French Touch Courses Ldn/Paris

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Mont Saint-Michel
French Touch Courses Ldn/Paris

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30/10/2022

REIMS CATHEDRAL ⛪

Reims Cathedral, in the Champagne region, is recognised worldwide as one of the defining models of Gothic art. This majestic monument was classed by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1991.

It is slightly younger than Notre Dame (50 years) but is bigger! It played a central role in the history of France for 800 years. Indeed, Reims Cathedral is where the kings of France were crowned! The cathedral hosted thirty-three sovereign coronations in just over 1000 years!

The cathedral also hosted the baptism of Clovis around the year 498, and so kingdom of the Franks was born. This made Reims the chosen city to crown Kings.

I had the pleasure to visit it very recently, and it is splendid indeed!

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30/10/2022

DE OUF!

Before moving to Paris, I mostly heard this phrase either on TV, radio, or friends in France. Now, I am using it!!

"C'est de ouf", "un truc de ouf" means it's crazy, amazing, and refers to a crazy thing, story, place, person…or anything exceptional. It’s generally used positively, even though not always, just like “It’s crazy” can be negative!

This expression was at first very “slangish” and familiar, reserved to very young people. But with time it became so popular that a lot of people from different generations are using it right now!

The original word "fou" got twisted into a new (more cool) one by a mechanism we call “verlan“. For example, if you are visiting Paris and someone asks you what you think of the city, you can say: “C’est ouf !” (That’s amazing!) but also the similar version: “C’est un truc de ouf !” (That’s something amazing!).

I hope you're having a weekend "de ouf" 😉😎

30/10/2022

LE MONT ST MICHEL

Bonjour!
Today, let me share with you this beautiful jewel in Normandy.

The Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel was founded by Saint-Aubert, the Bishop of Avranches, in 708 C.E. Positioned on the border between Normandy and Brittany, the Monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel was both a place of passage and a fortress for the Duchy of Normandy.

The tidal waves in Mont Saint Michel reach nearly 14 metres which is the highest in Europe. In the early days, no one could cross during the high tides and the only way to the island was a tidal causeway. In recent times a more permanent path has been built to make travel possible.

Mont-Saint-Michel was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and is one of the most visited site in France, even if it takes 900×steps to go to the top!

I still remember my visit there years ago with a group of students and we absolutely loved it!

30/10/2022

🌛🌜

Bonjour!

“Être dans la lune” is a fun French expression that translates literally to “to be in the moon” or “to be on the moon”. The idiom can be translated as "to be miles away".
It is used to describe someone who is not very focused or seems caught in their thoughts and daydreams!

Its use and meaning dates back to the 18th Age of Enlightenment with Mirabeau, a philosopher who saw the people contemplating the Moon as people who were distancing from the reality of the daily world!

Bon weekend!

30/10/2022

PONT ALEXANDRE III

Bonjour from Paris!

The Pont Alexandre III is a majestic arch bridge that spans the Seine. It connect the Champs Élysées quarter with those of the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. The bridge is regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in the city! It ha been classified as monument historique since 1975.

16/08/2022

RACONTER DES SALADES 🥗

Bonjour! Let's look at an expression today that is related to our Summer menu!

"Raconter des salades ", literally translated as "to tell salads", is equivalent to "spinning yarns"; in other words, telling elaborate lies!

Why salad? 🤔 Some say it's because it’s a variety of colorful ingredients that, together, make a delicious whole to eat– or in this case, easy to "swallow", or rather, believe!

03/08/2022

LE PETIT NICE

Bonjour!

Let me introduce you to my favourite place in Marseille - Le Petit Nice, owned by the wonderful starred chef . This iconic venue in Marseille is a long family story since 1917 and three generations!

Overlooking the sea, and looking out to the horizon, this 5-stars hotel and 3-star restaurant is a haven of peace right by the sea, and a gustative heaven. The elegant marine decor is in perfect harmony with the Gérald Passedat’s cuisine of the South and the sea. The menu is composed of the fresh catch of thee day!

In the word of the chef himself, "my cuisine is an instinctive, pure cuisine, giving flavour and texture with every mouthful. A cuisine of depth, with a unique approach to the Mediterranean and respect for the maritime domain. My garden is the Mediterranean".

I highly recommend it, for a unique fine dining gastronomic experience in a beautiful setting and warm welcome! You can also be tempted and stay over to extend the Mediterranean dream!

03/08/2022

SUR UN PETIT NUAGE 🌥

Bonjour!

Voilà an interesting phrase, which is perfect in this Summer holidays time!

It literally translates as "on a little cloud" but English people would say "on cloud nine".

We say this in France, when we are so intensely happy, we feel so light, that we could reach the sky, and seat on a little cloud! 😊☁️

It may be as simple things as enjoying a perfect coffee with a view, being surrounded by your best friends, booking your perfect holidays, finding the perfect baguette 😁, or having your crush inviting you for a hot date!

And you, when was the last time you fell so light and happy like this? Comment below! 👇 😉

23/07/2022

VILLA EPHRUSSI DE ROTSHILD

Bonjour from South of France!

This beautiful villa is also called Villa Île - de - France and is located in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, next to Nice. It was co-designed by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild in early 20th century. She filled the mansion with antiques, paintings, sculptures and objets d'art. The gardens are classified by the Ministry of Culture as one of the most beautiful gardens in France, whilst the villa itself has been classified as monument historique since 1996.

Upon her death in 1934, the Baroness donated the property and its collections to the Académie des Beaux-Arts and it is now open to the public.

I had the pleasure to visit last Summer, and I highly recommend!

Bon weekend! ❤️

23/07/2022

JETER L'ARGENT PAR LES FENÊTRES 💵

This expression can be literally translated as, to throw money out of the window! Who would do this?! Let's see at the real meaning after looking at its origin.

It goes back to the Middle Age when people sometimes did throw coins to troubadours who would play music on the street. People threw their wastage too, as there was no drains at the time!

Nowadays, it means that someone spends their money on unnecessary things, waste it by spending it carelessly!

23/07/2022

CAROUSELS

For the curious, the word "carrousel" historically designates a tournament performed by riders for combat training. The concept of the carousel machine originated in the sixth century in Byzantium, known today as Istanbul. The invention had a rotating center with poles that reached outward. Tied to the poles were baskets that swung riders in a circle. This concept ties into the 12th century, where horsemen began using the device for battle training. Inspiration for the merry-go-rounds we know today came from 12th-century Asia and Europe. Then playful versions for children were born!

They are now very famous all over France, especially in Paris where we can find 20 of them! It's great for children but actually also for decoration and history!

Vive les chevaliers! 🇫🇷

23/07/2022

⌚ NE PAS CHERCHER MIDI À QUATORZE HEURES

This expression dates back to early as the 16th century when it was said "to look for noon at eleven o'clock". It will change in the 17th century to adopt the current form.

Noon being one of the most important and easily recognizable points, we say "look for noon at two o'clock" to mean that a person makes something extremely complicated from something simple!! 🤷‍♀️

It's very commonly used here in France! 🇫🇷

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