Summary:
This light-hearted A to Z of French life looks at some of the country´s famous sons, traditions, and words that have helped to shape the stranger´s view of France. At approx. 1700 words it is eminently suitable for a travel magazine, or as a humorous filler in a general publication.

Details or Sample:
For those of you who have never visited France,or are planning a first trip, here is a light-hearted, but handy alphabetical run-down of trivia that it might be useful to know.

A is for....Asterix the Gaul, a pugnacious little fellow who completely encapsulates the French personality. Created as a cartoon character by Albert Uderzo nearly fifty years ago, his ongoing battles with the Roman Army in 50 BC have entertained a generation of readers world- wide.

B is for ...boules,a game played mostly by men, in dusty village squares the length and breadth of the country. Played with heavy metal balls, the rules to a non-French bystander are pretty obscure but don´t let this alarm you as you will rarely be invited to join in.

C is for... cassoulet, a type of bean stew found in multitudinous restaurants in the southwest of the country. The ingredients can vary from town to town, but Toulouse sausage is a vital part of the dish, along with ´lingot´ beans ( a dried bean of the haricot variety, grown around Tarbes). Duck, lamb or pork is added depending on which town it is being served in.

D is for... De Gaulle, the famous wartime leader who directed the Free French from exile in London, and returned to become France´s first post- WW2 president. Equally famous for persistently saying ´Non´ to Britain´s application to join the EU (or Common Market as it was then) in the 1950´s.

E is for... Eiffel Tower. Constructed in Paris in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, it is without doubt the most iconic symbol of the French capital. Previous to that, in 1885, Eiffel had collaborated with the sculptor Frederic Bartholdi to design the frame work of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour.

F is for... frites,otherwise known as French fries or chips. A plate of freshly cooked frites and Archachon mussels is a marriage made in heaven.

G is for... Gerard Depardieu, France´s most famous modern actor, who has successfully made the transition from French .....

Y is for ...yachting. After cycling, rugby, and football the Frenchman´s next sporting passion is sailing, and they will turn out in their thousands to wave off, or welcome home, a returning sailor. In 1994 a million people lined the waterfront in St Malo, in Brittany, to watch the start of the Rum Route race, and 300,00 welcomed home Bruno Peyron and his crew when they completed a round the world voyage in less than 80 days. There was nationwide mourning when the legendary single handed sailor Eric Taberly was lost at sea in 1999.

Z is for ... Zenodine Zidan... Born 1972 in Marseilles of Algerian parents, Zizou (as he´s known to millions of French football fans) was an integral part of the national team which won France its first-ever World Cup in 1998. Named FIFA World Player of the year for 1998,2000 and 2003 he seemed bound for glory again in 2006 when France made it to semi final of the World Cup. Unfortunately he took exception to a remark by his opponent, head butted him and was sent off. France lost, Zizou retired from football,and France had another hero.

So there, from Asterix to Zidan, you have some idea as to the nature of the great, diverse country that is France, and the individuality of its people.

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Written by: Libera
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Words: 1700