Tout est vrai... (ou presque)

I have IT class every week and we had to prepare a small description about three different programs on French. And because of that homework I found something really interesting for all French students: a program "Tout est vrai... (ou presque)".

Everyday at 20:45 pm. on chanel Arte we can watch this. It's a program which shows ironically the life of personalities. I don't know why, but it's designed for people from 7-77 years old.

The principle: it presents original, irony and absurdity of personalities life in shorter time that it takes to boil an egg.

Forme: a white background, toys, everyday objects, a voicover and a good dose of imagination - these are only ingredients used by Nicolas Rendu, aka Udner for making those funny portraits.  With a child's soul, the director mastered the art of stop motion, giving life, frame by frame, to everything that happens in his hands (or so). These tablets bring some freshness by focusing primarily on the story of the great of this world.

The program is recorded in two languages: French and German. I think it's a great opportunity to practise your comprehension and you have a lot of fun with it! I really recommend it!

Here are some of videos:

Wines!

Today's post is going to be about one of the greatest thing in France: Wine!  French wines traces its history to the 6th century BC with many of France's regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world. It is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7-8 billions bottles. Only Italy produces more wine. 

France is the source of many grape varietes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah) that are now planted throughout the world, as wells as wine-making practices and styles of wine that have been adopted in other producing countries. Some producers have benefited in recent years from rising prices and increased demand for some of the prestige wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux.

There is the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system. Appellation rules closly define which grape varietes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically difned appellations, wchich can cover entire regions, individual villages or even specific vineyards.

The concpet of Terroir, which refers to the unique combinationof natural factors associated with any particular vineyard, is important to French vignerons (winemakers). It includes such factors as soil, underlying rock, altitude, slope of hill or terrain, orientation toward the sun, andmicroclimate (typical rain, winds, humidity, temperature variations, etc.). Even in the same area, no two vineyards have exactly the same terroir.

French wines are usually made to accompany food. They don't have so much alcohol as Polish drinks do ;)

Massacre in Paris

It's hard and painful to talk about it, but there was another attack in France. It's second attack in this year.
President François Hollande on Saturday blamed the Islamic State for the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, as the death toll rose to 127 victims, with 300 others hospitalized, 80 of them in critical condition. He declared three days of national mourning, and said that military troops would patrol the capital. France remained under a nationwide state of emergency. ISIS, the islamic group, confess to be an initiatior of those attacks. The identities of the eight attackers, who are all dead, are unknown.
The attacks, and the possibility that the Islamic State was to blame, promised to further traumatize France and other European countries already fearful of violent jihadists radicalized by the conflicts in Syria and elsewhere.
Recently the president Hollande actively stepped up French participation in the military air campaign in Syria at the end of September. Just last week, France attacked oil operations under the Islamic State’s control in Syria. Massacre in Paris is said to be an answer for those actions of France against The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

Paris, stricken by shock and grief, remained in a state of lockdown, with public transportation hobbled and public institutions — schools, museums, libraries, pools, food markets — closed. Charles de Gaulle Airport remained open, but with significant delays because of tighter passport and baggage checks.
President Hollande sais, France will be still fighting and will avenge all victims.

Places where attacks have happened:

 #PrayForParis

Disneyland Resort Paris

This post is going to be about Disneyland Resort Paris. It's something really cool, not only for children, but also for adults. I was lucky and I was there with my friends in 2012.


The complex is located on the suburbs of Paris in Marne-la-Vallée - 30 km east of the French capital. You can play in two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. 


DISNEYLAND PARK

Disneyland Park is divided into 5 themed lands:

Main Street. U.S.A. is an American street of a small town of the early twentieth century. Dominated by Victorian style and cute colors. This is the first part of the park, just outside the entrance, the main road connecting all the land. This way, the main routes of many parades. 

• Disney Railroad - Main Street Station  - train station,

Frontierland - Borderland - is the land of the Wild West. It is prepared for older children who can find here:

• Phantom Manor - House of fears of the nineteenth century,
• Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing - riverboats on artificial lake,
• Big Thunder Mountain - Mining roller coaster between the red rocky hills on the artificial lake,
• Pocahontas Indian Village.

Adventureland is a land of adventure, travelers and explorers.

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril - rollercoaster,
• Pirates of Caribbean 
  

•   La Cabane des Robinson - house on a tree inhabited by Robinson.

