Comments on: The trouble with Paris, France; A new recipe; a great pasta dish

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:34:20 +0000

Yes, I know them but not well.
I have been to Versaille but when I was a child so I’m afraid I really don’t remember. Maybe I should go again?
Well, there was one occasion I shall never forget here, in Milan, many years ago. I went to a bar to order some drinks and, using my very best Italian (which was, as I now know, appalling) I ordered. The barman reminded me of my attempts to use French in France. But it was only the once and it has never happened before or since. Whilst in France it seems to happen nearly all the time!

By: ico

ico — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:49:05 +0000

Well, you know, Flaubert, Baudelaire, Proust, Stendhal, those kind of authors. I admit, they were around a long time ago and since then French literature went from bad to worse.

In the gardens of Versaille there is the most famous gardening school, and undoubtedly the public gardens in France, probably because of the very centralized state, are very well designed and kept. Even in this regard though, it is probably more a matter of tradition than innovation.

About the language, I find it absurd the way they expect you to speak it fluently or not at all, especially in Paris. They seem to be using it as a divider which is not the purpose of language last time I checked. Nothing like this would ever happen to expatriates in Italy, I think you can confirm

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:17:19 +0000

I shall have to try the ‘winter’ version!
I’m afraid I really don’t know that much French fiction nor do I know much of their parks and gardens. A gree with you on their language, though.

By: ico

ico — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:55:03 +0000

I too endorse pasta with broccoli. It is one of the great arguments in favor of vegetarianism. It also is one of my battle horses in the kitchen. I might also suggest its winterly variation, the minestra with small pasta broccoli and garlic.

p.s. a couple of things in favor of France: they have the best fiction literature that was ever written (although nothing contemporary), and they have the best gardeners and the best parks in the world. Paris is a wonderful city, although next to Rome, for example, it seems to be in lack of a soul. my only real problem with the french is their traditional arrogant use of language, which is really unjustified.