Francesca in France

Where else?
In Mediteranian seas !Places like Monaco MonteCarlo and Cote d'Azur, France!
What is the image of Cote d'Azur ?(Blue Coast in english)
It is crystal blue sea and glistening white yatchs comes to mind.
The presence of this conspicious marks of wealth are part of daily life here.
The ports and entry without them would be dull and empty.Believe me, or see for yourself. The world of yatch ownership and luxury chartering generally comes at a high price.
And you might think only the lucky few can have it.
Photo of Monaco Montecarlo.Lola is working in that tallest building! ! !
Click photo for bigger size, you will see Monaco Palace at the background.
  
Port area, Monaco where these luxurious yatch and commercial ships docks.Five minutes walk from where I work .
  
Here are the prices if you want to experience a yatch accomodations.
Pasingit muna, holiday package to Monaco:
here
.
2,000 -3,000 euros per week,accomodating six persons in two cabins, with no crew. (x nyo na lang sa 63 ba? per euros to get the peso equivalent)
A 13.5m sailing yatch with no crew, three cabins for 6 guests cost the same rent.
With a family or friends of six is far more cheaper than staying on a hotel offshore.
With a yatch you can go all places along the Med sea without the crowd.
Sarap no?
Or:( eto mas mabigat!)
20,000- 700,000 euros per week, for a luxury yatch, not including food and extras, and the yatch can have 2 to 42 crew members.
They normally have a very owned trained chef, many of them worked already in five star hotels and restaurants, so guests dont need to worry going out to restaurants or special diets of the guests.
With that vast amount of money spent, it is normal, some guests has unbelievable requests on top.They can be very demanding!
A celebrity would ask first a fax copy of what the food would be as she is on the diet, and would fax back her own ritual menus, including how many ice cubes would be on her drinks, and what are her sauces and cutlery preferences includes what type of toothpick she only use!
A well know singer would prefer a cream fabric on the landing going to the yatch, he hated red carpet.
A wealthy Russian would insist on flying in a national synchronized swimming team to perform on the yatch's swimming pool while on board.
Matuk nyo yon???! ! ! Sa TV or panaginip ko na lang maabot yan, LOL!
Some charter boats have a Helipad (to land if guest take a helicopter),a library, fully equipped gym, saunas and beauty parlors.Expect also of the huge dining area , discos, bars, swimming pool(s) inside.And the decors, it must be VERY IMPRESSIVE.
Mostly, they got antiques paintings, clocks, muebles, cutleries in gold, etc etc.
And the table cloth and napkins, in linen, embroidered, and all are served in Silver huge wares....
If you want history, there's classic Christina O owned by Aristotle Onassis.Built 1943 as a floating home for the Onassis,from 1954-1975. Winston Churchill was first introduced to JFK at Aris Bar, with original whale foreskin bar stools. It has the original Renoir painting on the wall.Christina O is now owned by a family friend, when Christina donate it to the greek govt in 1975 after her father died, this family friend bought it back from the Greek Govt.
Must be pricey! Whew!
In Monaco ports and in Fontvielle,Monaco, you will find a lot of these luxurious boats that comes alive again during summer (May-September)Naikot na ni Lola ang mga ganitong area, and, super ganda ng mga boats moored here, talo ang bangka sa Ilog Pasig!
SS Delphine houses 28 guests, with a turkish bath.(whew!)
Classic sailing yatch Zaca still moored in Fontvielle ,Monaco, is used to be owned by Errol Flynn.They moored their yatchs here because it is safe and secured. But the mooring rent, we will not talk about it, you might drop on your seats, LOL!
I, your Lola, worked as a Stewardess,in a sailing boat "Xarifa " year 1998.We were six crews on board with our own cabin ( with free food)and Special Cabins to house six guests. The owner stays on board (master bedroom)despite he had a huge apartment in SeaSide Plaza, Monaco. We have guests on summer, served cocktails until 2 am and then sail again to other ports until Italy! Sometimes we received good tips from guests. Sometimes , nothing but hard work .The pay was good, but it took my skin off, I quit.
With all the money coming in and out to these rich people in Monaco, where do you think they get those? Guess..!
Source: Alex Edwards, The Riviera times.

PEARL FARM, Davao ,Philippines, client's ratings
.

I find the ratings amusing. One complains about the bad service of the place,while others enjoyed their stay there.

Lolo and I were there last August 2005. And we enjoy the place as it was sooo romantic and really, we feel we are already in Paradise.