Fantasyland is the most fairy-tale of lands, prepared especially for small children:

• Peter Pan's Flight,
• Mad Hatter's Tea Cups

• Sleeping Beauty Castle,

  

• Alice's Curious Labyrinth

  

Discoveryland it is primarily "space" and the futuristic land:

• BuzzLightyear Laser Blast,
• Star Tours - expedition in spaceship (motion simulator),
• Space Mountain: Mission 2 - rollercoaster,  
• Autopia - ride small cars from the 50s of the twentieth century.

 Walt Disney Studios

 Walt Disney Studios park is divided into 4 zones, illustrating the formation of different types of films.

There are also: Disney Hotels, Disney Village and Golf Dosneyland. 
Of course, I didn't mention all of the atractions, only the most interesting in my opinion. 
If you will go to France, you have to see that and have fun! In there you can find in yourself a child, it's realy great feeling. 

                           (I hope my friends won't be angry because of this picture ;))

French macaroons

Today I want to show you one of the most delicious dessert of all time: French macaroons. I think most of you know that dessert. Here is a recipe, but you have to be very careful, they are on French meringue, which is difficult to make. The recipe is easy to prepare, but requiring skill and precision.

Ingredients for about 36 individual macaroons:

• 70 grams of ground almonds without peel,
• 100 grams of powdered sugar,
• 50 grams of whites,
• a pinch of salt,
• if you want a color, use food colouring or cocoa. 

A method of preparing:   

Mix almonds with half the powdered sugar, grind and sift through a sieve. Set aside. White precisely weigh and beat with a pinch of salt to stiff foam. Continue mixing and gradually add powdered sugar. Blend until the mixture is smooth and shiny. Now you can, depending on the recipe, add a little food colouring or cocoa and blend briefly until a uniform color. Turn off the mixer and add the almonds with sugar in two portions, stirring gently with silicone spatula. Slowly stir farther from the bottom to the top of the bowl until the mixture will flow down of a spatula. On baking tray put baking paper. The mass put into a piping bag with a round tip. Hold the sleeve upright confectionery, squeeze the mass creating macaroons 3 cm in diameter.

 Leave the baking tray for 20-60 minutes to let them dry. Macaroons are ready to bake when a gentle touch of a fingertip macaroon area will not stick to it. Preheat the oven to 140 degrees. Bake macaroons about 15 minutes. After baking, leave the macaroons to cool completely, then carefully take off from the baking paper. Prepared macaroons layer with filling.


Bon appétit !

Interesting fact: There are 500 types of cheese produced in France.

Politics of France

Maybe not everybody finds that subject interesting, but I think it must be mentioned. I will try to not boring you as much as I can.


The politics of France take place with the framework of a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic". The constitution provides for a separation of powers and proclaims France's "attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty as defined by the Declaration of 1789."


The political system of France consists of an executive branch, a legislative branch and a judicial branch. Executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government. The Government consists of the Prime Minister and ministers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, and is responsible to Parliament. The government, including the Prime Minister, can be revoked by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, through a "censure motion"; this ensures that the Prime Minister is always supported by a majority of the lower house. Parliament comprises the National Assembly and the Senate. The independent judiciary is based upon civil law system which evolved from the Napoleonic codes.

France has a semi-presidental system of government. This means that the presidential candidate is required to obtain a nationwide majority of non-blank votes at either the first or second round of balloting, which implies that the President is somehow supported by at least half of the voting population. He appoints the Prime Minister, the ministers, ministers-delegate and secretaries. When the President's political party or supporters control parliament, the President is the dominant player in executive action.

Ugh, really complicated. But in short, you can see how it works.

Interesting fact: In 1789 the first Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created in France.

Summer is coming!

As in the title, everybody can't wait for summer. In case you are planninga trip to France, today I want to share with you some tips about holidays.

First of all, in France the most important thing is SAVOIR-VIVRE. The French are the nation for which good maniers are very important. Smile and basic polite expressions can make wonders. Entering the store, say bonjour always loud and leaving him au revoir, while you tell the cashier at the supermarket always bonne journée. At the beginning, the use of all forms of politeness can be tiring for you, and maybe even annoying, but it can help you a lot, if you don't want to be "a boor from the East". Remember that turning to the elderly or strangers always use polite forms VOUS. The French are very open and not avoid physical contact. They love to kiss each other in greeting.

