As I was wandering around Valensole the other day I found myself in the Rue Grande.
Doesn’t look that grand, does it?
However, what caught my eye, was the catalogue sticking out of the way too small letterbox in that door there.
This struck me for so many reasons. First off, the building looks uninhabited…..like for years! However, it’s a small village so the postie is bound to know! Of course, such worn external appearances are actually the norm in village France. Still surprises me that. It’s a quirk of the French (actually, now that I think about it, the Italians have the same quirk)….it’s kind of as if they don’t really care about the external appearance of a dwelling but they have an incredible sense of style and chic so you’ll see beautifully dressed people coming out of such places. La Redoute is a major fashion catalogue shopping company.
I have a French brother in law living in Paris, I know what you mean. That “drab and chic” characteristic caught me off guard at first. Matter of fact there were many French characteristics that caught me off guard.
As a Canadian living across the pond I was surprised by how many British characteristics were strange.
[…] 20, 2008 by bobleckridge Taking forward the theme of what we find quirky in each other’s cultures…….here is a butcher’s shop window in Aix en […]
please, can I ask you a favour?
Share some of the surprises! Really, I’d love to read about them!
🙂
There is one British characteristic that leaps to mind that caught me off guard, it may be unique to London. The art of commerce. I always thought the Americans were good at it, but the Londoner’s had taken it to a whole other level, much more sophisticated.
I now can appreciate the roots of American commercialism.
You know, traveling all throughout Europe I found this so odd, to my American senses why not put a coat of paint on it for Gawd’s sake! It took me 20 years to realize the reasons why they don’t and the beauty of leaving it to age and patina gracefully.
However, have you seen the INSIDES of these homes? They may look completely derelict from the outside, but inside you can just about guarantee modern kitchens and baths and beautiful furnishings. Nothing like the outside appearance at all. Its quite the shock!
Amber said I should come check out your blog, I can see why, absolutely incredible photos not to mention tales to go with them! That first photo would make an incredible painting phew!
Can I recommend that anyone reading this goes across to http://rvewong.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/the-french-way-with-a-photo/ and checks out more about this issue – also, click the link to the “walk by the seine” which he has there – it’s fab!
@amber, I agree. At first I thought, how scruffy! But now I rather like it. Patina is such a good word. The way these surfaces and colours change with the weather and time….just simply lovely! Yes, the insides are SO different from the outsides!
@sanityfound. Welcome! Thank you for such lovely feedback too. I hope you find plenty to enjoy here. If you’re especially interested in photos, click the “photography” link or the “from the darkroom” link (they take you to the same posts) across in the “category cloud” on the right sidebar and you’ll be able to browse all posts with photos in them