Fast Food in France - a visit to McDonald's

McDonald's the French way...

So I have to say, I'm not really a McDonald's fan - but let's face it for a quick inexpensive meal on the go - it's not a terrible option.  When we arrived in France - it was interesting to witness my girls reactions to food and restaurants - everything was new and different.  New restaurants, new options - early on they didn't really know what to choose - would they like?...what was it really?..it was also hard for us to know if the restaurant was going to be quick or if it was going to be a longer meal.  As we have been here longer, I've come to learn where to go for a quick bite to eat, a sandwich to go or pasta box.  All of those options are nice when you don't have a lot of time or want to take a lot of time to eat.

So one Saturday, when we were out running errands with the kids, we decided to give them an "American" treat - and go to McDonald's.  I have to say I was a bit surprised...Many things were similar - they had even adopted a lot of American names of menu items - like the Big Mac, hamburger, McChicken & Happy Meal.  But the quality was so much better.

For kids- the Happy Meals have more choices and come with Organic juices (Bio - as they call it in France) and yogurts.  There is also a side choice of small tomatoes if kids don't want fries.  Desserts include fresh fruit, Kiwi's, squeezable organic applesauce or organic yogurt.








For regular meals - the meat just tastes better.   In addition to the regular menu, they also have limited offerings of special sandwiches which I haven't seen in the States.  One example is cheeseburgers with different varieties of French cheese.   There is also a choice of having a side salad instead of fries.  The side salad is baby mixed lettuce -not iceberg - much tastier!

Another difference is part of the French lunch menu is coffee  and a dessert at the end of the meal.  Their dessert menu includes not only biscotti cookies, but also chocolate moose.    McDonald's also offers to bring the coffee to you at the end of your meal so it's hot and fresh.  You just go up to the pick up counter - a separate line and show your receipt and get your hot coffee.


I have to say the best thing I found at McDonald's is how we can order.  Yes, there is the normal , regular line like we have in the States.  But McDonald's here also have 4 computer kiosks where you can place your order with your debit or credit card.  These computers are menu driven, giving you picture choices and they will appear in whatever language you choose.  After placing your order you have a choice to pick it up at a designated line at the counter (often used for to-go orders) or they will bring it to your table.  Yes, you did read that right...place your order, print your receipt and go sit down....avoid the lines, the crowds and just wait for your meal.  It's a wonderful service!

So even though, McDonald's is an American phenomenon, the French have certainly made some changes to adjust it to their culture - and I have to say it's nice.

Photo Source-McDonalds-France

Photo Source-McDonald's France

Life Lately in Bordeaux - photo essay

This past weekend in photos 

Lilacs
A walk in a park
Playing on the playground
Family time
Ice Cream
More Flowers
First dinner outside (yeah sunshine!)
Election night in France - new president is announced
Dessert of lemon sorbet & macaroon at Hotel Burdigala - BWC Spring Dinner

More about Bordeaux, France - Le Petit Train

Our city of Bordeaux

views from Le Petit Train

I'm having a lot of fun exploring and learning about our new city.  Traveling has always been a high interest of mine, so this area is so much fun to get to know.  Sometimes we take for granted the area we live,  my goal for living here is to not only learn about the city for myself (and our family) but to also know what to show people who are visiting.  It's one of those cities that depending on how much time you have, there are different things to see and do.

One of my favorite things to do when I first explore a city is to take some kind of tour - bus, van, etc..This I find gives a great overview of any city and also allows me a bigger sense of what the city feels is important to them to show off.  Now, Bordeaux offers bus tours and they also offer a unique smaller city tour on what they call "Le Petit Train".  This small "train" rolls around the city streets and goes in and out of smaller areas that some bigger buses are unable to maneuver.  It is for this reason that I picked this tour - hoping to get in the nooks and crannies of the city.  The tour didn't disappoint.

Le Petit Train is a narrated tour that you listen to via headphones as you are riding.  It is multi-lingual so the narration can be listened to in many different languages.  This tour started up by the Grand Theatre and across from the tourist office.  Tickets for this tour are purchased at the office of tourism. It says the tour lasts for about an hour - I found our tour to last closer to 1.5 hours.  The driver does stop several times for people to take photos.  Several times, she also got out and further explained certain monuments.  It is a very relaxing way to see many parts of the city.  I'm going to highlight a few parts of the tour below - I also had some fun learning about the history of each of these areas.

The Quinconces is the main square downtown. This area was created at the beginning of 19th century on the site of the Chateau Trompette , it is planted half full of trees, whose arrangement in quincunx gives it its name.  The plaza consists of an esplanade, sloping towards the Garonne river bordered to the north and south of the tree plantations. The large monument on one end is dedicated to the Girondins and two matching columns decorate the other end close to the river. Its area (12 hectares), makes it one of the largest open plazas site of France and one of the largest in Europe.  This allows it to host events such as concerts and fairs. Since the establishment of network of tram , the square has become the largest transfer station network transport of Bordeaux.

