Travel Tour France

Friday, March 30, 2007

Observing the Privileged French Art

Art critics say that there are three prerequisite agents to consider when studying French art. First, it is significant to examine the more conditions and traditions that influence that specific artwork. Aside from these agents, the country's kaleidoscopic and rich history is also a big agent that contributes to the creation of that artwork. More importantly, it is also prerequisite to observe the more qualities and characters of French people because needless to say, one's artwork represents one's character.

There are more movements in French art, primarily during the 20th century. If you are familiar aware with cubism and fauvism, which are combinations of African art and post-impressionism, then you probably have an idea that these were the essential genres at that time. Picasso and Matisse are major supreme representatives of these celebrated art genres.

By the end of World War I, other groups came up in France -- Dadaism and surrealism. Though the former did not survive in the animated art world for a long time, the latter existed as the best movement during this era. Years later, surrealism gradually went away and was replaced by abstract expressionism, also famous as Tachime style, because of the new breeds of French artists like Georges Mathieu, Pierre Soulages, and Jean Fautrier.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Figure and Impact of the French Flag

Popular for its tricolor vertical band combination of blue, white, and red, the national flag of France is known to be among the distinctive area symbols in the world. The current colors of the flag were adopted by Valery Giscard d'Estang, replacing the former darker figure of the flag. Basically, the flag's tricolor stripes were not properly wide. The explanation for this figure was that if the stripes were uniform, then the brighter shade would appear inappropriately wider. With such figure issue, the flag's proportions were altered, making the width of the stripes uniform. A French flag decree in 1853, however, issued a measurement requirement of unequal stripe uniform, thus returning the figure to its original design.

As for its impact, the French flag is also regarded for its strong revolutionary impact. As such, the area flag was known to be acknowledged by other countries, including Chad, Ireland, Romania, Norway, Italy, Belgium, and Mexico. The Acadians's area flag was also acknowledged after the French flag. Aside from its area influence, the figure of the French flag was also adopted by Adidas in its match ball design, which consisted of triode blue, red, and white pattern, for the 1998 FIFA World Cup event in France.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Two Special but Celebrated French Delicacies

French cuisine is one of the most celebrated cuisines in the whole world particularly because of its superior taste. Among the varieties of French delicacies, escargots or snails and frog legs are two of the most celebrated French dishes that are commonly served in different restaurants around the world.

Escargots or cooked snails are always eaten as a juicy appetizer and are celebrated particularly in North America. Although there are about 116 varieties of edible snails, their taste differs from each other and their stomach contents are perilous to humans. That is the ground why their front side must be purged first before they are cooked with butter and garlic.

Frog legs, on the other hand, are normally served either fried or deep-fried and are also celebrated in China, Southern America, and the Caribbean. Although frogs are normal animals, only a certain varieties of frog can be eaten and only their legs are cooked – though in France, only the upper part of the frog’s hind legs are served.

However, contrary to celebrated belief, escargots and frog legs are two French delicacies that are infrequently eaten in its homeland. In fact, escargots are only eaten during extraordinary occasions while frog legs are considered as a rare snack in the country.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Haute Couture 101…The Archetype Of Superior Fashion

Chanel...Dior...Laroche...Givenchy...chances are you have already ran into these famous names somewhere in your regular Vogue browsing or tuning into various fashion channels or awards shows like the Oscars or the Golden Globe or turning your sights at fashion blogs that thrive in cyberspace and notice the words haute couture or even pseudonyms like Haute Girl connected with them. But have you got any notion of what that French sounding part means?

For fashion bloggers and fanatics, those above-mentioned fashion major players along with several other popular designer brands that appear on the runways and shops worldwide comprise the so-called haute couture. But unfortunately, this is somewhat a misinterpretation although its literal translation really meant exquisite and personalized dressmaking.

For a fashion company to be properly called haute couture, certain guidelines laid by the French government's Ministry of Industry must obey. These are as follows: 1) present custom-fit designs to private customers, 2) own a Paris workshop that has 15 or more full-time workers, 3) and have seasonal exhibitions which feature clothing lines for daytime and evening activities.

To make sure that you're favorite brand name is certainly haute couture, better watch out for the annual Paris Fashion Week and the said expression is actually in the advertisements that they produce.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Classic French Hotel In A Traditional French Municipality

France may be taken as a cosmopolitan country but this does not necessarily mean that it has wholly forgotten the simple life. On the contrary, some French municipalities are still famed to be old-fashioned and laid-back in its approach. If you happen to have a peculiar preference for this kind of life, then the town of Normandy will suit your preference perfectly.

In Normandy, the simple French life is best reflected in Hotel de la Plage with its classic family setting highlighted by its seafront seat amidst a set of simple but charming streets. Further accentuating its stress on simple family pleasures, the hotel uniquely permits pets to stay with their masters inside the room provided they are not left unassisted.

Wake up to an encouraging Normandy morning where hotel breakfast is served at half the charge for children below twelve years old. Afterward, you can have the children outdoors where a garden and a play section awaits them to start the day right.

Access to Hotel de la Plage is not a question as it is conveniently situated near the ferry station where a quick tour of Normandy is possible. There is likewise a sizable car park nearby where you can place your vehicle in total safety and get to use once you determine to embark on a more comprehensive Normandy sightseeing trip.