Dordogne Gets a TGV Boost
The Dordogne (dept. 24) is placed to take advantage of speedier rail links to Paris and Spain – so enhancing tourism – as strategies for TGV routes for the South West are revealed.
The new proposed tracks for the Lignes à Grandes Vitesses connecting Bordeaux-Toulouse and Bordeaux-Spain could very well cut journey time from Dordogne to Paris to three hours and Dordogne to Spain to four hours.
Categories: France Travel, Living in France, News Tags: Aquitaine, Belvès, Bordeaux, Departments of France, Dordogne, Le Buisson, Paris, Périgord, Périgueux, Spain, TGV
High Speed Living in France
The very first TGV (Train à grande vitesse) departed on its journey between Paris and Lyon in 1981, since when, living in France has sped ahead of the rest of Europe in the race to build a fully functioning high speed rail network.
Currently having almost 1,250 miles of specially built lines linking many of its major cities in service, France is looking for new ways to extend its lead.
Categories: France Travel, News Tags: EUR, Europe, Eurostar, France, French government, French national rail authority, Gare de Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Guillaume Pepy, high speed rail network, High-speed rail, High-speed trains, Jean-Marie Guillemot, LGV Est, Loire Valley, London, Lyon, Montpellier, Nicolas Sarkozy, Nîmes, Paris, president, rail infrastructure, Railteam, short-haul air travel, SNCF, Strasbourg, TGV
La Politesse – Etiquette
The French have some very formal rules about manners and etiquette (la politesse) and there are many, well written, books on the subject. Here are a few ways to avoid embarrassment and not become too surprised.
Meeting people
The French shake hands almost whenever they meet and always when meeting someone for the first time or for business. Arriving at work it is quite common to greet colleagues with a handshake, and to shake hands again when leaving. I once had some luggage stolen whilst traveling on the TGV to Paris. Having arrived, I was asked to wait in the Police office whilst a report was written. There were several other people in the room and I watched in pleasant surprise as an officer, coming on duty, went around shaking everyone by the hand (including me) and wishing a polite “bonjour”.
Photo: Gregory Bastein
Categories: Living in France, Sightseeing Tags: etiquette, favourite restaurant waiter, France, Gregory Bastein, Île-de-France, la politesse, local mayor, manners, officer, Paris, Paris France, policeman, TGV