Margo Lestz's Blog, page 21

July 7, 2016

The Cicada (Cigale) of Provence

When the warm days of summer arrive in Provence, the air is filled with the song of the cicadas, or cigales in French...
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Published on July 07, 2016 12:43

June 23, 2016

Tartarin of Tarascon

Saint Martha isn’t the only slayer of ferocious beasts whose name is associated with Tarascon. The town's other celebrated hero, who also participates in the annual Tarasque festival, is Tartarin of Tarascan...
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Published on June 23, 2016 13:31

June 9, 2016

Saint Martha and the Tarasque in Provence

Saint Martha is said to have washed up onto the shores of Provence where she is remembered for dragon taming.
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Published on June 09, 2016 13:45

May 26, 2016

Gaudi Architecture Tells a Story in Barcelona

Today, we’ll be looking at two of Gaudi’s buildings and their relationship with two very different Georges: George, the dragon-slayer, and George, the filmmaker - otherwise known as Saint George and George Lucas.
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Published on May 26, 2016 12:00

May 12, 2016

Big Ben Silent Minute: Chimes and Prayers for Peace

Could Big Ben’s chimes have played a part in winning World War II? At least one Nazi official thought so...
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Published on May 12, 2016 15:01

May 6, 2016

Thinking of visiting Nice, France?

We’ve had a home in Nice for about nine years now, and it just seems to get nicer. There are plenty of things to see and do here: we have the sea, sun, history, art, music…
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Published on May 06, 2016 10:40

April 21, 2016

A Saint, a Convict, and a Gargoyle go into a Swamp…

On my recent trip through northern France, I was intrigued by the gargoyles on the gothic churches and wondered why they were there. Then I came across this story which seems like a pretty reasonable explanation.
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Published on April 21, 2016 14:00

April 7, 2016

3 Useful French Inventions

We have so many modern conveniences, and we rarely stop to think about what life might have been like before they were invented, or give a thought to their inventor. Today, we are looking at three French inventions that make our lives easer.
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Published on April 07, 2016 18:46

March 23, 2016

5 Riviera Cocteau Treasures

The artist, Jean Cocteau, spent his later years on the French Riviera, and the area still enjoys the beauty he left behind. There are five Cocteau sites between Nice and Menton just waiting to be discovered.
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Published on March 23, 2016 04:49

March 10, 2016

Madame Tussaud: Ahead of Her Time

When you think of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, you probably think of movie stars, political figures, and other famous people. But you might not realize the amazing story of the real-life Madame Tussaud and how she survived the French Revolution.
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Published on March 10, 2016 21:51