched in 1869. It was one of the fastest for its time and was used for cargo until 1922, then brought to the dry dock at Greenwich in 1954. There was plenty for both kids to explore, like the cabins and decks, as well as the museum below. The museum gives a good picture of what life was like on board, with interactive computer games, seats that rise and fall, ship models that kids can play with and flaps to open. It was great for both the two year old and seven year old.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutty Sark</td></tr>
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We spent the next day at the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour. The studios see 5,000 visitors per day so there were queues to get inside even with a booked ticket. The studios opened to the public in 2012 to showcase the famous sets used in the movies, including Platform 9 and 3/4, the Great Hall, the Gryffindor Common Room and Privet Drive. The props, costumes, make-up and design departments divulge how they make their magic too. You can walk through Diagon Alley or climb on the Hogwarts Express train. Master Seven's highlight of the day was a spell-casting lesson. The gift shop looked to be doing a great trade in round glasses and wands of every type.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set of Kings Cross Station and Hogwarts Express</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Potters' house</td></tr>
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The next day, rain drumming on the roof, we met some friends at Jamie Oliver's cafe in bustling Covent Garden. Then we had a look around the Science Museum. There was heaps to see there for older kids and interactive parts too.</div>
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Too quickly, time had trickled away and it was time to depart. On the last day, we took the train to the airport. We thought we had arrived in plenty of time, however we were sent to three separate desks on check-in. By the time we arrived at security, queues of grumbling travellers snaked up and down the giant room. After putting our boots and jackets back on, a desparate run to catch our flight followed and so we were doomed to lunch on the plane (which on a certain cheap airline consists of sandwiches and no dairy-free options). </div>
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When I think of London now, I smell the spicy deliciousness of hot cross buns. These fluffy darlings are nowhere to be found in France so we scoffed as many as we could while we were in England. We also managed to get in a few milky coffees and a good old-fashioned roast. Surprising the things you miss when you can't have them.</div>
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I concede defeat. No matter how long we stay in London, it never seems to be long enough.</div>
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<br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-88823866254899308682015-03-16T12:40:00.002-07:002018-05-24T03:30:10.481-07:00My kids are my French teachersIn a week, we will have lived in France for six months. That little fact is pretty hard to believe. We still feel like tourists in some ways. On the other hand, we can hardly imagine not eating our main meal at lunchtime or using cheap, efficient public transport to get around. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring has arrived in the Jardin Public de Bordeaux</td></tr>
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One thing that has surprised me the most is how much the kids teach me. Master 7 is so confident speaking in his second language. Even with a large group of French kids, he still sometimes takes a leader role in the group. He also often remembers something interesting the kids were talking about or that he learnt at school and comes home to tell us about it. French kids are plunged into grammar at six - he is learning about collective and proper nouns, plurals and pronouns already. He gets a real French perspective on things too (kids are so honest). Sometimes he brings home more questionable information though, like when he was asking what the 'doigt d'honneur' is. I had no idea as it sounded like /dwa da ner/ and could be any one of three phrases. It turns out it was the French way of saying 'giving the finger'. But the finger of honour does sound a lot more classy!<br />
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Kids are so adaptable. Whether it is taking an overcrowded tram or playing happily with another toddler, both babbling away in different languages, Miss Two takes everything about life here in her stride. She is also eating a wider range of food here (courgettes, tomatoes, olives). She knows the difference between francais and anglais. She can count to ten and sing the alphabet in both languages. I wonder how much she remembers of life in New Zealand?<br />
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Through her, I have also learnt a lot of French 'baby talk' from other parents discussing their kids and also from strangers who speak to her on the tram. Things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>coucou - hello to a baby / peekaboo</li>
<li>hop-la - oops!</li>
<li>dodo - sleep</li>
<li>doudou - teddy or blanket or pacifier</li>
<li>nounou - nanny</li>
<li>caca - poop</li>
<li>miam miam - yum</li>
