Weird but...
Okay, not quite, but I do admire and adore much of French culture, art, fashion, intellect... I'm not saying I don't like any other culture, heck no, in fact I'm in amour with Italian passion in every aspect of life, India's perfectionist gaudiness, I could go on and name just about every country I've visited and an element of a stereotype which I've seen to be true and liked! It's just the French, unlike any other nation of people, convince me that France's culture is the intricate, mysterious, perfectionist, and at the same time tragic of those in Europe. Why do I use the word tragic? Are the French more unfortunate than any other country in Europe, or moreover, the world? No, I don't think they are, they hold the Louvre in Paris, a huge number of claims to fame, from the Eiffel tower to the chocolate eclair and croissants, Chanel clothing and Estee Laudee to classy french cinema, Eugene Atget's dramatic compositions of a Paris of the past to the stereotypical reality of a slim French woman in a striped top, smoking a fag looking the epitamy of cool.
The French girls portrayed in movies, and often seen in France, as would be evidenced by Mireille Recommends, author of 'The french don't get fat', and conveyed in the film Chocolat, this endless love of food, but a stylish fussiness and snobbery that disallows them from eating anything but the best, and nothing out of ritual. French diets would not be reduced fat croissants and coffee with sweetener then a special k bar for elevensies and than a half fat wrap for lunch with a diet chocolate bar, then make up for it later with a packet of biscuits of entire cheesecake. Oh no, French girls have style, discipline, and prioritise. Instead maybe, instead of their diet breakfast, they eat proper food. Maybe a pain au chocolat or croissant with a black coffee for breakfast, if really hungry maybe some fruit or yogurt before lunch time, and for lunch, a really satisfying proper lunch, whether it's soup, salad, vegetables, pasta, or meat. The French allow themselves a little bit of what they fancy everyday, but realise that in order to please the senses one must not over indulge them. Thus, life is passionate but holds mystery, cinema and fashion is classy, moving, but not over dramatic, and often focuses on little intricacies. Alcohol to is not such an issue in France, where people far more rarely drink to excess.
I realise I am agreeing with and emphasising stereotypes here, but truly, I have analyzed for long, and can see these as true, even with reference to French people.
A few things I like that have come from France...
Audrey Tatou-She is incredibly sweet, beautiful, petite, and charming as an actress in Amelie, Coco Before Chanel, Priceless and countless other movies.
The French Patisserie-Delectable looking even before smelling, scrumptious smelling even before tasting, melt in your mouth bliss.
Paris Je t'aime-Just one of the many movies that have come out of French cinema that I LOVE. Beautiful, empowering, even touching on Philosophy, this film encompasses incredible actors with acclaimed directors. I can't wait for New York I love you.
Paris-Monmatre is like the cherry on top of the cupcake of love. Cheesy, but true. I love just watching this city, maybe eating a crepe, visiting some galleries, strolling the shops, but mainly I like just watching.
The Costa Azure-One of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, with trendy yachts, Nice, dramatic cliffs, warm sea and sun, vineyards, Mediterranean flavors to life.