The one complained must be somewehere in Bronx, LOL she is a fighter...
Or do not appreciate nature, she likes places like Manila. She should visit red cities, she fits there, LOL

I think when travelling, depends on your taste, one has to make some assignments on the place so that there are no surprises what to expect.If one do not like crowded places, avoid peak season. If wanted alone, take a jungle trip, on your own,LOL!

I find Pearl Farm, Davao , Philippines VERY BEAUTIFUL, and I would recommend it to all nature ,paradise and resorts lovers with class and serenity.

OUR PHOTOS
.

Today is Sunday. Outside our windows, people are going to their cars to go out, either to the mountains (ten minutes ride) or to the beach (around 5 mins away).

Im lazy to go out. Got a headache. I read the book (healing naturally without taking pills) and it said: headache causes to :female in middle age, due to taking birth control pills, constipation, stress, perfectionist, do not relax, less exercise.

Hmmm, No wonder.The treatment , according to the book, is to put cold cloth over the temple, and relax in a dark room. I donot want to. I am lazy to do anything...

Michel went out today,preaching with other Jehovah's Witnesses but asked me if I want to go to the beach later. Depends,I told him.I prefered , I stayed at home to do some chores. Our living room is messy, because of footbal on tv, all cushions,everywhere, potato chips and beer still there.Oy, Argentina wins !( vs Mexico) .

What will I post as topic for today? As it is Sunday, here it is.Hope you ignore me with the inconvenience, hehe.
Let not the wise man brag about himself, nor the mighty man about his mightiness. Let not the rich man brag about himself because of his riches. But let the one bragging himself brag about himself because of this very thing: the having of insight and the having of knowlegde of me, that I am Jéhovah, the One exercising loving kindness, justice and righteousness,in the earth for in these things I do take delight.

(Girls,this is a principle of humility Jer 9:23,24.)

Very difficult to do, especially one has a Blog! LOL

Monday is my most hectic day. Sunday passed, the employers are at home, expect it, lots of mess all rooms when Monday comes.

Today, Monday, I arrived, open the door, the flat is soo quiet. Good, no one is at home, hehe, I can do everything without someone behind my back, and I can go home early, as usual hide my laundry or ironings ! hik hik hik!

I went straught to the kitchen! shocked, waaah lots of mess! There are guests lastnight, dinner party of Madame,by the look of scattered champagne glass, wine glass, water glass, coffee and tea cups, all dishes... etc etc.
She gathered all in the kitchen but not in the dishwasher.Arrrghh!!
My day is gone, lost, and it is just start of the week,Monday...
My Boss arrived, panting...

Eh, francesca, please set the table for three, in the terrace, cook some lunch, my wife and her friend are coming in an hour.

(IN AN HOUR?????!!!)
I shout to my Boss!
"eheste Sir, in an hour...", right away Sir, in an hour....!
I realized I cried loudly to him, LOL
So , I rushed the work, except wine glasses, because we washed it by hand , then dry.
15 mins passed...

I ran to the terrace, change the table cloth, dust the chairs, mop the floor,another 15 minutes passed.

Arrange the cushions in the living room, gather all magasines, hide all house slippers everywhere, another 15 mins.

I passed by Chico, he was blocking my way, rounding my legs, looking for some care"Chico, go away, dont disturb, cant take care of you, maybe later... !"

Haah! I have 15 minutes left to cook. Cook what?

I went to the fridgerator, choose the salad (lettuce) cut cut cut, wash with running water, picked them up, put in a round plastic drainer and round !round! round ! to get rid thr excess water.
Carrot shredded, tomatoes sliced, cucumber.Sauce, where's the olive oil, oh, here, vinagrette, sugar, pepper, salt. Slice the bread, run to terrace to set the table for three.

Kriing, 15 mins passed said the kitchen timer.(sounds like the half time sound of football, mama mia!!)

My Boss asked me: "are you alright?"
"Sir, I am alright", grrrr!
"Just to let you know, my wife called, she cancelled having lunch here, so dont bother." He left the house...

Waaaaahhhh !

<--Lolo amazed how beautiful the paintings in HOTEL DE VILLE (cityhall lobby )of Aix-en-Provence.

while Lola posing din!--->(click photos for bigger sizes)


(Down photo)aix en provence celebrating famous painter's month, Cezanne





  
Entrance round about fountain of Aix.This is a must see when in South of France. Lots of cafes, signature shops,restos, prestige universities of France are the best here too.Punta kayo ha?

more infos
.

