1. France Ch. 15 By: S. Couch

2. 10 Reasons Why France May Not Be For You… 1. The French sure do love their cigarettes. If you don’t like cigarette smoke, France may not be for you. 2. If you expect to be fussed and fawned over at dinner by wait staff who act like your new best friend and offer up their name, France may not be for you. 3. And if you may become upset and impatient when said wait staff let you relax and enjoy your meal rather than shoving you out the door, France may not be for you. 4. If you need to touch and riffle through all the merchandise when you’re shopping and you think the customer is always right, France may not be for you. 5. If you expect the French to smile, hold the door for you (a complete stranger) and speak to you in English, France may not be for you. 6. If you don’t like cheese - the smell of cheese, the taste of cheese. It’s a country of over 365 cheeses and if you can’t handle that much cheese, France may not be for you 7. If you prefer Paris sidewalks to be free of doggie doo, France may not be for you. 8. If you’re not big on etiquette, using your manners, or going out of your way to be polite in a foreign country, France may not be for you. 9. If you like mega-sized portions and leftovers, France may not be for you. 10. If you thing aloof, private and reserved translates to rude, France may not be for you.

3. 3 Reasons Why You Should Visit France… 1. Villages- Though French villages may have Internet access, ATMs and cell phone service, many still retain their historic architecture, gorgeous views and quiet pace of life. Mont-Saint-Michel (ot-montsaintmichel.com), just off the northern coast of Normandy, is an island surrounded by mudflats and connected to the mainland by a causeway. A sand-colored medieval town spirals around it until it reaches the abbey at the top, which is crowned by a spire. Strasbourg Alsace- Lorraine, combines a Shakespearean set dominated by half-timbered structures with a glam Hollywood movie through its modern glass buildings. And Aix-en- Provence in the southern sun of Provence, offers people-watching in its many fountains and squares.

4. 2. Food The delightful things you've heard about French cuisine are all true: Sauces, cheeses, bread, champagne, pastries -- there's no end to what you can sample and where to enjoy it. If it's a beautiful day, start with a café, which you'll recognize by the rows of tables and chairs clustered outside its doors. A village may have only one, while large cities have one every few meters. A cup of coffee entitles you to sit and watch the passing parade for hours. In fact, you may have to nag a waiter to bring you a bill. If you want to see a dish before you eat it, head for a street market. (Ask a local on what day it sets up.) Buy some cheese, fruit, wine and chocolate, and picnic at a nearby park or bench. If you're charming, the stall owner may let you sample the goods before you make a commitment. And you'll find the epitome of French cuisine in its bistros, brasseries and restaurants. If you can't read the French menu, ask for the "plat du jour" (plate of the day), which will serve the eatery's specialties at the best prices.

5. 3. Art Impressionism is just one art form that blossomed in France, more so under the hand of one of its masters, Claude Monet. Pay homage to the Giverny house and gardens (giverny.org), which formed the subjects of many of his paintings. If you prefer more modern work, cities on the Riviera boast several collections. Try the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice (mamac-nice.org). And the Louvre (louvre.fr), as arguably the best art museum in the world, celebrates paintings and sculpture from all of Europe. Buy a Paris Museum Pass (en.parismuseumpass.com), so you can digest this history of beauty in small chunks over several days.

6. FYI Capital: Paris Area: 212,841 Time Zone: GMT: +1 Drive On: Right Population: 60,900,000 Religion: Roman Catholic Language: French Currency: 1 euro= 100 Cents

7. Important Places The Eiffel Tower Notre Dame The Arc de Triomphe The Paris Opera Montmartre The Louvre Giverny

8. Sources Chapter 15 Pg. 273-287