M'sieur Stralie's Open Salon Blog

Le Mont Saint Michel

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:09:13 -0400

No, this picture is not a fake.

For those who wouldn't know, this is the Mont Saint Michel, in France.

Well, considering that Breton people tend to think they are not part of France, and « Le mont Saint-Michel » is half Breton, let's just say it's somewhere not too far from France, partly from Brittany.

For those interested in le Mont’s story, you can keep reading. The other ones can skip this paragraph and move to the next! I am not a monster; I don’t force people to read my blabla J

Le Mont St Michel is half Breton, and half Normand. The people from the region called Normandie in the North-west of France, disagreed with Brittany, another region of this area of France, for a very long time. Who did le Mont St Michel belong to? No one knew, for it was used by both at different moments of History.

And since the're both very strong-tempered regions, they decided to let nature chose. And so it did!

The “Couesnon”, is the river that makes the division between Bretagne and Normandie. That particular Couesnon is on one side of the mont for a certain part of the year, and on the other part for the rest. Its location makes it Breton or Normand. It is more Normand than it is Breton, so they decided, a thousand years ago, that it would remain Normand, although Breton people still believe that this particular rock is part of their Land, Brittany. And I must say that Brittany has many secrets and beautiful places to visit, which are definitely located INSIDE this Region.

Le mont welcomes around 20,000 tourists per day during the holidays… Not bad, eh ? And the funniest thing, is that it's mostly visited by Japanese tourists. So, would it be more Japanese than Breton or Normand ? that's the question.
But let me tell you something : during the winter, Japanese tourists allow the Mont to stay alive, and that is something both Regions of Brittany should be thankful for. As a Breton (and proud to be :)), I am.

And you want to know something else?

Look for “The castle in the sky” in Google Images. You will find pictures of a famous animation created by Japan movie director: Hayao Myiazaki (Princess Mononoke, Chihiro, Howl’s moving castle…). This castle looks definitely like le mont St Michel, doesn’t it?

Well, that’s where this Japanese director got the idea and the designs from.

Love France? I betcha do. And I do too.

If you are lucky, you will spend the day without a single drop of rain, and your day will be total bliss. Try this with your family, try this on your own, it doesn’t really matter, but you will remember this your whole life.

Also, when you will enter the Mont, you will go through a wooden and stone-made gate, and start climbing the Mont, (for it is what you will do the whole time: Climb), you absolutely need to stop at the first restaurant on the left, called “La mère Poulard”, and order the most famous Omelettes in the world! Don’t forget your desert: Breton Crêpes.

Want a free tour ?

It’s in French, but don’t panic, it’s easy to use. Just click in the middle of the image, put it full screen, and wander around there. It’s easier on the computer than in real life, trust me !

: http://www.groupe-regards.com/mont-saint-michel/

On your way back, you can stop and eat at a restaurant by the water, eat “Moules-Frites”, and then you are allowed to die, for you have lived the best day –ever-.

I miss French food !

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 01:04:15 -0400

Yes, I miss French food.

Do you know those movies in which they say that it's when something's gone, that we finally discover we had it, and that we actually miss it ? Well, I feel that way towards food. I was fond of it, when I was there, but I enjoyed eating chinese noodles and chicken with rice, pasta, and whatever. Now that I don't have it anymore, I think I love it even more ! Boeuf bourguignon, Pot-au-feu, côtelette de veau en surprise, escargots, filet de colin au beurre blanc, papillotte de lotte... And I don't even talk about butter ! Here, It's tasteless useless oil, at home, it's a wonderful and colourfoul milk.

I didn't cook much back then. But I promise, it is going to change ! When I get back home, I will go to the market, buy some fresh and good lookingvegetables, not those tasteless imported things they call veggies, here. I can't wait to buy the same amount of meat, for half of the Australian price. I swear, it is going to change. And it will feel so good. I have no intention of being obese, but I will eat and enjoy eating.

I am the luckiest man in the world, living a whole year in another country and what do I do ? Complain about the food. But hey, I'm not wrong ! If you go for a walk in the city, you will be delighted to find Hungry Jack's and Subway, and Asian restaurants at every corner of every street. Look for a typical Australian restaurant, and you might starve. Ask for a typical Australian restaurant, and people will laugh at you. So, don't look for a typical Australian Restaurant here...