<--Jazz band entertaining tourists, Avignon, France


photos taken from the top of the tower-->
<- Le Pont (the bridge) d'Avignon
The Pope's Palace-->

Lola nyo,! napagod, upo in front of the Pope's Palace->


see related blog topic




Please click photo for bigger size, sorry late posting na, but still good to see, as if you been there na rin...hehehe.
Recommended hotel pala where we stayed is Best Western Hotel de Lavarin

Very quiet hotel.Spend nyo na summer nyo dito soon!

Have you watched the film tv series "Ally Mcbeal"?



If not, eto kwento.
She went to the grocery ,in the Chips section.
She saw a lady holding the last Pringles chips and the lady asked the employee of the shop if there's more chips in stock?
The employee didnt even stopped answered, "thats the last one."
The old lady was undecided, if she take it or not.
Eventually she put the chips down.

Ally, who had been watching the old lady,took the oppurtunity, grabbed the chips and walk away.

The old lady said: "hey, thats my chips, give it back to me."
Ally said " no its not yours anymore, because you put it down."
"No, its mine, I am just thinking about taking it when you grabbed it!"

"Excuse meee???!"(pataray ni Ally ke Lola) "if you took it you donot put it back to the shelves, you will put it straight in your basket bag. Its because I was interested to take it, you become interested to take it too, otherwise you dont because no one wanted it, isnt it, huh !"

Lady in fury said: "You think because you are in office, you can belittle an old lady like me!"
Taas kilay ni Ally, tinawag siyang office girl!!! lol

"I am not an office girl, I am a lawyer, and I know that I got the rights to the chips!"
The lady didnt like it, she grabbed back the chips from Ally's hands and run away with it.
Ally put her foot up, stumble the old lady, the old lady fall into the pyramid arranged cans of cooking oil "Minola" .
It all fall down,rolling cans in the floor, plus the shelves nearby,followed suit, covering the old lady.

It was a disaster...!

Ally was soo shocked, and only recovered when she was hand grabbed by the security guard to the Adminitration Office.
At admin office, she called her co lawyer, her co lawyer arrived,scolded her because of fighting an old lady over a box of chips???!!!
So she arranged damages to the old lady,who was out of clinic with bandages on her head and ankles.

Ally was escorted to go out of the grocery door.

When out of the grocery, another guard held her.
She was surprised ready for another round of fight.
But the guard told her: "you stole a tube of lubricant jelly.It was still in your pocket, Camera saw you, so give it back to us by joining us again inside.
Waaaah, hiyang hiya si Ally!

Her co lawyer was smiling and giggling at her whispered:
"Ally,Why did you hide the lubricant jelly in your pocket and not in your grocery basket?"
"Because I was ashamed to show it around, but when I check out at the cashier, I intend to pay for it. But that old lady ...(she pointed the old lady passing by with the chips... lol)

"Shhh"!, said her co lawyer. " I am not accusing you of stealing, I just wanted to know, why do you need a lubricant jelly, when you dont have a bf or a man in your life???
Ally said shyly: What if? (she gather her fingers in one ) What if, you know,(shrugged) like we bet in lotto,because what if?
What if?

Ang tawa ko, ganon na ba ka desperado mga GILRS na taga America? Pero of course this is just a film, pero parang realistic eh?hihihi


In line with that, Lolo Michel has almost the same story. Or nearly... lol
He took the last stock of 12 yogurts in the grocery, but he put it by mistake into someone else's cart!
Sira ulo!
He try to looked around,which cart was it, but cannot find it. He was ready to fight for the lost yogurts, went to the queue in the cashier's counter spy on everyone's baskets and carts, nothing. Yogurt was gone in the wind, he cant believe it.
Either someone spotted it when he put in his cart, and when he left his cart by the side to get his beer, wala na, naglaho na !
Asar na asar si Lolo!

Ano guess nyo girls sa nawawalang yogurt?
May nag nenok? Or merong nag bayad non to the cashier, hindi na namalayan... lol

Guess ko, walang uwing yogurt si Lolo, thats for sure...
Grabeh putak ni Lolo, hindi makatulog!Ha ha!

And the story of Ally Mcbeal, would you take a jelly?
What if nga naman?!wink!

Maalaayyyy, Lotto nga yon eh!

30,000 plus!!!!
its time na , mabuksan na ang 20years old wine...!
St emilion chateau patarabet year 1986


30,000 plus!!!! gisingin nyo akooooh!
salamat sa inyong walang sawang pagtangkilik ng blog ko.(pahid mata lola huhuhu!)
If umabot ng 40,000 yan,
hindi ko kasalanan,
if sumakit panga nyo sa katuwaan!

HAPPY FOOTBALL NIGHTS TO ALL!!!

