We just flew in 70 of our European tour guides for our annual tour planning summit. Having all that national pride in our small town was fun. As always, our French guides and our Italian guides had their playful competition. Here’s a good-natured cultural inventory our Italians found handy for keeping the proud French in their place:
Geography: France borders the English Channel and Belgium in the north; the Mediterranean Sea and Spain in the south; and in the east, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland…and the 2006 World Cup soccer champions, Italy. While the highest peak in Europe is known as Mont Blanc (“White Mountain”), the summit of “Monte Bianco” is actually shared by both France and Italy.
History: France is proud to have one of history’s most important generals, Napoleon…who, having been born on Corsica, was Italian.
Production: The French are known for having wines, cheeses, and fashions that are second only to Italy’s.
Soccer: While Italy won the World Cup in 2006, France is very proud of its national soccer team. The “French” stars include Zinedine Zidane (of Algerian origin), Lilian Thuram (from Guadeloupe), David Trezeguet (of Argentinean origin), Jean-Alain Boumsong (from Cameroon), Patrick Vieira (from Senegal), Claude Makélélé (born in Zaire), and Florent Malouda (from French Guiana). While none of these players comes from France, most of them have trained in Italy.
Music: It’s strange that there are no traces of French music outside of France, where, instead, Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini, and Tiziano Ferro ‘ who are all Italian ‘ are extremely popular.
Art and culture: Apart from some drugged poets or paint-dripping artists, France is popular for hosting the Mona Lisa (who is Italian). Where Europe’s most beautiful women are concerned, France is the home of actress/model Monica Bellucci and has as its first lady Carla Bruni ‘ both of whom are Italian.
On one of our visits to Rome a restaurant owner told us that the Italians taught the French how to cook! I don`t care I would go to either country anytime!
Rick – Thanks for getting back on track (i.e., European topics). I am surprised the Italians didn`t mention the French army rifle – never fired and dropped only once (to quote David Stockman on `Real Time with Bill Maher` last Friday).
Yeah, but the French birthrate is much higher than Italy`s so I guess the French will get the last laugh when the Italians are no longer around.
Yes, but to accommodate France`s growing population it will have to expand its borders and we know how they fight. :p Maybe they`ll hire the U.S. to do it, we`ll need the money to pay off our debts. lol j/k ^playful banter
Italia regna! Or as we say here, Italy rules!!
I think France`s population is growing as a result of immigration, NOT because of bedroom activity!
Wonder how escargot pizza, or spaghetti with escargot sauce would be? Tasty…maybe…
Very clever. I presume there will be a French response?
Mike, The population of France is growing b/c of increased immigration AND b/c of a high birthrate among native French. Italy`s immigration rate is growing but the birthrate among native Italians is the lowest in the industrialized world. Native Italians will eventually die out and Italy will be made up of primarily immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Italy=1.38, France 1.91, highest Niger with 7.45. France isn`t out of the clear. Italy will go first and a couple years later France will follow.
Hooray! “European Rick” is back!
And let`s not forget WWII
For a progressive environmentalist, I would think Mr. Steves would travel less to Europe and minimize his carbon footprint.
The French took from the Italians…and what did the Italians take from the Greeks??? Who taught them to make wine, bread, who were the Romans teachers, why did they speak Greek, art work, philosophy etc etc etc….Please read the best selling Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff, it puts all 3 ancient cultures in place….carpe diem