Updated 20-12-2007
- NEW -
ABC Bookstore - Books in English
|
|
For those living in the South Tarn, this bookstore in Mazamet, is well worth a visit. In addition to an extensive collection of new and secondhand English language books you will find a range of food items imported from the UK as well as some food items made especially the ABC. The ABC also offers a busy cultural programme for the expats and frenchies curious about ze English way of life. French and English classes are also proposed.
More information and a gallery of photos (which regrettably do not show Chris, the owner) of this "not like the others" bookstore can be found on their website.
|
Vin de Tarn Holidays
Vin de Tarn holidays offers gastronomes a holiday in Tarn, where they can learn about the Gaillac vines; match foods with wine; taste a range of fine wines; dine at local restaurants; experience the regional delicacies and explore some of the regions historical buildings, secrets and beauty. The mentors for these holidays are two experienced wine industry people who have an inexhaustible amount of information to impart.
Pros: The site is well laid out and complete. A particularly interesting feature is Gourmet Mots (called Gastro Mots in the menu !!) with recent and not so recent articles about wine growing
Cons: If you don't know where the Tarn wine growing region is, this site won't help you to find it. Equally the bases of the different holidays are poorly located. In these days of generalised GPS use, the site should provide the longtitude and latitude ;-))
Conclusion: An interesting and original idea for a holiday supported by a site which "sells" the idea quite well and gives (most) of the essential information.
Travel France - Vacation
This site is a travel and tourism guide to France for English-speaking visitors. In addition to general information about France and how to get about, the site has sections on the main tourist areas including South-West France.
Pros: The articles in the general information on France are quite informative.
Cons: Tourist information of the regions is rather limited (only two lines for the Mid-Pyrénées!) and there are no links to other sites on the regions. The layout is not very attractive.
Conclusion: An interesting initiative whose content will, hopefully, become richer as it matures.
Canal du Midi
This masterpiece of civil engineering was designed and created by Pierre-Paul Riquet, a tax collector under King Louis XIV. The canal was started in 1667 and finished in 1681 (with only human and animal power!), 6 months after Riquet's death. In 1996 the Canal du Midi was included on the World Heritage list of UNESCO. Here are just two of the English language sites about the canal.
Canal-du-midi.org
This site by the association "Canal à la Une" is clearly a labour of love. In spite of its rather amaturish appearance it has some nice features such as an interactive map of the canal. It has a fascinating collection of information, books, recipes, places to stay, visits to make in relation to the Canal du Midi and is full of snippits of historical information, old photos and so on.
Pros: Richness of its content.
Cons: An amateurish" look and feel" with a width limited to 640 pixels. A rather approximate English translation.
Conclusion: A visit to this site gives the same sensation as finding a trunk full of old photos in the attic. Fascinating and instructive - excellent for a wet Sunday afternoon.
The French Midi Canal
A very informative site which is well researched and well documented. A mine of information on everything to do with the canal and the regions is crosses. Although it is a rather scholarly site - lots of text in small type - there is a gallery of magnificent photos and an enormous collection of old postcards of the canal. Articles on local wines and the Cathars are an added bonus.
Pros: This is an encyclopeadia on the canal. The english translation is excellent (translated by a retired European parlement translator!). Marvellous collection of photos and postcards.
Cons: A number of frustrating navigational errors (mainly dead internal links or links to prohibited areas).
Conclusion: A site by a canal enthousiast for canal enthousiasts - be ready to spend some considerable time if you visit this site. You'll not regret it.
