Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.
June 22nd 2008Europe » France » Lorraine 18.6. Turistina Épinalissa
Fillaroimme siis Épinalin keskustaan. Hiukan turistisempaa paikkaa tässä alkoikin melkein ikävöidä. Oltiin nähty jo aikamoinen osuus taatusti aitoa turisteille siistimätö ... 24 photos[full story]
June 18th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine 16.-18.6. Uudestaan kohti etelää
Hiukan arkinen tunnelma, ei ihmeemmin nähtävää, pikkukaupunkeja, hollantilaisia moottoriveneitä, sulkuja, pilvinen sää, kylmiä öitä. Oltiin Charmesissa toinenkin pä ... 7 photos[full story]
June 16th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine 13.6. Toul
Toul oli siitä hassu kaupunki, että huolimatta turistiesitteiden yrityksistä, se ei ollu tippaakaan turistinen. Kunniallisten ihmisten kauppakadun vieressä oli heti kapeita katuja, joill ... 9 photos[full story]
June 12th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine Sade lakkasi onneksi ja vieraat pääsivät harrastamaan kanavaelämää aurinkoisessa säässä. Kanavaelämää VNF:n ja pienten poikien tahtiin! Sulutettiin ylös Demange-aux-Eauxiin. Mentiin lähes viisi kilom ... 13 photos[full story]
June 6th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine 4.-6.6. Mummu ja Tua saapuvat sateeseen
Päivä Bar-le-Ducissa tutustutti melko sekavaan kaupunkiin. Kuulemma se oli Barin herttuoiden ja polkupyörän kehittäjien kaupunki. Barin herttuoista ei ollut ... 6 photos[full story]
April 15th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine » Verdun VERDUN
“They had conquered a notorious hill. They had lived in trenches that had been alternately French and German. These trenches sometimes lay filled with bodies in different stages of deco ... 19 photos[full story]
March 27th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine » Metz Ugh, so I am sick and you have no idea how hard it is to be sick in a different country! In France they don't have health insurance like us Americans. Well, they do but it is completely different. I f ... [full story]
March 23rd 2008Europe » France » Lorraine » Verdun Joyeuse Pâques a tous!
J'imagine que dans le froid et la neige... le printemps ne semble pas trop présent!
De notre côté c'est un peu la même chose mais en version accélérée: il pleut 10 minutes, vi ... 15 photos[full story]
March 10th 2008Europe » France » Lorraine » Metz On Saturday the Galvez's had a big engagement party for their eldest son Matthieu and his fiance Claire. Claire's family arrived late in the afternoon, and then her mom came later. She has two sibling ... 17 photos[full story]
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