Once, my employer asked me to serve her tea. So I boiled mineral water, prepared her tea set, (silver and porcelaine ware) with fresh milk, honey and non fat sugar tablets.
Alam ko na menu ni Madame, when it comes to tea.
Eh sa milk dispenser, I put only a little fresh milk and served it to her. I usually saw it she do not put all milk, but just a wee bit, so why put milk too much in the milk dispenser.I put milk about a half only of the milk dispenser...
Mali!
She later politely asked me: "dont we have anymore milk in the fridge?"
"I said, we still have, Madame."
She said: "Please put more in the milk dispenser..."
So I did.
After her tea, she went to her room, I cleared up everything,I saw, she didnt put ALL milk!
Asar ako, why she asked me for more milk then not taking it all!

Now, either,I have to drink that milk, or throw it away, as I dont put it back to the bottle again noh!
I decided to threw it away, yoko ng milk at 3pm!
Besides I am annoyed, di naman pala iinumin!
Bigay ko sana kay Chico the cat, ayaw din!
Lokong pusa, may taste na rin!

When I asked Lolo, what's it? Why?
He said: The Rich do not think the way you think.
Simpleng sagot.
Sa feeling kong komplikadong tanong...

1.Si Pinay na kaibigan ko, sabi niya, she wanted to go home to Philippines with us this July. So I told her, you must plan it because for 8 years its her first time to go back home.
She said, no, its okey, I want to go home with you and Michel, so that I got someone with me in the plane.No need for planning.
Fine, good.
I told her, I might not get a booking for you,same flight, as its already a bit late to book, but I look in the net for you.
I checked, there's an available same flight with us. She said :"reserve it, I will take it.Yes, yes yes, I want to go home..." Paindak indak pa ang hitad!

So I clicked to my pc...page said ready to pay... I asked her card.
She said: Ow...ow... well, I think I have to plan it first...

Ngeeeh, Ano yon?

2. Employer ko reminds me again for someone to work as lady accompany (to travel with them all in europe ) from July 19- August 15. Replacement ko as I will be away for holidays too.
I suggest, why not take someone in Munich, Madame, its cheaper, you dont need to pay her plane ticket roundtrip Nice, France to Munich Germany.

Madame said: its not a problem the money, dear. I just want someone from here, than there.
Ehhek, pahiya ako, I forgot, loaded pala mga ito? whats 300 euros(or more) plane ticket nga naman...

So I ve been calling mga insurektos kong kaibigans sa Monaco and Nice.
Wala mag kagusto!Suplada, turn down offer job ko?!

Maganda naman ang offers: work 6 hours monday to saturday only. Good pay.
Go to Munich, free board and lodging. Includes travelling with hotel accomodations to other EU countries Madame and family will be. They have a boat also in Munich, and ranch, that Madames' mother owned. So my replacement will be traveling on these areas!Sana ako na lang as I love travelling ( especially without spending LOL)
But naka agenda na ang Lolo at Lola nyo...

What to do: lady accompany work:
if madame needs to go shopping, sama ka. If she needs to jog, or have her gym, sama ka. If she got friends over her villa, boat or ranch of mother, be there if she needs anyhting. Or if she is with friends, her husband and daughter at home, prepare meals and clear the kalats.Parang PA baga!Personal Assistant.

Walang tumatanggap, kasi mga Pinay dito busy din, summer na ,dami work dito!

Tawag ko si Pinay friend, okey daw, kasi holiday off siya.
Pero sa style niya...

Asahan ko kaya?

IMPULSE DECISION OR PLANNING FIRST, saan kayo sa dalawa?

Opening an account
In France, when one opens an account, one will just provide her identity card and 11 euros as a starting deposit, voila, one can have check book, and a visa card within three days, some will take a week process.

The banks knows that in next future transactions, checks (as salary) will fill the account sooner or later. Here kasi, one get paid by check as salary .The salary must be documented kasi as paid by employers,always.

Account Status
The client can check her Bank status of accounts via the internet or ATM machine. One can deposit cash in the machine, up to 400 pieces of bills . They got a machine here now that when you drop your bills, the machine counts it and confirm the total amount deposits. One can also deposit checks via the machine.

One can request via ATM a check book by inserting the card.
One can buy a piece of bread using the card.
One can pay bus and train tickets monthly using the card.
Or pay 2.50 train ticket to Monaco, by card.

Thats the usefullness of plastic, LOL

Some rich Madame ,do not even bring plastic cards. When she shops, she just sign her name (and write send bills to :"the name of her company") voila, labas na siya ng shop, dala Valentino summer dress niya, cost 2000 euros) . Secretary will issue a check when bill arrives.
Sarap, sana ganon din ako...May taga bayad ng bills ko...Hehe.