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She loves a French TV show and associated books for kids called T'choupi. It is about a baby penguin and his teddy bear. We have learnt a lot about the culture in France from it. For example, in one episode T'choupi sticks a paper fish on the backs of his family and says 'Poisson d'avril' which is like our April Fool's Day.<br />
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Dune du Pyla</h3>
One of the top ten sights in the Lonely Planet guide of France is the Dune du Pyla. It is the biggest sand dune in Europe at 110 metres high and is about an hour from Bordeaux in the Arcachon Basin. We went to have a look last Sunday, along with quite a few other sightseers making use of the spring sunshine. <br />
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We toiled straight up, sand falling away beneath our feet. Then cresting the dune, the view from the top is absolutely amazing with the Atlantic coast and spit of Cap Ferret on one side and view over a vast pine forest on the other. New Zealand has sand dunes but this is on another level. The kids were happy to make sand castles. But the best part is coming back down - rolling, running, sliding. You can also buy little sleds to slide down on (to avoid the pants filling with sand). We will definitely be going back to the Dune again, to swim at the beach in the summer.<br />
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-1079946160427471602015-03-04T11:54:00.002-08:002015-03-20T13:34:31.625-07:0010 Ways To Know You're in France1. Public Displays of Affection are a part of life - at the tram stop, on the tram, in the park, at the cafe.<br />
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2. People go jogging all the time, everywhere.<br />
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3. At the supermarket, everyone painstakingly packs up all their food in bags, then pays for it. All the while, the cashier and everyone in the queue are watching and waiting.<br />
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4. You see young people pay by cheque. Seriously - people still pay by cheque. And you get dirty looks if you don't have the right change to pay for your baguette.<br />
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5. Coffee means a shot of espresso. <br />
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6. You walk along head down to avoid the dog poop on the footpaths.<br />
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7. Your breakfast cereal is full of chocolate. And you tried to buy a healthy one. Special K in fact. (Maybe could have tried harder.)<br />
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8. No parking signs mean 'let's try to cram three tiny Peugeots up on the footpath here'<br />
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9. You can't catch the tram because there is a protest (manifestation). Or perhaps a strike (greve).<br />
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10. There are magnificent Roman ruins round the corner but no-one cares. And you live in an apartment built before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.<br />
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Seriously, France, we love you.<br />
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Drum beats, confetti and people of all sorts filled the streets for Bordeaux's version of Carnaval this week. It is a parade and street party to celebrate the end of winter. Let's just say it was a little different to the kiwi Santa Parade, with topless ladies and masked ghoulish figures, as well as floats. At the end a huge crowd of people dance along behind the retinue. It is pretty hard to resist the party feeling. Spring is coming! There are more <a href="http://www.sudouest.fr/2015/03/01/bordeaux-les-plus-belles-images-du-carnaval-des-deux-rives-1845056-2780.php" target="_blank">pictures in the Sud Ouest Newspaper</a> if you are interested.<br />
<br />kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-35431495060997154492015-03-03T13:07:00.000-08:002015-04-08T11:02:26.201-07:00Amazing Machines <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caterpillar ride</td></tr>
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We managed to fit in some great day trips during the winter school holidays. The only issue was waiting for a break in the rain!<br />
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Nantes is a 3 hour drive from Bordeaux (six hours in the car is probably our limit in one day) but it is yet another lovely city that we vowed to return to. <a href="http://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/en/" target="_blank">Les machines de l'ile de Nantes</a> is a strange museum / theme park inspired by the works of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci. The creators wanted to make machines that are beautiful works of art mimicking nature. The whole thing has a 'steam-punk' feel as the hinges and working parts are exposed. They are planning to create a huge tree with moving fauna. There is already a heron which flies across the room, a ride-on caterpillar and a giant mechanical ant. <br />
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We rode in a three-storey high mechanical elephant which drives around the block, squirting water from its trunk at the crowds of people that inevitably come to stare. The elephant ride was the highlight for the kids, and the view of Nantes and the Loire river wasn't bad from up there either.<br />
