Things I’d forgotten about France
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381815)
Rockingham, Australia
June 27, 2017 12:35am CST
We’ve been in France less than a week and I keep coming up with stuff that I’d forgotten about from our last trip two years ago. One is the church bells which we rarely hear in Australia. Here, every village seems to ring bells whether just to tell the time, to call the people to Mass, ring out the Angelus or whatever.
Another fact we’d forgotten is that most shops shut at lunch-time and often for two hours! We are not used to this and keep turning up at ten past twelve and having to wait till 2pm for whatever it is we want. But we’ve learnt patience in this way. 
I’d forgotten the funny way they write the number ‘1’. Please don’t berate me for calling it funny. I’m just trying to be, well, funny I guess. Not derogatory at all. I didn’t know what the squiggle was for a while then it dawned on me – luckily.
No doubt I’ll come across more differences I’ve forgotten in the days to come. One I’ve already thought of is the wonderful flowers in so many gardens together with colourful window-boxes and hanging baskets in streets and on bridges. But I hadn’t forgotten how wonderful the bread is here.
I’d forgotten the funny way they write the number ‘1’. Please don’t berate me for calling it funny. I’m just trying to be, well, funny I guess. Not derogatory at all. I didn’t know what the squiggle was for a while then it dawned on me – luckily.
No doubt I’ll come across more differences I’ve forgotten in the days to come. One I’ve already thought of is the wonderful flowers in so many gardens together with colourful window-boxes and hanging baskets in streets and on bridges. But I hadn’t forgotten how wonderful the bread is here.14 people like this
13 responses
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Jun 17
Very pretty flowers.
In Anniston we have a church that rings bells and the court house does the chimes for the hours.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 17
I love hearing the bells here. Most in Australia are recorded and people complain about having their sleep disturbed so you don't hear them much.
@Elisa1234 (7607)
• Philippines
27 Jun 17
wow. Thats a nice photo!
I wish I could visit France soon
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 17
@Elisa1234 We live in Australia but are on holiday for about four months as we are retired. Our son lives in Ireland so we went there first and we will go back there at the end of our visit.
1 person likes this
@Elisa1234 (7607)
• Philippines
27 Jun 17
@JudyEv Youre right Mam. 
. Is france near from your place?
. Is france near from your place?1 person likes this
@topffer (42155)
• France
27 Jun 17
I hear the bells of 3 or 4 churches, I would be ready to offer them to Australia. Shops are shut down at lunch time but restaurants are opened and if you are going in Spain you should try one just before the border, in Pays Basque or Béarn, you can find cheap restaurants offering a very good traditional food
. Shops are shut down at lunch time but restaurants are opened and if you are going in Spain you should try one just before the border, in Pays Basque or Béarn, you can find cheap restaurants offering a very good traditional food3 people like this
@LadyDuck (502200)
• Italy
27 Jun 17
If you notice the bells in France do not come to Switzerland. The Churches still ring the bells for each hour of the day, many every quarter. In the night can be pretty annoying but you get the habit. I never noticed that they write the number 1 in a funny way. In this case I suppose also that Italians do the same. The only number we write differently from Americans is the number 7 for what I know.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
3 Jul 17
I just saw this on a sidebar, I love the photo!
I used to live in a small Midwest town that rang bells as you've described. I really miss it but church bells aren't allowed here for the most part (they might offend someone). I always knew the time and they even used the bells when there was a tornado warning. I also miss the sound of train whistles.
I have always wanted to visit France but wish I could see it as it was when I was a teenager. There is so much conflict now if one is to believe the news stories. I would particularly like to see their gardens and ordinary neighborhoods.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 17
That is mostly what we're seeing - and the country roads and small villages. Mostly we're staying out of the bigger cities as there never seems to be anywhere to park the van. Some of the gardens are really lovely and the villages are all decorated with window boxes and big tubs of flowers.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
28 Jun 17
I always remember Bayona and the spectacular Houses they have there.
Did not get to hear many Church Bells but we sure do here enough of them here.
Imagine living right next door to a Church yikes.
Hope you are enjoying yourselves.
Weather set to be pretty much cooler tomorrow if you are coming this way.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Jun 17
I like church bells. Used to hear them all the time in Germany.
1 person likes this
