{"id":1477,"date":"2014-10-06T08:44:29","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T08:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/damesnet.com\/?p=1477"},"modified":"2014-09-23T14:18:50","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T14:18:50","slug":"they-order-things-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/damesnet.com\/?p=1477","title":{"rendered":"‘They order, as I said, these things differently in France . . .’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tulip<\/a>

Tulip and peach \/ damesnet<\/p><\/div>\n

People complain that the world is becoming the same everywhere, that you can buy fruit and vegetables during any season and multi-national take-aways are available in every city whether it\u2019s burgers or coffee. Well, I like to notice the different things in life and how tastes differ from place to place.<\/p>\n

Those burgers you see in every high street around the world, although they might look identical, actually taste different from country to country and it’s rather fun deciding which country has the tastier version. Move away from supermarkets and local markets abound with weird and wonderful seasonal produce. It\u2019s not just food that differs or the old days of flocked wallpaper found in every French hotel, the way other countries use flowers is a source of untold joy. From Hawaiian leis to Italian funeral wreaths so large they rest on an easel, from the simple table decoration in a restaurant to bridal bouquets, the difference in what is regarded as normal or good taste never ceases to amaze me. While enjoying a superb meal in a very upmarket restaurant overlooking the Med, we had ample opportunity to appreciate the glass vase containing a fake peach and tulip \u00a0decorating our table. The combination of peach and tulip at any time would have been \u00a0interesting, but to use plastic and fabric \u00a0versions of them in the middle of summer added to its piquancy.<\/p>\n

Window boxes outside private houses seem to be becoming the exception here in the UK, and yet around Europe, every other house has masses of flowers tumbling down from each window. Local councils compete to produce the most beautiful public areas and roundabouts turn into story-telling with their floral displays. For consistency throughout the country, I think France wins hands down over its neighbours on community flowers and don\u2019t get me started on how wonderful it is to use French motorways. Why can\u2019t every other country follow their lead, providing regular and beautifully laid-out stopping places with running water and loos, and somewhere to stretch and rest?<\/p>\n

This summer we\u2019ve been driving around Italy and while it can be frustrating arriving somewhere to find the place has shut up shop for lunch, it was actually wonderful to realise that the Italians take their midday break, which can last from 1pm to 4pm, seriously and don\u2019t \u00a0care about the loss of sales or tourists. Their way of life is \u00a0far more important, and it\u2019s a lesson we should learn. Theirs is a pace of life to be envied.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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