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Another day trip we had on our list was to the Castle at Castelnaud. It is hailed as one of the best castles to visit in France. Rolling through the lush <a href="http://about-france.com/tourism/river-dordogne-area.htm" target="_blank">Dordogne valley</a> to Perigord, you could be forgiven for thinking you had gone back in time. This region follows the Dordogne river between limestone cliffs and low hills. Chateaux loom up on the horizon, sleepy villages clustered around them. This area is extremely busy in summer so the opportunity to have a look around with hardly another tourist is pretty valuable.</div>
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We visited the chateau, which is an imposing and well fortified castle containing a museum of warfare and weapons. The kids loved opening the heavy doors and exploring the passageways. Master 7 was fascinated by the trebuchets, which are shown on video flinging heavy stones. Walking through the village, we stopped to watch a man in period costume demonstrate wood-turning by making a spinning top.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castelnaud-la-Chappelle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trebuchet</td></tr>
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We also went to have a look at the Zoo de Pessac. The habitats were much smaller than zoos we are used to, which also means that you get to see more of the animals. There were some different animals there like the long-nosed tapir and the flamingo. Hyperactive gibbons, cute otters and playful tiger cubs amazed both kids. The much-advertised raptor discovery experience turned out to a be a clever mind trick. The trail had videos and bones of raptors to increase the kids' excitement. In the final 'reveal', we stepped outside into the dinosaur cage only to be looking at ourselves amongst the raptors... on a computer screen.</div>
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<a href="http://www.loumessugo.com/en/blog/entry/all-about-france-link-up" title="Lou Messugo"></a>kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-33096609456319988382015-02-22T11:46:00.000-08:002018-05-24T03:27:18.759-07:00Chasing Tiny Houses in Bordeaux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have been chasing down tiny houses in Bordeaux this week. We had seen these cabins on "George Clarke's Amazing Spaces" on TV. So we decided to hunt them down to glean some of their practical space-saving ideas. They are called Suburban Refuges and are hidden in the urban fringes to encourage people to walk in these areas and discover new things. It is also a good excuse to explore some of the beautiful parks here in Bordeaux.</div>
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People can book and stay in them for free. However, there is no water or electricity and a long-drop toilet. There also appeared to be no signs, only approximate locations on a map. </div>
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We discovered the owl cabin behind a gigantic mall, through the carpark, in a park by the river. It is in Rives d'Arcins, if you are looking for it on a map.</div>
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It took us two tries to find the 'fallen tree trunk' below. It sits in a clearing in another forest park, trying to blend in with its surroundings. It is in the Ecosite du Bourghail, Pessac and it's definitely worth a visit, with gorgeous walks through the trees to explore.</div>
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Master 7 ate at the school canteen for the first time just before the holidays. Most of you probably know Master 7 has dairy and egg allergies. Let's just say eating out in France can be difficult, with cheese, creamy sauce and butter dripping from even the most humble of vegetables. Anyway, due to his allergies, we had to visit with the school doctor to get an official piece of paper to enrol at the canteen. </div>
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The menus are posted online and you can drill down to see all the ingredients. I send along a chilly bag containing substitute food for any courses he can't eat that day. ie The entrée was a cheese so I sent some carrot sticks. The cheese course being also cheese, I sent along a soy yoghurt. The main dish for the day was ratatouille and there was fruit for dessert. </div>
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I wonder what he thinks of this new life. In New Zealand, he ate peanut butter sandwiches and an apple every day. Kids took their own lunch box and drink bottle and ate outside overlooking the field under a shade sail. Ten minutes of sitting down and then they were free to run and play on the playground for 45 minutes. French schools have a half hour of sitting down to eat a five course meal, then an hour and a half of play - in a concrete courtyard. The day seemed to go fine, except for the no talking during lunch rule!</div>
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This week we also moved to a smaller apartment. At a teeny 65 sq metres, it is compact and well laid out. It has been newly renovated with all the bells and whistles. There are large windows with expansive views over the city. Coming from New Zealand where everyone lives in houses of 100 square metres or more and has a garden, it takes a big shift in mindset for a family of four to adapt. It is perfectly liveable and in fact, millions of people live in spaces this small around the world.</div>
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The biggest challenge is minimising the amount of <span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>stuff</strong></span> we are accumulating! </div>
