France landscape ranges from high mountains plateaux, lush farmlands, traditional villages to modern cities. It’s a country of a variety of climates as well. Very hot and sunny in the south to much cooler and rainy in the north. Even though the country of size of France has nothing to compare with the size of the untied States, the difference in temperature between the north and the south is about the same as New York and Georgia.

France is a very modern country with high-tech advances such as the TGV (high speed train) born in 1983 and its home databank service Minitel, which is a kind of “phone book computer” which has been in French homes since the late 1980’s for free, just like your phone book.

The country of France belongs to both northern and southern Europe with its Germanic Alsace-Loraine and his Pyrennes mountain region border from Spain.  Besides Paris, France ever famous capital, other cities range from the huge industrial conglomeration of Lyon and Lille and Marseille the largest port of the Mediterranean.

France Products And Social Customs

In 1945 one person in 3 in France was a farmer, today the number is only 1 in 16.  The largest good exports in France used to be Cognac and perfumes, but today France exports more cars and telecommunication equipment than any other goods.

Statistics show that there are more French people who own a second home, than any other nationality.  It is very common for the average French family to own their main home in the city and their get away home in the country, beach or mountain areas.

As US citizens, women in France have full legal equality with men, but French attitudes remain traditional when it comes to galantery.

Social customs are very important in France.  The saying of  the “bonjour” (hello) when someone enters a room, the handshake for strangers and acquaintances and the kiss on the cheeks for family and close friends. (4 kisses in the north, 3 in Paris and its region, and 2 in Lyon and beneath)  regardless of genders.

For adult strangers, the formal “vous” rather than the intimate “tu” is used, however, among the younger generation the “tu” is more and more often used, even in an office context.

The dress standard has also become more relaxed, even though the French are still making a point about dressing well and preserving elegance.

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Lyon is the second city of France and one of the oldest one of the country, it sites on two main French rivers, le Rhône and la Saône and it is where both rivers finally meet before falling into the Mediterranean sea.

Lyon was founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago and the city has a very long history with its own “holiday” on December 8. On that day, all the stores and residences of the city and it region are lighting candles and lights which they put on the window sills in remembrance of the day when Lyon was spared from the plague when the whole country was dying from the terrible disease.

Lyon has been the main gateway between the north and the south in ancient times and is called the “beginning of the south”.  The sun  there is often shinning when it’s rainy and cold in the north.

Today Lyon is one of the most vital commercial and cultural centers of the country as well as the undisputed capital of French gastronomy. Most French people associate Lyon with good food. For this reason Lyon is nicknamed the “capital of gastronomy”. The city is packed with restaurants from bouchons (bistros specific to Lyon) to some of the most opulent tables of the country. The famous French chef Paul Bocuse owns several restaurants in Lyon.

Beaujolais is a very important wine area of France and an ideal wine testing tour. Who has not heard of Beaujolais nouveau?

Beaujolais nouveau is released every year on the third Thursday of November. The most prominent Beaujolais nouveau producers are found in deferent areas of the region named Beaujolais and includes all those major wineries which wine bear their names. Those areas are, St. Amour, Julienas, Moulin a Vent, Chenas, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly and Regnie. All of those towns are making some of the greatest wine of France and each have their “Cave” (wine cellar) where you can taste those delicious wines to your heart content.

Fleurie, Chiroubles and Morgon are very close to my heart, since I have been lucky enough to know personally some wine makers in these three regions.

During World War II my mother, then 6 years old with her sister and brother were all sent to Beaujolais for safety since Lyon where they lived was a very dangerous place to be during that time. Of the three, my mother ended up in the house of the biggest wine maker of the Villie-Morgon who owned about 60% of the vineyards of the town. His children and grand children are now wine makers in Fleurie, Chiroubles and of course Morgon.
If you happened to be in the “Region Lyonnaise” area, make sure you take a tour of Beaujolais and it delicious wines. Even if you are not a wine “amateur” you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape of Beaujolais country with its renaissance courtyards, its 17th century wind mill and 16th century castles and houses.

There are many different stories as for the origin of Valentine’s day.  Many of them  are pure fables,  but one that I have researched and found to be pretty consistent and to be true is this:

As many other actual events in our society, Valentine’s day has it’s origin in The Roman Empire, which at one time was the “center of the world”.  Claudius II was a cruel emperor who led many bloody wars, but was having a very hard time in getting soldiers to fight his wars. He believed that the reason for such an unwillingness for fighting for him was that soldiers didn’t want to go to war because of  their wives (not willing to leave them).  As a result Claudius ordered for all marriages and engagement to be canceled in Rome.

A Christian priest named Valentine took side with the people wanting to be married and married them in secret, regardless of the emperor’s order.  Even though he knew of the danger of going against the emperor’s order would mean for him.  In time, the emperor Claudius did found out about the priest marring people behind his back, and Valentine who is often referred now as Saint Valentine because of his sacrifice for the people, was sent to prison for the rest of his life and died their, murdered by order of  Claudius on February 14 270.

It was not until few centuries later that the festival of fertility and later our present Valentine’s day took effect.

Valentine’s day!

Yes, Valentine’s day is right around the corner. The day on which lovers convey their love for one another can be a very emotional moment never to be forgotten.

Valentine’s day is right around the corner, and you are probably already thinking about what you might want to do to surprise your partner in love and in life.

What do women want? What do men want? Ah! that some question, isn’t is?  More often than not  they want very different things, and some times they may happen to be wishing for the same things.  But we know this, both are wishing for love and want to feel at home in their relationship.

Where are you planning to spend YOUR valentine’s day? For many at HOME is the answer, having a very romantic dinner in the comfort of your home.  Home it is the place where you can really be together and alone on this very special couple’s day.

So where are you going to spend your Valentine’s day?  Only you can answer this question, but if you are lacking some ideas here is a hint for you.

Dinner For 2 On Valentine's day

What’s more romantic than a Romantic dinner at home for Valentine’s day? But who’s is going to do the cooking, you may ask? that alone might take the romance away.  Well, don’t worry, you can have dinner at home delivered to you on Valentine’s day.  Even, better than that, those meals special valentine’s day dinners.

Valentine's For tow

HomeBistro.com offers wonderful gourmet meals, lovingly prepared by Home Bistro’s chefs, are now available to you, right at your own table. With great quality and selection, competitive pricing and Home Bistro’s outstanding customer service. You will receive delicious meals, appetizers, desserts and more!
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