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.
July 24th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Laroque d'Olmes Mutterings have been heard that your correspondent and husband do nothing but involve themselves in worthy pursuits such as taking health-giving walks, festival -reconnoitring, and do-it-yourself proj ... 7 photos[full story]
July 22nd 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Toulouse Wow, enfin, nous sommes sortis de notre univers de poussière et de sueur!
En effet, suite à un tumultueux périple sur le second terrain de notre richissime employeur, moi et mon comparse nous somm ... [full story]
July 21st 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées In the Pyrenees we will stay 2 nights at ( gite.ossau.free.fr ) in the town of Izeste about 25 km south of Pau. Our hotel is actually a 3 room Bed and Breakfast. The Pyrenees are new and very rugg ... 6 photos[full story]
July 17th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Laroque d'Olmes It’s 5.30 p.m. as I sit down to write this and the Tour de France cyclists must just be arriving in Narbonne, some 4 hours and 165 km. after we saw them vanish through Laroque. I don’t k ... 21 photos[full story]
July 17th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Cauterets
Anthony and I flew out of Perth at 6am Wednesday 9th July and after a longish flight landed weary but well in Dubai. It was hot! 42 degrees and humid as hell. Luckily we only had a short stop befo ... 12 photos[full story]
July 15th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Toulouse Héllo la compagnie!
La France vous dit bonjour, dans un air de sérénité empli des effluves attirantes du vin qui coule à flot !
En effet, ici le vin , c'est comme de l'eau . 1.5 euros la bouteil ... [full story]
July 14th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Toulouse Rebonjour à tous et à toutes!
Voilà quelques jours que je n’ai pas écris!
Nous entrons peu à peu dans notre vie d’ici. Le premier matin, je me suis levé à 9h et j’ai commencé ma jo ... [full story]
July 13th 2008Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Laroque d'Olmes By now, most of you must be thinking that our life in France is just one festival after another, interspersed with healthy scenic walks. But sessions of Hard Graft do intervene.
Yesterday it raine ... 6 photos[full story]
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