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-67908839634452968962015-02-02T13:09:00.000-08:002015-03-20T14:10:58.360-07:00I'm Just Not That Into You... Airbus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<strong>“I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new” </strong><br />
<strong>― Jules Verne, <em>Around the World in Eighty Days</em></strong></div>
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Book early, bring your passports, arrive half an hour early, cellphones off. <br />
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No, we didn't take a flight to some exotic destination. These were the instructions for our visit to the top secret Airbus factory in Toulouse. Both kids were uber excited all week about a tour behind the scenes. We pinned on our visitor badges and hopped on a bus. All exciting so far. The bus took us to a huge building where we learnt which parts of the planes are made where. Then we observed the planes in various stages of assembly from a mezzanine floor. Finally, we went into a mock-up of an Airbus fuselage to watch some videos of test flights. Yes, the planes are pretty big. Yes, the huge hangar where three planes were being assembled is the biggest building in Europe volume - wise. Yes, the nice French man made it as interesting as he could. But the tour lacked a little <em>je ne sais quoi</em>. </div>
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Everyone enjoyed the Aeroscopia Museum afterwards though and it was high time for the kids to get involved with interactive stuff and run round looking at planes. Everyone's highlight was walking through a Concorde and an Airbus A300B. There was also a huge Super Guppy with a film on the history of Airbus being projected inside the nose.<br />
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The end of winter must surely be in sight as we come into February. The last few days have brought rain, hail and high winds to our little corner of Aquitaine. Further south there has been flooding and snow drifts with headlines screaming 'apocalypse snow' this week. However, gradually the days are getting longer. Chandeleur is celebrated here on the 2nd of February. It is a Catholic festival which is celebrated by eating crepes, traditionally showing the end of winter was nigh and that families had enough food reserves to last.</div>
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We celebrated my son's birthday this week too. In the week leading up to it, I realized I had no idea of the protocol for birthday parties in France! How many kids? Drop off or stay? How much notice is required? Do kids even do parties here? That's before the usual issues of party packs, allergy-friendly foods etc! So we decided to get him to write a list of what he would like to do on his birthday with the family. Near the top of his list was a train trip so we took the train to Saintes, had a delicious lunch and ate lots of birthday cake. Saintes has a large indoor playland with karting track, playground with slides, mega trampoline and ball pit. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We have watched with interest the discussions on French television about secularity (<em>laicite</em>) and freedom of speech in the Republic after recent events. And the French do know how to discuss things. No topic is taboo. Already, schools are implementing teaching about secularity and understanding the different religions in the community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Maybe France has more to teach us than just how to eat <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">five courses for lunch</span> and stay slim!</span></div>
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-1371686374805340512015-01-21T13:16:00.001-08:002015-04-21T12:24:07.210-07:00It's not France, it's not Spain...<h3>
Bayonne</h3>
One wet, stormy day we ventured into Basque country and had a look around <a href="http://www.bayonne-tourisme.com/en/" target="_blank">Bayonne (click for more info)</a>. This beautiful little city sits at the meeting of two rivers, the Nive and the Adour. It is famous for giving the world bayonets and for its style of ham and chocolate industry. The buildings are decorated with red or blue shutters in a distinctive style, mimicking the colours of their flag. We had a look around Petit Bayonne and had lunch at one of the riverside bistros. The Musee Basque has a wealth of information about traditions specific to the Basque region, like the sport of <em>pelota </em>and traditional dance. This was a great museum that catered to kids (some in France don't!) by having things they can pick up and touch or listen to. There was also a replica interior of a Basque house, complete with furniture. The Basque people are fiercely proud of their heritage and there have been calls for greater autonomy for the region.<br />
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The Basque language is still spoken by some 800,000 people in Spain and France. Signage is all in Basque and French. Basque words seem to have a lot of X's in them. The language is fascinating as it is unrelated to all other known languages. Its forerunner was Aquitanian, which dates back to pre-Roman times. Some have even theorised that it was spoken in Neolithic times. Read more about Basque <a href="http://www.ontariobasqueclub.dantzariak.net/trask.htm" target="_blank">here</a> if you are interested.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distinctive Basque buildings in the market square</td></tr>
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French hacks</h3>
