Jazz in Marciac

by Adrienne Wilson on

Summer and France are almost synonymous for many Americans who can’t possibly fathom braving the country through the winter when most of the French natives are running about. Additionally, summer is probably the only time most Americans have time for travel or are allowed their one week of play during the rest of the 365 days. Whatever your reasons, if you find yourself meandering from café to park to outdoor concert in search of the next big, cool thing to do during your French summer days and nights check out the Jazz in Marciac festival.

The festival, in its 29th year, runs July 31, 2006 – August 15, 2006 and includes musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Roberto Fonseca, Herbie Hancock, Omara Portuondo, Jaime Cullum, Jeff Hamilton, Ile au Jazz, and Jean-Jacques Milteau to name only a few. Having had a small sampling of what’s in store from Richard Johnson (playing piano with Wynton Marsalis) I’d make sure to mark August 11, 2006 on your concert planner at the very least. I might have to make a last minute jaunt to France myself for this one and another during cooler temps, of course.

See the full schedule of events here.

Great Bistros

by Neil Woodburn on

Great Bistros of Provence. 

The title says it all.  And, the fact that this article was published in a classy, upscale magazine like Travel & Leisure, you just know that every single one of these great bistros are indeed great. 

I’ll just tempt you with a few of the items raved about and see if they tantalize your taste buds enough to click on over and check it out.

Marinated eggplant
Truffle omelette
Fresh-from-the-market ingredients
Saucisson de Lyon aux pistaches
Grilled orange roughy fillets drizzled with olive oil
Pan-roasted guinea hen paired with a tangy, tender lemon confit

 

Da Vinci Code Paris

by Erik Olsen on

OK, I saw the Da Vinci Code this weekend and let’s just say I was underwhelmed. Sure it’s a fine yarn, and there’s nothing like some good religious-based controversy to keep your interest piqued. But overall it was rather slow and, well, confusing. I like the notion that people must confront certain taboo topics like the true nature and history of Jesus, but as a movie, well, it just kind of sat there. And what do we have against albinos in our society? Why are they always so evil? OK, there was Powder, but otherwise albinos are always the bad guys. They need a better PR person, me thinks.

Anyhoodle, back to the Da Vinci Code movie. I have to say it did kindle in me the desire to get to Paris. Not to see all the Da Vinci code sites, per se, certainly not the Mona Lisa, but just the beauty and culture of the City of Lights, that was something that I enjoyed in the film.

So all that said, though I have no desire to advertise the film, I did see this rather interesting full-color guide to the Da Vinci Code Paris that might be worth a look for Da Vinci fanatics. The book examines the mysteries and symbolism of Paris, retraces the footsteps of Dan Brown’s characters, and takes you through the streets of Paris all in a fun, happy, Jesus-was-just-a-man kind of way.

Friday Funny: Colbert Says Don’t Go to Europe

by Erik Olsen on

Funny man, faux conservative Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report want to help you with your summer plans. Those plans, says Colbert, should most definitely NOT include a trip to Europe. Or at least this is the sage advice offered to young folks who might be leaving college and considering Europe as the place to go to learn about themselves and the world. Seems he is basing the advice on some personal experiences from his own past, which I (so sorry) have nicked from the Worldhum site and post in its less-than-entirety here (Colbert was apparently traveling with a randy young buck named Ted and…

“Ted is so certain you’re going to get some action even though the girls keep chatting up these French bastards. Ted is such a fool! So finally you say f*** this noise and you leave. But then you get back to your hostel and your backpack is stolen along with your Walkman and your Siouxsie and the Banshees tapes. So you wait up all night for Ted because you just want to catch the first train the hell out of there. But he doesn’t even breeze in until 9 a.m. and they close the hostel at 8. You’re kicked out on the street. Turns out he hooked up with some girl and they were so drunk they crashed with these Arab guys who live over by that Jim Morrison cemetery. It’s just ridiculous. I didn’t get any action all summer. Bottom line: There’s nothing in Europe you can’t see here. One word: Epcot.”

Even though I am a semi-avid fan of the Colbert report (less so, I must confess, than the Daily Show with John Stewart) I somehow missed this episode. But Worldhum called my attention to it, and I thought it a wee too funny and apropos not to post. I haven’t been able to track the video down myself, but like Worldhum, am waiting for Youtube to give it some cyberlife. Here’s the video. But for those of us who did our own self-discovery tours in Europe, the Colbert monologue strikes an all too familiar note. Does it not?

(via Worldhum)

European Rock Festivals

by Neil Woodburn on

Every time I travel in Europe, it seems that I hear about a really cool rock festival that I just missed, or will be missing soon.  I can never seem to find out about them far enough in advance to include them in my travel plans.

Well, this summer might be different thanks to The New York Times who has just printed a guide to the major festivals in Europe and some of the headlining bands.  For example, The Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Spain kicks off this Thursday (oops, too late for me again!) with over 100 bands that include Killing Joke, the Violent Femmes, Lou Reed, Motorhead, Stereolab, and many others. 

Other festivals mentioned include Rock am Ring in Nuremberg, Germany; Roskilde in Denmark; La Route du Rock in St.-Malo, France; and the Leeds and Reading festivals in England.