Balik tayo sa banking in France.

Bank Services

Monthly bills are paid by the bank.Our electric , phones ,internet bills are paid through the bank.
Thats why I dont handle any CASH (mine or Michels') because the bank took care of it. So no money ang Lola nyo.Malaki na ang 5 euros sa wallet ko.
One minute in front of an ATM machine, your transactions (whatever you need) is done.

The bank monitors the status of the account regularly. If they spotted that there are some "unusual" purchases made , they get alarmed, would call Michel if he knows the purchase of this and that.

And they monitor the account like a hawk, LOL.When they spotted that a certain amount seems staying in the account,(unmoved or not used kahit 50 euros lang!) they would send a letter to suggest to invest it.They will send a formal letter, sometimes suggesting you to invest your 30 euros monthly into something!!!Kunwari sa suggest with tawad...
Cannot escape with these lot!

Checks Rejected:
If the bank calls you, it means trouble on the accounts. "Overspending to the montly limit allowable, Sir, please come to the bank to withdraw money from one account to pay the other or leave at that, and pay " agios" (surcharges)...
Lupit ng bank, kaya bawal mag exceed limit!
If one issues a bounce check, may sulat from bank: "Cheque refusé!" Meaning checks rejected, no funds, kaya may existing status (to be barred)na ang account holder sa Bank of France.
Do it again, you will never have a check or bank account in France for the next five years... Lupit!

Be careful talaga as they mean business...lol

Proposals and Investments:

Buying shares of the bank, or any shares they are handling to "lure" you into business with them.Careful when deciding, think that they make money out of you, not the opposite, hehe.

Insurance (house, car, life,health, retirement)It helps you , they say. But at tha same time, it helps the bank.

Time Deposits: 50 euros(or less) monthly to put on another account for four years term in case the client would eventually buy a flat, a new car, or go to holidays.The bank will finance it through this account called
PEL (Plan Epargne Logement).Pero ano ka, gamit nila pera mo for their investments too...Panalo ka lang ng 5%, minsan less pa!

Loans

Need some cash for personal use? Banks are ready to help,which means, loans. Oh yeah,the banks are ever so "willing to help", have emphaty and ever so compassionate in times of our needs(eyes rolling).
But,there again, the bank is there to make money out of you, not you making money from them...They offer loans as low as 3.5% a year interets.If you dont need the loan, why take ?

But dont be lured, be careful ...Despite all loans are insured in case you cannot pay, due to out of work and sickness, still, it is a shame, if one cannot pay.Surcharges piles up, quick!

Experiences:

Once we were in Phils, Michel paid the Hotel bills for a month stay year 2003, the time we were in Boracay Resort in Catiklan, and paid the same card, it was denied .
DENIED!
Takang tunay si Lolo, natakot, nasa ibang bansa pa naman siya.Good enough, I got a another card to pay the bills, or else, hugas plato kami in Boracay...!
When Michel called the bank why his card was refused, the bank manager said: "we have been calling you Sir, but we cannot reach you. Seems someone is using your card in Asia!"
Michel said, "it was me!" Put it back to Okey status! ! !
The bank said: Oh well, Sir, sorry about that, you must inform us if you travel outside Europe so that we dont get surprises here...
As usual, it's always Lolo's fault.

Refused Card:
We dined in Max's, paying his card, the cashier refused the card.
Michel said: whats going on now???!
The cashier said: Sir, we do not accept Cirrus gold card, only Cirrus normal card.
Asar na asar si Lolo. So other card na naman(yong akin, nofi?!) ang binunot to pay...
When back in France, sinoli ni Lolo and gold card to the bank and exchange it to blue card.Less monthly charges pa. Panalo si Lolo on that move.

With those experiences, we decide it is better to bring cash(euros).

Eto seste:
In Philippines:Location: Money Changer

Michel changed his 500 euros.
Woaaah!!!(Gulat!)
When he receive the pesos,kadami! its a bundle!
Hindi kasya sa pitaka niya!
Tig sisingkwenta pesos ba naman binigay sa kanya!

Banking tips:

Its better to have cash than properties(house and lot). Cash is always handy.
Banks are more friendly (big smile upon seeing you coming to the door) with your cash than your mansion.

Owe the bank of a 100,000 euros, you got a problem.
Owe a bank one million euros, the bank has the problem.
hihihihi!

Noong unang panahon, wala naman yang pera na yan.
Bili ka pirasong lupa, bayaran mo na lang ng 5 kambing , bili ka ng damit at sapatos, bayaran ng 3 manok, (huwag lang yong nangingitlog), ayos na.