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No matter how good your French, you might hear some of these sayings and be a little confused:</div>
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<strong>Il y a des jours sans et il y a des jours avec</strong></div>
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Literally there are days without and there are days with </div>
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<strong>Meaning is similar to 'you have good days and bad days' with a Gallic shrug</strong></div>
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<strong>Je m'en fiche</strong></div>
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<strong>Meaning I couldn't care less</strong></div>
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<strong>Quoi</strong></div>
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<strong>This is very common, mostly used at the end of a sentence (similar to eh in English)</strong></div>
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<strong>C'est parti!</strong></div>
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<strong>Varied meanings including 'here we go', 'go', 'we're off', 'it's on'</strong></div>
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kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09246577485642612528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103722867775154390.post-77482523642034042122015-01-15T13:21:00.000-08:002015-03-20T14:14:52.575-07:00Thoughts on Life<strong><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First of all, a Happy New Year to you all.</span></strong> <br />
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So far, this year has brought home to us a few truths:<br />
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1. <strong>Time Marches On</strong>: We are almost up to the four-month mark which means one third of our trip is gone! It is easy to think that we are in France therefore we must be learning French (absorbing it somehow, through the skin). This is not necessarily the case. The best way to learn the language is to speak to native speakers while we can! <br />
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2. <strong>We Are All Mortal</strong>: Watching the events unfold in the Paris attacks was a sobering start to the year. France collectively held its breath to see what would happen for those few days. The aftermath has brought rigorous debate as well as millions rallying in Paris, here in Bordeaux and across the world.<br />
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3. <strong>We Are Not In NZ Now, Dr Ropata:</strong> It is not unusual to see a small group of armed soldiers riding the tram. The government has mobilised 10,000 troops to protect public places as part of the raised alert level. <br />
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We recently visited the Vezere Valley which is home to cave systems with prehistoric remains. We had lunch in the beautiful village Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil (where the first five skeletons of Cro-Magnon man were discovered in 1868) and visited the National Museum of Prehistory. Due to bad planning and unfortunate Saturday closings, we missed out on visiting any caves with drawings THIS time. We did discover a troglodyte village at <a href="http://www.roque-st-christophe.com/main.php?l=en" target="_blank">Roque Saint-Christophe</a> which was amazing. It was inhabited 55,000 years ago by Neanderthal man then later used as a fortified city, housing 1000 people. The tunnels, rooms and paths span five levels in the side of the limestone cliff. It includes exhibits showing how people lived, prepared food and how they transported goods up the hill. Master 6 particularly liked the giant medieval pulley systems, like the "hamster wheel" which a man walked inside to turn the wheel and bring up the rope.<br />
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Another weekend we embarked on a 2 hour drive to Futuroscope Theme Park. It was much-anticipated and neither of the kids slept on the way there. We arrived mid morning and both were decidedly grumpy until all was forgiven after an early lunch. The rest of the day was thoroughly enjoyable. It is definitely not a traditional theme park with rollercoasters and Disney characters. As well as plenty of 4D cinema experiences, there are playgrounds, a mini car course for kids and <em>Le Monde des Enfants </em>(not just for kids) with outdoor games and rides. January was a good time to visit as there were no huge queues for the rides, although a couple of the attractions were closed.<br />
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Our New Years Eve started off with the best of intentions. We jumped on the tram to go to a restaurant in the city centre but, contrary to what the website said, it was not opening for dinner for another hour. It being far too cold to just hang around, we had a quick look to see if by some miracle there were any other restaurants in town opening before 7pm. No. So as a last resort we decided to go to our local McDonald's. Surely, THEY would be open right? WRONG. In the end, we waited outside another restaurant for half an hour while the staff had a wine or two. Then we had a nice meal and went home and were in bed by 11:30pm!<br />
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It has been an intense couple of weeks to start off the year. But we plan on making the most of 2015.<br />
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