Updated
20-12-2007
- NEW -
ABC
Bookstore
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Books in English
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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.
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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 region’s 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.