Place de la Bourse

This place is one of the most representative works of architectural art of classic French 17th  century. To the north stands the Palais de la Bourse (now the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux ) and to the south the former Farm Hotel (now Directorate of Inter- Customs and Excise which houses within it the National Museum of Customs ) . 

The facades of the buildings have masks which are carved by Jacques Verbeckt , Vernet and Prome. The pediments are: the greatness of the princes, Neptune opening trade, the junction Garonne - Dordogne , Time discovering Truth.

Palais Gallien - Ruins of Burdigala


These are ruins of a Roman amphitheater, elliptical in shape, measuring 130 meters by 110 meters, a historical monument since 1840.   The Palais Gallien is in the center of Bordeaux, the only remnant still visible in ancient Gallo-Roman Burdigala. This amphitheater is situated on the edge of the city of Burdigala.  It is the monumental gateway to the north and primers elliptical walls that supported the wooden steps of the cavea on the Eastern side.

Burdigala (currently Bordeaux) was the port city dating back to the 6th century BC. Around 50 BC., during the Roman conquest, Rome established its domination over the Aquitaine area.  Burdigala becomes the most important administrative center of the Southwest. and becomes one of the wealthiest cities of Gaul. Many buildings are constructed (aqueducts, baths, forum, temple ...), whose only vestiges are still visible today are the ruins of the amphitheater of the Palais Gallien, located within the city limits.  

La Porte Cailhau

This gate is located on the waterfront almost equidistant from the door of Burgundy and the Place de la Bourse. City side it faces the Place du Palais. It can also be accessed from the Quai and the Rue Bourgeois of Chai Flour.  From the tour, we were able to see both sides of this gate.

Built in the late fifteenth century (1493-1496), it commemorates the victory of Charles VIII at the Battle of Italian Fornovo. Porte Cailhau due to its age has had a couple of major restorations, one in 1882 and also in the 1960's.

Porte Dijeaux

This more ornate gate is directly off the Place Gambetta.  It also is the start of a lovely shopping street in downtown Bordeaux and runs perpendicular to Rue St. Catherine.

This gate was built as a monumental entrances of the city of Bordeaux in the 18th century, built between 1748-1753 by architect Andrew Porter.

The name is connected with the temple of Jupiter that stood at this location in the Gallo-Roman period. 

The final photo is one taken in center downtown looking toward Rue St. Catherine on the left and the Regent Hotel on the right.  It's all closed to general traffic with the exception of the tram that runs through.  It's often fun just to sit at one of the outdoor cafes and take in the city life!

I am definitely finding Bordeaux to be a fun city to get to know.  Many different historical periods and interesting architectural wonders.  

A Sunny Wednesday Afternoon - Jardin Public - Bordeaux

Jardin Public - Bordeaux

So it's finally a sunny warm day!!  This feel so great today.  We have had cloudy, rainy, cool weather for the past month and it's so great that it's finally turning a corner.  It was in the 70's today and full clear sky!  Happy May!


As it's Wednesday and the kids are off of school - I decided we needed to head outside - be one with the sun!  So after morning activities of dance, circus class and lunch - we headed downtown to the Public Garden in Bordeaux.  This huge park is sort of the Bordeaux equivalent of Central Park in NYC.  (Now I admit it's definitely not as big as Central park - but it's that great vast green oasis in the center of the city.).  The place when you walk around, you don't feel like you are still in a city.


This French garden, an area of ​​10 hectares, was established in 1746 in a style inspired by Versailles gardener Le Nôtre. In 1858 it was transformed into a landscaped French garden. The Jardin Public has an arboretum, a library and a Natural History Museum.  Additionally, there are many attractions for children: puppet theater, swings, playgrounds, a carousel.


As the girls and I entered - the first thing they found was, of course, a playground.  This playground was beautifully set on an island in the middle of a small lake.  One bridge led you on and off this island - and once on the island there was just a large playground and an adorable carousel.  The girls must have played there for over 30 minutes.  I loved it as it was totally self-contained and kids were just free to run around.  Many little French kids had their bikes and scooters and were also riding them freely around this area.  I laugh at my 4 year old - she makes friends anywhere and it didn't take her long to team up with another little girl.

After our time there, we walked across the park - enjoying the flower gardens along the way.  There is a beautiful botanical garden on the other side of a museum which is located in the park.  We didn't get all the way over there - but just took in the beautiful day & the park itself.  it was so nice to look around and see lots of people relaxing in the grass, reading, talking, or just having a picnic.  

We settled in at a fun little cafe - L'Orangerie,  for a "boule" of  ice cream.  It was a fun relaxing afternoon - and even though we only spent about 2 hours there - it was so nice to enjoy downtown Bordeaux in a different way.  We hopped back on the tram and headed home before dinner.  It's fun to enjoy Wednesdays with my girls!

