Tour de France

For those of you who won’t be going to France the cycling tournament “Tour de France” offers you a fine overview of the scenery in France.

Likewise, if you do plan on going to France, a complete list of the route for the 2008 tournament can be found here: www.steephill.tv/2008/tour-de-france/ showing you every step from Saturday July 5th until Sunday July 27th. A total of 3.554 kilometers.

If you go for the date of July 8th, the city of Cholet offers you fantastic opportunities for enjoyment of good wines in the Loire area and although Champs Élysees is always special it’s also nice to experience the villages of France.

Have fun. 🙂

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Logis de France

As you can read in my blog article “First Vacation in 2006, Second in 2007” we stayed both times at the hotel Au Pavillon Bleu. This hotel is part of the chain “Logis de France” which secures good standards in each price category. You may want to see their site http://www.logis-de-france.fr/fr/index.htm if you have plans to visit France for your summer vacations.

Please remember to read all the many blog articles on this blog when you plan on taking a vacation in France so you may be well prepared, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to comment and ask for any information you need. This can inspire others also.

Carpe diem. 🙂

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Speeding

I fully understand that some may want to give it an extra 20-30 kilometers on long straight lines on the motorway. Everyone plays a bit with perhaps 130 even in areas where a limit of 110 is set. The fact that everyone does it is no excuse, however. But it does explain we all can do that.

What I cannot, and will not, tolerate is the stupidity involved when motorcyclists take it upon themselves to act as their own lawmakers. Some are tempted by platforms such as YouTube into “showing off”, and sometimes total disregard for fellow man/woman is so foolish one has to state an opinion. This the movie I’m referring to:



Having three kids ourselves the issue of speed has become somewhat different – especially in situations where kids are in the car and someone tries to pressure you. When you’re already running some 90-95 on roads where 80km/h is the speed limit, the results could be even worse IF someone in front of oneself suddenly brakes.

History is full of stories about people overlooking something, but when you only have 5-10 meters to the car in front of you time IS important because a car moves 20 meters per second. When you want to overtake another car keep a decent distance and do what you have to do. But don’t ever let others get in danger just because you aren’t mature enough to maintain a license.

Soon, summer. Summertime was introduced this saturday night, actually, so things are going in the right direction… 🙂

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Surprising Ignorance

The question (in french) is: “What is it that orbits (or gravitates) around the earth?”

The alternatives are:

  • a)the moon
  • b)the sun
  • c)Mars
  • d)Venus

What would YOU have answered?



I thought everyone knew that the earth rotates around the sun in an elliptic form which is also one of the main explanations for the seasonal differences depending upon that rotation, and obviously that it is the moon that rotates around the earth. Very disappointing that such common knowledge is so lacking…

Nevertheless, France is a beautiful country. But the educational system has suffered somewhat in recent years, it seems.

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Respect For The President

There may be diverging views as to President Sarkozy’s temper, but it seems like some overlook one of the key elements in French thinking that would help people understand WHY Mr. Sarkozy is justified in feeling somehow mistreated by truth-seeking journalists, as they claim to be.

First of all, let’s take the journalism angle. Journalists aren’t interested in truth — they are interested in selling more newspapers or magazines and ratings. Getting more attention is the alpha and omega of journalism. From that perspective truth doesn’t play any major role.

Also, in fact, one could ask the philosophical question: “What is, if it can be defined, truth?”

When the truth is unpopular things are cut off. That is not only true about Iraq but also about the situation in Israel. When people hide behind civilians it is true that attacks towards these people’s installations will also involve civilians. Why no courage would be a better perspective, and investigating ALL the facts instead of delivering half-truths along with archive footage to advance their own journalistic agendas…

La gloire

The french glory surrounding the Presidency is one of respect. I realize that respect is diminishing in this generation as it is towards all other aspects of society around us, but that doesn’t remove the cloud of etiquette that could have been expected of people when dealing with the subject of the President’s dealings.

Get this. When a fun video about Mr. Sarkozy is released, it isn’t done in disrespect from my perspective. I think it is good to see the human side of him. Just as the good luck wishes for his marriage are from a clean heart. I will never participate in dishonoring a President who deserves a pad on the back for serving his country.
Unlike many other nations, the Presidency isn’t all that well paid and noone chooses that position unless they are men of stamina who are prepared to withstand the fiery darts of so-called truth-seeking journalists.

But, as I said, we don’t need to become disrespectful of the office. And that should be food for thought for those who didn’t approach him with the respect he deserves.

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