Secondly, OPENING HOURS. If you are used to walking through the galleries until late at night, go shopping on Sunday mornings or at a gas station about 12 o'clock at night, you can be shocked. Most stores are open from Monday to Saturday 19. On Sunday, almost everything is closed, except a few bakeries, flower shops and small grocery stores that operate exclusively for 12-13 hours. It should also be remembered that in France, lunch hours are sanctity. Between the hours of 12 and 14, no one thinks about work! Be sure to take this into account, in order to withdraw money from the bank, send a postcard to Polish or visit any small museum. Best follow in the footsteps of the French and wait this time in a nice, typical French bistro.

Finally, something about which I already wrote: English in France. In big cities and tourist places for sure knowledge of this language is greater. In the provinces will be useful phrase book. It's good to learn a few phrases for good comunication. It's good to hear when some strangers try to talk in your language.
It makes a good impression. 

I hope my advices help you! (even in a small part)

Interesting fact: According to French law it is illegal to publish photos of the Eiffel Tower taken at night.

Chandeleur - Pancake Day

February second, 40 days after Christmas, is celebrated in France Chandeleur holiday, in Poland known as Candlemas. On this occasion, the French are pulling their special flat pans (à la poêle crêpes) or magical contraption called la crêpière and get down to cooking pancakes (les crêpes).  
Chandeleur name comes from the word la chandelle - candle. It all started with the Christian tradition of lighting candles to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus in the Temple. After the ceremony, the faithful took candles to their homes in the hope that it will protect them from evil spirits and lightning during the storm. Then  among the peasants appeared habit of cooking pancakes. According to tradition, the most important was the first pancake. It was necessary to bake it using only right hand, holding the entire time a gold coin in left hand. Then, the coin was wrapped in a pancake and people went to the procession. After returning, they put everything in the wardrobe, which collected the remains of pancake and a coin from the previous year. then they gave a coin to the first beggar, which they met. This was to ensure family prosperity throughout the coming year.
Of course, now no one bakes pancakes to hide them in the corners. This is just a good opportunity to meet with family or friends.

 la poêle à crêpes                  la crêpière

Interesting fact: in this country there are vending machines where you can buy fresh bread and a bottle of wine.

Doesn't really French speak in English?

French is a strange nation ( of course, in good meaning ;)). They arrange some trivial small talks about weather, on the other hand they have deep conversations about politics. But when you say, that they don't know English, it causes something like storm! It's their sore point. But the truth is, that only one in six man can speak English longer than 10 minutes. It's not an amazing result. Of course, the have a lot of excuses: that's the fault of their school system, private lessons are very expensive etc. With all responsibility I can say the only reason is that they are very lazy. They don't want to get tired. They got used to speak French with all business partners or with tourists. Even in the restaurant is hard to find a waiter who would be able to provide us with English menus, not to mention the other languages. When I was in France in 2012, I wanted to find one place from "Amelie" movie. So me and my friends, we went to "Starbucks" and tried to talk with waiters in English, because our French wasn't good enough. We were very suprised when they didn't even tried to understand us. When they heard our French, they were disgusted, so we were forced to look for ourselves.Because of my experience I can say, that french people adore their own language only. But what can I say, it's a beautiful language!

Interesting fact: 34% of French people speak English.

A short introduction

Hello everyone! At the beginning I want to say, that it isn't a blog about well-known information. Now I would like to talk about France generally. Everybody knows where the France is, that is bordered by Andorra, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco and Italy and Paris is the capital of France . That is a pretty big country, right :D? It's worth noting, that not all of France is in Europe. There is something like DOM and COM. DOM is Départements d'outre-mer, which means "Departments overseas": Guadeloupe, Martynique, French Guiana, Reunion and Mayotte. Those are like the administrative regions in France, they have the same rights. COM (Collectivités d'outre-mer) is something similar, but they don't have so many rights like DOM. It concers: Saint-Pierre-et-Miguelon, Saint-Barthélemy,Saint-Martin, Wallis-et-Futuna and French Polynesia. I don't want to talk about such a things like, for example: administration or the government, because it's boring for most of people. France due to its population, economic potential, position in Europe, a strong army is considered as one of the most powerful countries in the world. With this really short description we start a trip around the France. C'est la fin qui couronne l'œuvre! - The end crowns the work!

Interesting fact: Victor Hugo street is located in each city.

See you soon!