AT A BEND IN A FRENCH RIVER

A hilltop view of a meander in the Trieux river with the added charm of a woven fence, or une clôture tressée, in the Côtes-d-Amor department of Brittany. Ah, la Douce France! The 72 kilometer long river eventually forms an estuary before emptying into the English Channel. Photo taken looking out a window of the Château de la Roche-Jagu.

Expression

la douce France :  the fair, or sweet France

©2021 P. B. Lecron

A PRISTINE BEACH

 Friend and photographer from the south of France, Sylvia Schiff, contributes this photo of crystal clear water on a pristine beach of Le Lavandou, a village in the Var. Photograph ©2021 Sylvia Schiff, All Rights Reserved.

Vocabulary

une plage immaculée: a pristine beach

l'eau cristalline: crystal clear water

To follow and view Sylvia's exceptional photos on Instagram go to:  @sylvia30gsa_color

©2021 P. B. Lecron

UNE VESPA, N'EST-CE PAS?

 On the streets of Rouen we were wowed by this little beauty, a Vespa Primavera 50 Sean Wotherspoon. Notice that a black covering protects the scooter's tan leather seat. This particular model of the iconic Italian scooter sports the touch of the American streetwear designer, Sean Wotherspoon. He first gained fame for his design of the Nike Air Max 1/97, a highly popular sneaker in 2018. Vespa is Italian for wasp, which in French is guêpe.  

Vocabulary 

filer: to scoot

Like to see an entirely different Vespa paint job? Click here.

©2021 P. B. Lecron

 

BITTERSWEET

Have you ever wondered why grapefruits are called grapefruits? What does the word "grape" have to do with the large citrus fruit?  An explanation is that these fruit grow in clusters, or as they say in French, en grappes. 


Vocabulary

douce-amère, doux-amer: bittersweet

un pamplemousse: a grapefruit
une grappe de raisin: a bunch of grapes
en grappe:  in clusters

un agrume: a citrus fruit

©2021 P. B. Lecron

LATE SUMMER PAPYRUS

 Papyrus, a plant which has a very long history because its stems were used to make writing material 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, makes me think of an old and familiar French expression: "Vieux comme mes robes," or "Old as my dresses,"  a play on words for "Vieux comme Hérode," or "Old as Herod."

This lovely specimen grows along the edge of Monet's water garden at Giverny.

©2021 P. B. Lecron

CHARMING FRENCH OUTPOST

AND there it was! At what I like to consider as a French outpost on the small Florida Gulf Coast barrier island of Anna Maria, my Franco-American family and I were treated to a delightful moment and delicious lunch at the My Ami restaurant. Our outdoor table on the terrace and beer imported from the north of France were definite pluses! Like a home away from home, we felt a well-being and were so at ease!

Vocabulary

un bastion, un poste avancé: an outpost

le bien-être:  well being

©2021 P. B. Lecron

POINT OF VIEW

 Le temps est un phénomène de perspectives. Jean Cocteau (1889-1963)

Time is a phenomenon of perspectives. 

From whichever point in place or time you are looking, this door opening into the Vézelay Abbey in Burgundy is breathtakingly enormous.  A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage site, was--and still is, a not to be missed place of pilgrimage on one of the roads leading to Santiago de Compostela.

©2021 P. B. Lecron

TRANSITIONING

My favorite way to transition from the final days of summer to the start of autumn is to treat myself to a visit to Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny. It's never a disappointment. Ce n'est jamais une déception.

Vocabulary

une échinacea:  a coneflower

©2021 P. B. Lecron