Balik kaya natin?
If bibili ako ng bagong cellphone? Ilang kambing at manok ang i pa deliver ko kaya sa FRANCE TELECOM ...

In the hands of Lola...

Sometimes, when too many things to do, after I ironed all clothes, I would (put by mistake) the jeans of Madame into the closet of Sir, or vice versa. They are looking for it, while I am away and it drives them crazy...!hehehe!
Its their fault,(not mine!) They should not buy the same Diesel brand...hehe
I know I should look, Madames'jeans is bigger...!
Shhhh...

Everytime, I unpacked their luggage and in a hurry to finish it, I would put Madame's underwear (bra and panties) in Sir's closets.Again, by mistake.
Sir would call me: I dont wear all these, you know.
Oppps...!

One day ,it was Madame calling me from Sir's room:
"Are these underwears came from his luggage when he traveled in Brazil????!!!"
Galit si Madame, salubong ang kilay !
I answered: Oh no, sorry, Madame, they are yours, my mistake...
She checked, dubiously though...
"And declared they are all mine...!" Buti na lang...
Girls,I nearly the one causing their divorce. lol
And I would be the witness to the proofs!
Bwehehehehe...

My Boss must go to the party that evening. He noticed it,one sleeves of his shirt was not ironed, but as he didnt have the time and Madame was pressuring him to hurry up, they are late, he still wear it, thinking, he can cover it with his evening coat. It works!
Ligtas ang Lola.

Imagine going to see the Prince and Princess of Monaco wearing a half ironed sleeves of the shirt! LOL
But it works, as no one knew!(wink)

Not this time...

Time to go to work, again his favorite chemise (shirt) was not ironed in one of the sleeves. (di-ko-alam-girls, dont-ask-me-why? lol)
My Boss still put it on, thinking he can cover it with his coat.
As usual.
It worked before,so it would work also today, noh!

Off my Boss to his office...

It was winter time...

When he arrived in the office, the heater was on, full blast, too hot, he put off his coat,and hanged it in his office seat.

Secretary came in, looked towards him and asked :
"Your maid LEFT YOU ?!!"
"Again?"! (with a sheepish grin... pigil tawa)

Sagot daw ni Boss sabi sa akin ng sekretarya:

I "divorce" ko na!
This time...GRRR #*!&!*!

I was inside the train, when two English couple were discussing with a seatmate.

"It is very expensive here in South of France. The cherries we bought it in the province outside the South, for 2 euros a kilo, but here it is 4.50 a kilo!
The hotels are expensive too, more costly than London!"The restaurants, the coffee, the drinks, they are all expensive!!!!"
The seatmate who understand English told them:
You can stay in Nice, hotels there, you can have below 50 euros a room per night, of course do not expect a palace for that price...
(The frenchlady, I could sense, would like to suggest, "go to Gypsies camp ! what are you doing here in Cote d'azur!",) LOL
Oh no, we brought our caravan, it is cheaper...
Sekretong napangiti Lola nyo, hihihi!
How did you cross country?ask the frenchlady.
Via Dover and Calais, we took a ferry with our caravan...
How long will you stay here?
We will be out June 14. Back to Cambridge.
Ah, you are not from London?
No.We are from Cambridge.(With full emphasis on the word: CAMBRIDGE)
And where is the caravan?
"In", (he looked at his train schedule) "we go down in Cros de Cagnes" (he pronounce it as kros-de-kag-nes, LOL
The seatmate didnt get it, so I butted in asking:
"kro de kan?"
They chorused: yes, kro de kan...
One of them turned to me asking:"You speak english?"
I said: Yes?
Oh, wonderful, at last we found one... Tell us please, is tap water here safe for drinking?
I said , "yes, you can. But you can buy mineral water in the groceries..."

No, no no, we drink tap water at home. We buy mineral water only IF VERY NEEDED!

Ngeek?!

Our train arrived in Niceville,I left them to their seatmate, a frenchlady. Go figure whats next, LOL!

At home, I told the story to Michel.He burst out laughing like this photo!!!


He said, "they are snobs,the English, but they are tight when spending".
Really?
"Oh yeah, when they go to holidays, they bring their own bread. As if France do not offer them better bread, noh!"Paasar na sabi ni Lolo.
Ang tawa ko, (para palang Pinay, may balot!)Mind you, hindi ako mag uuwi ng bigas to France ha?! Eskyus mi!
." Eh to compare, London is more costly to live than South of France!!!!"
I said to Lolo.
"Oh, yeah, The English like the comfort, but they dont want to spend. Did they ask you, what are you doing in France?"
Yes.
So?
"I told them I work in Monaco and when they asked me what do I do , I told them, I work in real estate, selling apartments,villa, condos in Monaco, LOL"

"qouting my employers' business, hehe."