Then, go to France, and ask : "Excusez moi, je cherche un restaurant Français typique." People will give you several names, directions, and things to try in the menu.

It is not that we are fond of what we do, but we're not fond of what other people do. Food is sacred, you can not joke about it. And I was so happy to leave France, and discover a new culture, new food, that I even told my family I would send them food in boxes every now and then. But what's the culture here ? What is typical, except for Kangaroo ? We have Kangaroo at home, so, it's not even surprising or anything. Is globalisatoin killing the discovery ? So, I decided I would skype my family instead.

I would really like to marvel at a Kangaroo dish made of plants that I don't know of, oils made of sand, eat with sticks made of shark teeth, anything ! Well, I could, if there were Australian restaurants !

It's been two months now, and I am still looking for typical things. Different ways of cooking, acting, being ! I was unsuccessful.

Australia may be too similar to France in a way, and too different in some other ways that it is uncomfortable. The language is different, but the culture seems quite alike, although food and people behave differently.Don't you think ?

Voyage initial

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 23:04:54 -0400

So, there I was, two months ago : On the train from Auray ( France ), to Paris.

My head was litterally filled with questions. I could feel them running away before I could have enough time to listen to them. Who will I meet ? How is it there ? What and who will I miss the most ? Is one year as long as it seems it is ? Is it fog or rain, outside ? Oh, am I sitting on the right seat ?

Clever question ! I actually was sitting on the seat I was meant to, until...

"Excusez moi, mais c'est mon siège sur lequel vous êtes assis." said an old woman in French to me. ( Excuse me, but you're sitting on my seat )

Completely confused, I took my ticket out and showed her, that SHE was wrong. Of course, she was far from being senile... I was ! It was not Unit 2, but Unit 3 I was in. "Those young people don't read anymore !", she said before I left.

Thrown away from his seat. Isn't that a sign ? Is the plane going to crash before I land there ? Do I have all my papers ? Is my luggage under 30kg ?I should go to the airport before tomorrow, in order to weigh my luggage, shouldn't I ? By the way, where is it ?

I already wanted to come back to Auray. Seriously.

Please also note that being French allows you to complain about every and any single thing. Also, don't hesitate to be sarcastic and patronizing towards foreigners.

So, there I was, for the second time on the train heading to Paris. And I was wondering if Karma was trying to explain to the best of its ability that I should back off now, before feeling too uncomfortable. If I continued, would I be walking in someone else's shoes ? Living someone else's life ? Sitting on someone else's seat ?

I had no clue. But still, I decided it was worth trying. So I did. I continued.

The train arrived to Paris Montparnasse without running off the line, the the plane didn't crash or hit anything, no one killed me in the airport or found any drugs in my bags, and then, I survived the time difference and the choc between Paris' 0°C and Australia's 40°C.

I feel like a warrior now. And that is something I would describe as being self absorbed. So, I'm a self-absorbed warrior, who's biggest regret is to not have taken a French cookbook with him, or actually... all the French cookbooks existing on earth, for the food here is torture.

Yes, I complain a lot, but hey, I'm French :)

Moi

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 22:04:26 -0400

Bonjour,

No one here, but a simple French young guy, in a complete unknown country. I'm here, in Australia, for 1 year. I may be a little desperate and nightmarish, but in the end, I keep in mind that it is just one year. What's one year, compared to a whole life ?

Yeah, ok, It is a lot. But it is a great experience !

So, I'm in Australia, as a French Assistant. I barely started Uni back in France, and I got the job here. It has nothing to see with my initial studies, and that was completely unexpected.

The deal was clear : One year away, working, being paid, and living there. And so I did !

There I am, away from daddy and mummy, my friends and family, my home, my...everything ! I fell like I need to make projects. That hunger for something to do is killing me. I lways need to keep my mind busy, so that I would think about everything else than home. I am not being sentimental or anything, not at all. It's just a feeling. I know that if I stop making plans, working and so on, then I will just crash, as if I was standing on burning embers and I would stop moving my feet.

And for what ? Something to write on my resumé ?

By the way, It's been two months already.