Frogsmoke

Spring Clean

romke — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:57:18 +0000

Now that these people have become normal citizens again it’s time to remove them from the gallery at the top of this blog. It’s unlikely the new presidential couple will replace them; as far as I know François and Valérie are non-smokers. So bye-bye Nicolas, Carla and Frederic!

Postcards From France

romke — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:14:53 +0000

Click for source

Autumn in Saint Rémy, Provence

Never stop searching - Jura (1500x751)

The Chateau de Ribourdin in Burgundy

Cathedrale St Pierre - Beauvais (1600 x 1066)

Over the Ocean, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Cannes Controversies In Pictures

romke — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:59:32 +0000

In the Telegraph: Cannes controversies in pictures, including this one.

One of the more gruesome features to be shown at Cannes in recent years was Lars Von Trier’s sinister 2009 drama Antichrist, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe. One pivotal scene saw Gainsbourg crush Dafoe’s testicles with a block of wood – ouch! – and then drill a hole in his leg. Later, Gainsbourg used a pair of scissors to inflict some grisly surgery on herself. The reaction? Laughter, gasps of disbelief and loud boos.

Prodigal Pig Goes 3D

romke — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:53:54 +0000

Three years ago I blogged about the amazing self-slicing pig, used in a 1950s advertisement for the French sausage brand Le Cochon Prodigue. Now, the tasteless/tasty creature is also available as an in-car dashboard wiggler.

As a reminder, here’s the original:

Avignon In 45º View

romke — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:02:25 +0000

Another great initiative of Google Maps: 45º View

After Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Miami in the United States, the city of the Popes Avignon is the first in France to benefit from Google’s new 45º map view. With this view images are taken from a plane rather than a satellite. The 45º view automatically kicks in at a certain zoom level. Try it here.

Postcards From France

romke — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:44:00 +0000

Mixed prettiness from here, there and everywhere. Click for source.

Under the bridge Beautiful shot of Notre Dame, Paris.

Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

Sea of Ice - Mer de Glace (509x850)

Beuvron en Auge

A Can Of Cannes

romke — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:18:51 +0000

The Cannes Film festival has kicked off so here are some pics and links to celebrate the event.

1962: Alain Delon offers Romy Schneider a cigarette

Cannes Film Festival: all the glamour of the golden age in pictures (Telegraph)

A Dutch actress, her name lost to history, poses for photographers at Cannes in 1962.

50 Years Ago at Cannes: Rare Photos From 1962 (LIFE)

Frogsmokers galore: Vincent, François, Paul et les autres (1974) de Claude Sautet avec Gérard Depardieu, Yves Montantd, Michel Piccoli, Serge Reggiani...

Les meilleurs films français selon «Time Out Paris» (in French)

Cannesthropology: the field guide (Guardian)

First Legs

romke — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:04:23 +0000

Whatever her title will be (First Lady? First Girlfriend? First Concubine?) Valerie Trierweiler has made her first steps into the Elysee, and the press is full of praise for her ladylike style.

Slow Blogging This Week

romke — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:54:37 +0000

Frogsmoke HQ is entertaining guests and celebrating a birthday this week, so there’s little time for anything else. In the meantime I invite you to click the picture and find out what you actually eat when you enjoy escargots.

Postcards From France: Cerbère

romke — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:02:16 +0000

In the Telegraph: Cerbère comes up trumps. Annabel Simms tracks down that rarest of beasts: a quiet French beach in August.

Cebère offers peace in a spectacular setting.

"The village-like seafront, the little harbour, the beach and the gigantic arcades of the railway, seem to be carved out of the Pyrenées"