"Good, dont tell the snobs what you do,or they will be the first to turn their back to you. Very quick, they would down value you if the work you do doesnt suits thier standard.
Nag isip Lola nyo...
... They live in Cambridge( girls, it is an area where Cambridge school is for the snobs competing with Oxford)... ( competition worst than Lasalle and Ateneo!)
...They told me they are ALWAYS on holidays...
... Lolo said: they bring their own bread!!!!
... they drink on tap water...
Nothing wrong with tap water... but, we filipinos(includes the french) buy mineral water here, always...

They complained, South of France is too hot!!! eh 23° lang eh!
"Maybe they are drinking tap water when in Cambridge?" I asked Lolo.
Lolo said: Yes, in Thames river, it is holy water for them...sabay tawa!
Mama mia!


sorry na lang po sa mga taga UK friends ko.

Pero totoo ba ito?
Or matindi lang talaga "asaran" ng bawat EU countries dito...

A kababayan called me yesterday.
She said her employer is looking for a nanny that speaks french, a filipina, has a driving liscence in France.
"How much she offered for the salary"?
"2000 euros per month, one month paid holidays, thirteenth month, No school in Monaco, they go to London and stay there, means you dont work, but still get paid. This is full time, full declared"
"What time to what time the work?"
"11 am to 6pm, Monday to Friday 7hours."
"What will I do?"
"As a nanny, 11 am, they are in school already as mother brought them, but at home, maintain the needs of the three kids, like meals, at 5 pick them up at school, give dinner, 6pm, leave."
How about cleaning the whole house?
I am doing it, you dont touch the cleaning, only the kids meals and stay with them, while their mother is still at work, she is an attorney.

Hmmm, I start to calculate, the ins and out, I told the caller:

"No, I cannot accept the work. I am happy with the work I am having now. Half day work,No kids to annoy me.Kids are big responsibility. When they fight at the back seat, and I am driving, I cant control them.
Bigay mo na lang sa iba..."

2000 euros, laki! Pero...yoko!

I may invite you,but you might not come, because mahal ticket punta rito, hehe, at least, na invite ko na kayo virtually sa bahay namin via my blog.

our home->Nice, France



"These are all vanity" said the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes ,King Solomon.
Pero ,sensya na. La lang. Halata talaga Lola nyo!Ang pathetic ko noh?

Basta! Welcome !
Bienvenue!

Michel and I went to:

Avignon, France
Avignon, France
and going back home, passed by at:
Aix en Provence, France
Aix en Provence, France
.
Please click the 4 links, as they are interesting to read about the area. The areas are not far from Nice, France.We learned that in 13th century, the Church was powerfull and the Kings of France were under the power of the Pope.

Then came Napoleon Bonaparte, he didnt want the Pope to put his crown over his head, because for Napoleon it is a sign of his kingdom under the Church. Elisabeth I of England did the same.Very interesting topic that caught the eyes of Lola, LOL

In January 1804, Bonaparte's police uncovered an assassination plot against him, ostensibly sponsored by the Bourbons. In retaliation, Bonaparte ordered the arrest of the Duc d'Enghien, in a violation of the sovereignty of Baden. After a hurried secret trial, the Duke was executed on 21 March. Bonaparte then used this incident to justify the re-creation of a hereditary monarchy in France, with himself as Emperor, on the theory that a Bourbon restoration would be impossible once the Bonapartist succession was entrenched in the constitution.

Napoleon crowned himself Emperor on 2 December 1804 at Notre Dame de Paris. Claims that he seized the crown out of the hands of Pope Pius VII during the ceremony in order to avoid subjecting himself to the authority of the pontiff are apocryphal; in fact, the coronation procedure had been agreed upon in advance. After the Imperial regalia had been blessed by the Pope, Napoleon crowned himself before crowning his wife Joséphine as Empress . Then at Milan's cathedral on 26 May 1805, Napoleon was crowned King of Italy with the Iron Crown of Lombardy.France eventually, established a seperation of the church and the state.
I wanted to see caves of wines in Luberon France, near Avignon, but Michel said no.He didnt like the idea that I will be crawling the steps, drunk, due to degustation (wine tasting)

We stayed there for two days and one night visiting interesting tourists spots.

And you, what did you do last Monday?

In France, it is a red mark in the calendar as paid holiday for all working class.
But, it was a menace!
The day was a head ache to parents.

