Music Photo-video
During my 50+ years in Medical Research I spent about 8 years working with a French Drug Company establishing one of their proprietary natural-product pharmaceuticals as an effective treatment of obstructive bladder disease. We were very successful.
Over these 8 years, the Company arranged for me to visit France twice a year, once in Paris, and the other in Dijon. One time I accompanied two MD’s on a Gourmet Speaking Tour Of France, ending up in Monaco for an International Medical Conference.
During this trip, we traveled by car From Paris to: Marseille, Charmant, Chartres, Bordeaux, Cote d’Azure, Monaco and back to Paris and Versaille. The photos in this Music Video are from this extended Trip. However, the photos from Monaco and Versailles are in a separate Music Video.
Our Hostess and Tour Guide was from the Pharmaceutical Company, and lived in a Villa overlooking the coast near Nice. We loved the outdoor heated swimming pool at her Villa. For lunch we went to the coast and ate at a Wonderful little Seafood Café named the African Queen, after the movie. There was a Large Bronze Statue of the African Queen in the center of the Café, and pictures from the Movie on the Walls. Four young Americans Came in and sat near us; two men two women. As in almost all French restaurants and cafes, as soon as they sat down, a waitress took their drink orders (Beer naturally) and gave them menus” The only meat item on the menu was “Le Petit Hamburgers for the Kids. Although there were a large selection of seafood and fish items, all 4 Americans INSISTED on getting LE Grand Hamburger (thinking if they can make Petit Hamburgers, they can make le Grand Hamburger for these special Americans). No real problem. In all French restaurants and cafés, as soon as you need another drink, it appears almost instantly, whereas the food comes much later. After about 4 beers each, one of the men yelled to the waitress “Where Are our Hamburgers”, and threatened to leave without paying. After a reasonable time, the hamburgers came out. The French cook all beef rare if not told otherwise. The speaker for the Four yelled again these are “RAW” and sent them back. Meanwhile they had another two beers. When the food came out, I could see a Black Crust on the over cooked burgers, at which the 4 stood up to leave. I couldn’t take it anymore, I got up and confronted the Four. I insisted they pay for the beers at least, and apologize to the staff and guests, which they did not do. I them told “You’re the reason that the French APPEAR to hate Americans. After a few choice words to me, they paid for their beers and stormed out of the café. All other patrons stood up and gave me a standing ovation.
As I said, I have been all over France and never had a problem either sightseeing or eating. I do not speak or read French. If I go into a restaurant that the menu is only in French, I ask for their best seafood appetizer and best meat entre, or visa versa. I let the waiter choose my wine. I can honestly say I never had a bad meal in France. Even their McDonalds have “McRed and McWhite wines.