FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Syrup for sale at a local farmer's market

"Le Colorado Provençal" in the Lubéron National Park (SE France)

le nombril (nohn-breel) noun, masculine
  1. navel, belly button

Terms and Expressions:

le contemplateur de nombril = navel-gazer
contempler le nombril = omphaloskepsis or to contemplate one's navel, to navel-gaze
se regarder le nombril = to look at one's navel, to be overly interested in oneself
se prendre pour le nombril du monde = to think the world revolves around oneself

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Proverb:
Au-dessous du nombril, il n'y a ni religion ni vérité.
Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.

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A Day in a French Life...
On Saturday morning we reached "le Far West Français."* Instead of Stetsons and spurs, we sported Panamas and penny loafers. A vrai dire,* some among us--and not all--wore such incompatibles (and I won't hide my glee at catching the French commit a garment gaffe). Les Français, who are apparel-adroit for most occasions, are sometimes thrown off hanger in matters of sportswear. But back to our story...

"Le Far West" is just another name for "le Colorado Provençal," which is just another appellation for part of the splendid national park of the Luberon. Surrounding towns in this part of southeast France include Apt, Cavaillon, Menerbes, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Saint Saturnin les Apt and Saignon--the last of which being where we would hang our hats at the end of the day.

We left our cars in the village of Rustrel and stopped in to a closet-sized épicerie* to buy bananas, apples, two boxes of cookies and enough water for a dozen adults. The twelve trekkers mentioned are our traveling pals who happen to live in or near our village here in the Var. This périple* to the neighboring department of the Vaucluse marked our 4th annual voyage together.

A ten kilometer parcours* was chosen and we stayed on track by following les balises bleues.* Hiking at the same pace, but in ever-changing-ever-tchatching* clusters, we advanced into the palette of Provence; "palette" for the two-dozen or so shades of ochre which are visible throughout the canyon (hence the name "Colorado Provençal").

We marched along the limestone path, flanked by fields of budding lavender and wheat, toward the colorful cliffs. Soon, the fragrant maritime pine and chestnut forest engulfed us. When temperatures rose les nombrils* got exposed as t-shirts were lifted or altogether eliminated. Three-quarters of the way into our trek we pulled off to the side of the trail for a welcome repos.* Out came chilled white wine and the boxes of cookies.

Another group of hikers filed past us, slowing only to say "Bon appétit," reminding me that we were nowhere near the Colorado of my childhood but most assuredly in France--the only place on earth where complete strangers will stop to enthuse, "Enjoy your meal!"
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Words in a French Life: "...a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two very French children with her French husband in Provence, carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language."

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*References: le français (m) = French; à vrai dire = to tell the truth; une épicerie (f) = grocer's shop; le périple (m) = voyage, trip; le parcours (m) = trail route; la balise bleue (f) = trail or road marker; tchatching (Franglais from the French verb 'tchatcher') = to chat; le nombril (m) = navel; le repos (m) = rest

Un champ de fleurs -- A field of flowers near a farm in the Lubéron

le champ (shom) noun, masculine
  1. field;  area; scope

Also:
les champs = countryside
le champ de courses = hippodrome, racetrack
le champ de bataille = battlefield
les fleurs des champs = wild flowers

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Expressions

avoir du champ = to have elbowroom
avoir le champ libre = to be free to do as one chooses
le champ est libre = the coast is clear
prendre du champ = to stand back, to give oneself plenty of room
sur-le-champ = immediately

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Citation du Jour
Sème du bonheur dans le champ du voisin, tu seras surpris de constater ce que le vent fera produire au tien.

Sow happiness in the neighbor's field and you'll be surprised to note what the wind will produce in your own. --Juliette St-Gelais

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A Day in a French Life...

Twelve friends, two days and three colors: le rouge, le vert et le jaune.*

Rouge:  for les champs de coquelicots* and plump red cerises* which weighed down tree branches and had them languidly sweeping the Luberon's dusty floor.

Green:  for the leafy grapevines, chestnut trees and maritime pines--the scent of which perfumed the Vauclusien* air as we hiked through a canyon of ochre.