Some got to work, because it was declared non obligatory holiday. Meaning the employers can decide if they are open for business or not.
Post offices were close. Banks too. But private business were open, like shops,restaurants, clothes. Even the cityhalls, tax offices, street contruction works were open.
The annoying bits were, parents have to work, but the school were close, so they dont have anybody to look after their school age children. They dont know what to do. Some put their kids to some friends, then ran to catch the bus or train to work.

In France, the paid holidays are 39 days in a year.
In UK it is 24 days paid holidays.
In Germany, 27 and in US , 14 days paid holidays.
That made France as the number one in the world to give more paid holidays than other countries. This is according to the news in TF1 tv channel last night.

In your country, how many paid holidays are given? In Philippines, I know we have 15 days paid holidays,isnt it?

1.Today, grabeh sa drama ang Bossing ko. He said:" we are going to take holidays in our villa in St.Paul Vence, France, an hour ride from Nice. Would you like to stay with us for the weekend, back on Monday morning???? We will pay you by the hours also." His daughter added: "Yes, please come with us, we are confident with you than someone else..."
Sagot ko: "No Sir, thank you, I got other plans for my weekend until Monday ."
Ganon ako, wala isip isip pa, no ako agad.Bagsak baba ng Sir ko. LOL
Wala magawa sina Sir, eh wala naman sa contract ko na pati villa nila, trabaho ko pa !

2.And Chico, the cat? They brought with them ! LOL

While discussing what to pack, to eat, to do in the villa (sans me) the cat Chico was listening. He sensed he will have his "unwanted" holiday too, and he didnt like it.
The time my Madame took Chico's personal bag from the closet, Chico was gone hiding somewhere... (after an hour of searching all closets) they find him laterunder the kitchen cabinets.lol
I called my friend Pinay, pwede raw siya, so siya na lang sama kina Madame.
When they left,masayang umalis ang buong pamilya, except Chico crying:

Miyaw!Miyaw !Minaaoooow....!(yoko holiday, yokoooo!)

Poor cat. For two days, I am sure,when in the villa, they will not find Chico...Until the time to go back home. hahaha!

This photo was taken, when Chico was with us at home and he was curious at the movement of my toes under the bed covers...

3.Alam nyo ba girls, friday pa lang, ang traffic na sa border of Italy to France, 10 kms long!Mostly, tourist bus, private cars, big lorries(trucks) to go France!And in Vintimille (border) only one tollgate out of four is open to take highway toll pay. Isnt it nice???!!!Hahahaha!
Summer na nga...Here is the state when summer in Italy , what more in France???!!!



Sumali pa Lola nyo!

So off two days(sunday and monday ang Lolo and Lola. Ask si Lolo, saan tayo for two days? Sabi ko: "linis bahay!"(We clean the house!)
"Fantastic! Looking forward to it"!

1.An Italian went out of Casino Montecarlo completely mad.
He had only 20 euros coins left in his pocket.
Inside the Casino hall, there is a sandwich distributor machine,
The price for sandwich is 4euros each. So he put coins and pressed the button and took his sandwich. He continue to do it again taking sandwiches one after the other.
"Sir, what are you doing", said the Casino personnel.
"Heeh! Leave me to play. For the first time, I win.!"
First time!

2.A Belge( from Belgium) went into the bar and order a mug of beer. He drank it in one go, look into his pocket , then order another mug of beer. He does it many times.The barman asked him : Why are you looking into your pocket after drinking each mug of beer?
The man answered him: "In my pocket is the photo of my wife. If I find her pretty, then I go home..."

Boba daw mga blondes?We look:

3.A blonde and a brunnete were thrown out at the same time on top of the building.They are to go down the ground floor, but tell me, who would arrive down to the ground floor first?
The brunnete, because the blonde stopped herself to asked where is the way.
Boba nga!

4.Question: What is the difference between a wife and a girlfriend?
Answer:20 kilos or 20 years old.
Ay ganon na ba?

5.What is your ideal girl?
A pretty blond,she must be deaf, blind,nymphomaniac,no more mother, but has a father who owns a bar.
Ngek!

6.How can you know that you got an abusive mother inlaw?
During the night, when you go to the toilet for a wee, and you go back to bed to sleep, your bed was already made.
Hahaha, bawal na matulog, 1 am na...



Girls,(and boys) would you dare the same?why not huh?! (photo taken in firenze and rome italy)

david as imagined by Leonardo da vinci

a lady in one of the shops, firenze italy. Ganda legs niya, bagay...



Arts daw yan! ! !