French May Holidays and School Routine

Returning to school, routine and constant adjustment..

So this morning my girls all returned back to school after 2 weeks of Spring break and I have to say, I was happy to sent them off this morning.  This month in France is a bit disjointed as far as regular routine of school as there are many (and I mean MANY) National French Holidays.  Beginning tomorrow - May 1st - it's Labor Day, May 8 is Victory Day, May 17-18 is Ascension and May 27 is Pentecost.  The long and short of it is this results in 3 and sometimes 2 days of school a week.  We always have Wednesdays off, so all of these holidays come out of one of the other 4 days of school.  I'm not looking forward to this month for that reason.

My children, like most children do best on a routine.  I'm not one of those parents who have kept a super strict routine, but knowing what's coming next on a regular basis is helpful to each one of my children.  I know they do best and are less stressed when they feel like they are in a routine.  It's another reason why as much as vacation is fun, full of excitement of new experiences and quality family time, it's also evident that the lack of routine affects my childrens' behaviors.

Moving to France has been a big stress to all my children in different ways.  As a parent it's interesting to reflect from time to time how each of them are dealing with this gigantic move - and I can see it the affect in certain moments.  I realize that in many ways we asked our children to make a huge change in their lives.  I remember moving as an almost 7 year old from Cincinnati, Ohio to Rochester, NY.  I remember being excited to meet new friends and also like it was an adventure.  We moved in the late summer and started school a few weeks later.  I still remember just being excited to go to school.  I also knew my grandparents lived in Cincinnati so we went back to visit 3-4 times a year.

I understand that moving my girls at ages 4, 7 & 10 years old (when we arrived) was similar but VERY different. We not only moved far away but also changed languages, countries, culture and unlike my move as a child, it will be a while before we go back to see our old friends. The other thing I've noticed for my girls is that because my girls were in daycare from 6 months of age on - they have developed some very strong friendships.  My oldest daughter is still good friends with a girl who she started daycare with at 6 months old.      They have never attended the same elementary school - but it's that initial bond as first friends that seems to count for so much.  They still consider themselves best friends and invite each other to their birthday parties, even though in reality they see each other only about 6-8 times a year.  I never had those kind of friendships.  My oldest friends come from elementary  and junior high school.  (That's not due to my move, as much as in my generation - preschool was only 2-3 mornings a week and kindergarten was half day - friendships started forming later.)  For all of those reasons (and many more) I know this move has been a huge adjustment.

The process of learning a new language has been the biggest change I think for my girls.  I know I spoke in another post about the progress of each of my girls - and progress is the key word - everyday it changes.
We have chosen (more sub-consciously) to continue to speak English in our home.  It's our language of origin and habit, first language for 4 out of 5 of us - and for my husband and I -it's our relationship language.  That has provided a comfort level for my girls - a safe haven.  Even though in theory, my husband should speak more French to them - that's a slow process when so much of our life already has been in English.

When we have French family and friends over, we change to French.  My children seem to make this change more and more unconsciously (it's a work in progress) - but again it's interesting to see English is still their comfort zone.  By preference at this point, they want to speak English, get together with other English speaking kids etc..

So on Monday morning when I sent my girls off to school (after 2 weeks of being home) - it was definitely a difficult morning.  Our vacation had been primarily spent together or with my brother and sister in law who were visiting.  (Most of my girls' French friends had gone away) - so English was every more comfortable.
My oldest daughter, the social one was excited to see her friends.  She had picked out her clothes the night before and was up and going on time.  My younger two - that was a different story.  My youngest was tired, sluggish - happy to go to school but expressing her frustration by saying she missed her old school, her old friends, her old teachers.  She's my go with the flow kid..but still lets us know her feelings.

My middle daughter, my sensitive one struggled.  It was hard to get her up, even though she had picked her clothes out he night before, she was just slow to get dressed.  She has a stomach ache, she didn't feel good.  Everything about the morning was frustrating to her.  We had several "melt downs".  As a mother who knew this was more about anxiety than illness, I tried to get her excited about seeing her friends again.  Reassured her that she was prepared for school - she has completed all of her homework over vacation, she had been reading regularly.  For her it's often about confidence and feeling prepared.  None of this seemed to help this morning, she still struggled. Through tears she ate her breakfast - constantly stating she didn't want to go to school.  She didn't like any of her shoes...was 10 steps behind us getting to the bus stop.  It was hard as a parent to watch her struggle like this, but knew she needed to go to school.  I half expected a phone call today stating she wasn't feeling well.

When I met the bus at 5 pm and she jumped down the stairs with a smile on her face and gave me a big hug...it made it all worth it. She apparently had an excellent day!!  She even said her teacher praised her for her work and focus on school work today.  I have to say, as happy as I am that she had a great day....I don't look forward to the next 2 days off and starting over again on Thursday.  I'm sure there are others out there who have gone through the same thing...would love to hear about any tricks or strategies.