Commercialization of the French Countryside and Other Problems

I know many of you out there consider France as a European haven, but nothing is perfect, so they say.

For example, in the French town of Draguignan, there is already a sizable population of Dutch and British; naturally, the locals are not too happy to be congested by foreigners. But, there is nothing they can do because migrating from one part of Europe to another became very easy since the formation of the European Union.

In this part of the world, the city included, smoking can also drive anyone loopy, but men and women alike engage heavily in this guilty pleasure. You try to relax in a cozy corner and find yourself cornered by cigarette smoke. The residents don't care about the people around them, as long as their nicotine desire is satisfied. Whether you choose to hide in a restaurant, take a break on the beach, or even stay inside your running car, second-hand smoke will certainly find you. So, I really pray that freedom will come when Parliament empowers the bill banning smoking in public places. Ireland and Italy are already smoke-free states, so why not this magnificent country?

I also bought a very ancient book in a place which sells antiques and second-hand items. It is an anthology of vignettes from the Bible published in 1875; it is does not cost much but it is written in both Latin and French! Now, where did the value of the low-cost price go, especially for us vacationers?

No wonder the smoking, the annoying bureaucracy, and the confusing charges are the top three exasperations I have on visiting this country.

Admiring People in a French Hovel

Nice, with the china blue Mediterranean Sea in the background, is probably the most beautiful place to watch people in the plazas and on the beach. The sunbathers, usually tanned, topless, and in their sexy bikinis, populate the strip, especially the beach area. On the other hand, the city center is like a showcase with beautiful women in their tiniest bikinis, like models in divergent fashion magazines.

The boyfriends are very proud of their attractive girlfriends and show off their girls like works of art. It certainly seems that the boys are confident enough to flaunt their own assets and the things they carry with them. The women, meanwhile, whisper and laugh in a very controlled tone so that one would not hear any sound at all. The women remain vague, very conscious of propriety, not to mention that they walk with such poise that one would assume they learned it in a finishing school.

Watching people in Nice is such a fun pastime and it has become an habit that infects a great number. The place is a giant canvas where one can freely express himself or herself, so if you are a tourist visiting this place, prepare to be seen in your most alluring self.

The Attractive French Maidens

Women seem to always tackle how to look like models; for some unknown reason their human wounds become invisible to the audience. What's left is the unique, alluring self and it is amazing to find that distinct style in each French woman.

Every girl forms her own style of dressing by usingappropriate accessories, arranging her hair, and manipulating standard wardrobe items. On the other hand, what French women have in common are seductive figures, nice eyelashes, and accessories that complement the body.

When it comes to outfits, the French ladies generally prefer clothes that show off the silhouette and the curves of their bodies nicely, showing just a tiny area of skin to attract in a subtle way. They usually stay away from the very short skirts and sensual blouses and instead, wear long skirts or dresses where the seduction resides in the minuscule details like slits, exposed backs, tiny tops that flaunt the lower abdomen, or pants that expose sexy underwear. Lastly, their shoes acentuate their femininity; sexy is too vulgar a word to describe their legs and feet -- "elegantly charming" is the more appropriate idea.

French women are also experts in cosmetics, particularly in applying make-up that is not excessive; one would just know that whatever they did improves their faces, so people notice the woman in them and not the make-up per se.

Journeys in Breathtaking France

If you ever get the opening to take a trip to Europe, take the coastal road in Italy from Ventimiglia to San Remo. This region is called Via Aurelia and it is the oldest Italian road, constructed by the Romans.

You may just find the area to be the most lovely road that you can ever see in the world since it is a very colorful place, thanks to the bougainvilleas and the many enchanting flowers growing everywhere. You can leave the house on a Friday night and drive by car to Fontan, a minuscule medieval village, which has very few residents in the winter. The path is also placed very close to the border of Italy so you can actually wander two countries in two days.

As for us, our first day started in San Remo in Italy; surprisingly, there was a sale in the booths, hence we ended up shopping. The prices are very low and you can find a scarf and a blouse for a good price. We ate in a traditional restaurant, lounged on the beach, and strolled on the hills. The next day we organized a picnic in Casterino, an stunning alpine village; we visited Saorge after, a village considered as one of the most picturesque in France.

The Rewards of the Pursuit of Gardening

In the chain of command of all things, gardening can be placed at the head because gardening keeps you feeling young enough to enjoy life's other marvels. This is generally the belief of those of us who have houses in France. In this hobby, we pass along the reverence for life to our children, with whom we can plant cabbage and onion seeds and get as exhilarated as they do when the seedlings poke out of the ground. In addition, common sense tells us that pre-teens who grow vegetables are more likely to gobble them.

I've known a fair number of the elderly who do gardening and I've seen that they are more responsive and have less knee and hip problems. Older gardeners may be able to plant fewer shrubs and find that weeds constantly infest their yard, but they walk through life with a joy that companionship with the ladybugs can give.

Only a real gardener would spend hours on a single exquisite ornamental plant and not feel guilty. Only a committed gardener would spend long evenings enthralled by garden catalogs. Only a real gardener can derive resiliency from the experience of finding out that his exquisite plants have been eaten by pests.

Gardening also shows us the rapture of managing a garden and the delightful responsibility of caring for a tiny seedling that blossoms in time. When your gardening days are finally over, there is no lack of students who can extend what you have done.