Yellow:  for the sweet-scented flowering genêt,* the abundant soleil* and the powdery mustard-colored earth which covered our skin as we kicked up puffs of the fine powder during our trek along the sentier balisé.*

More on our parcours* to France's "Colorado provençal" tomorrow...

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References: le rouge, le vert et le jaune = red, green and yellow; le champ de coquelicots (m) = field of poppies; la cerise (f) = cherry; Vauclusien = of the Vaucluse (department in SE France); le genêt (m) = broom (plant); le soleil (m) = sun; le sentier balisé (m) =  marked footpath; le parcours (m) = journey

A bar à vin / wine bar in Cannes

le parcours (par-koor) noun, masculine

  1. distance; journey, route
  2. course, round
  3. mileage; fare

Related Expressions and Terms

le parcours de golf = golf course
le parcours de santé = fitness trail
le parcours de combattant = obstacle course
le parcours politique = political career
payer le parcours = to pay the fare

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Citation du Jour
Les parcours sinueux sont ceux qui atteignent les sommets.
It is the winding roads that reach the summit. --Jean-Charles Ducoulombier

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L' EMBARRAS DU CHOIX (SPOILT FOR CHOICE)
by Barbara Barles    

(Read this article in French)

In France (but surely elsewhere, too) going shopping puts us before a permanent dilemma as to the choice of the best product; this, even more so, as we are constantly presented all kinds of new things.

Under these conditions, filling up one's shopping cart puts us back onto the obstacle course!

Take deodorants, for example.  The choice between a stick, a spray, or a roll-on turns out to be difficult enough, but it is even more so now that the "no mark" deodorants exists (permitting avoiding white traces atop dark-colored clothing). Existing only in spray, it forces the stick and roll-on enthusiasts to have two bottles in their bathroom, one for dark days and one for the other days.

In cleaning products it's the same thing.

If only a few years ago a good-sized barrel of powder let one wash the whole family's laundry, today it is necessary to multiply one's weapons to overcome the problem of stains.

That is why, to the traditional powdered detergent, it is advisable to add a special detergent for dark clothes (designed so that the dark clothes don't turn grey); special detergent for white clothes (formulated to avoid their turning yellow); special detergent for synthetic materials (ideal for sportswear) and special detergent for woolen or delicate fabrics.

And if, despite all of this paraphernalia, certain stains still resist, then it is necessary to purchase a series of little magic bottles, yet making sure not to confuse grease stains with colored stains (fruit, wine, blood), or with ink or rust stains (each among them needing its own specific product).

And if the French pull their hair out or turn grey facing all these choices, all they need to do is to take a look at the shampoo section where they're sure to find their happiness among shampoo for "hair loss"; "colored hair" and others "fine" or "curly" hair!

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Words in a French Life: "...a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two very French children with her French husband in Provence, carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language."

      
                 Siesta in Taradeau... at a honey and cheese farm.

An inspiring collection of French vocabulary and stories from the early editions of French Word-A-Day.

151 pages brimming with fun and useful French expressions, thoughtful French quotes, and insights into France and French culture. Learn about French customs, enjoy the charm of day to day life in the South of France, understand lifestyles we share with the French and appreciate our cultural differences.

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Words in a French Life: "...a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two very French children with her French husband in Provence, carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language."

 
                           Sur la plage--On the beach in Agay's bay

Today's word appears to be regional and is difficult, if not impossible, to find in a French/English dictionary... That's not to say you should miss out on the fun of using it!

le gancho (gen-shoo) noun, masculine
  1. "le crochet" or hook, peg

Expressions and Related Terms:
faire le gancho = to pick up on someone, to ogle or "eye up" a girl (from the action of squinting, or "winking")
un ganchou = someone who is "twisted". One who behaves like un ganchou would be acting in a maladroit or twisted (strange, odd) manner

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Citation du Jour:
S'accrocher au connu, c'est rester prisonnier de l'ignorance.
To cling to the known, is to remain prisoner of ignorance. --Yvon Rivard

Seated on a cool chaise-longue facing the sea, I listen to the cry of French seagulls and the soft crash of Mediterranean waves. Our friends Véro and Tony are having breakfast sur le sable;* I watch the latter divide up an ananas.*