Stephanie Kennedy, the ABC's London reporter advised January 1st 2008 that:
"Oh what a shame," say all those tourists who have always wanted to visit to a dark smoky café on the left bank of the Seine in the hope of seeing the latest artiste in residence.
"Quel domage," say all those who want to continue to fantasise about perhaps just happening to come across the caricature of the laconic Frenchman with at least a shadow of a beard, with or without a beret, but with a tiny remnant of a Gitane stuck to the lower lip, sipping on a short black.
The world is changing.
The French have resisted the changing times more than perhaps any other nation on earth.
They stick to their habits and their passions and for this, "Vive La France!"
I certainly can't imagine a France in which it is not normal to have several Boulangeries competing with each other with their Baguettes, Boules, croissants and fresh pastries. Can you?
What would the world be like if you did NOT have to go to the Dordogne for it's gastronomic delights or to St Emillion for it's wine or to Normandy for the cider and the Moules?
Alas, not only is the world changing, the concept of making something BLAND from something unique - either because it's more economical or is healthy, is fast approaching.
Banning cigarettes in Cafés may be the right thing to do for everyone's health - but let's not get too enthusiastic and make everything bland and uniform!
I for one would mourn any further changes that alter the character of a country and a people that I personally find so delightful that I continually want to go back and spend a few months just visiting!
"The French are getting ready for one of the biggest changes in their country's history, with smoking banned in cafes, bars and restaurants from today. Out of a population of 60 million, about 13.5 million French people smoke. Any smoker caught flouting the new ban faces a $750 fine and those who turn a blind eye to smokers on their premises can be fined up to $1,250."
"Oh what bliss," say all of the supporters of the Anti Smoking lobby.
"Oh what a shame," say all those tourists who have always wanted to visit to a dark smoky café on the left bank of the Seine in the hope of seeing the latest artiste in residence.
"Quel domage," say all those who want to continue to fantasise about perhaps just happening to come across the caricature of the laconic Frenchman with at least a shadow of a beard, with or without a beret, but with a tiny remnant of a Gitane stuck to the lower lip, sipping on a short black.
The world is changing.
The French have resisted the changing times more than perhaps any other nation on earth.
They stick to their habits and their passions and for this, "Vive La France!"
I certainly can't imagine a France in which it is not normal to have several Boulangeries competing with each other with their Baguettes, Boules, croissants and fresh pastries. Can you?
What would the world be like if you did NOT have to go to the Dordogne for it's gastronomic delights or to St Emillion for it's wine or to Normandy for the cider and the Moules?
Alas, not only is the world changing, the concept of making something BLAND from something unique - either because it's more economical or is healthy, is fast approaching.
Banning cigarettes in Cafés may be the right thing to do for everyone's health - but let's not get too enthusiastic and make everything bland and uniform!
I for one would mourn any further changes that alter the character of a country and a people that I personally find so delightful that I continually want to go back and spend a few months just visiting!
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