How many kisses make up a greeting in France?
That’s a good question and it depends greatly upon where you are in France.
It’s a fundamental part of living in France that can leave foreigners a little flummoxed.
“La bise” is the way people greet each other by exchanging kisses on the cheek.
In France, cheek kissing is called “faire la bise”.
A popular French joke states that you may recognize the city you are in by counting the number of cheek kisses, as it varies across the country.
It is very common, in the southern parts of France, even between males, be they relatives or friends, whereas in the north, it is less usual for two unrelated males to perform ′la bise′. The custom came under scrutiny during the H1N1 epidemic of 2009.
Generally speaking, women will kiss both women and men, while men will kiss women but refrain from kissing other men, unless they are close friends or relatives, instead preferring to shake hands with strangers.
However, it depends where you are in France as to how many kisses are given – from one in Finisterre in Brittany up to 5 in Corsica.
Where does this beloved tradition come from? And what are the rules? Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot teach you the basics of “bise etiquette” and how to avoid giving an unintentional French kiss.
Incidentally, La Bise is also the name of a cold, dry wind in Switzerland which blows through the Swiss Plateau from the northeast to the southwest.
How many bises according to region in France
How many kisses are a traditional greeting in your country / region?
Le Tour de France comes to Toulouse
STAGE 11: ALBI – TOULOUSE 17 July 2019
Wednesday 17 July – Following the first rest day of this year’s race, the Tour de France continues with stage 11 from Albi to Toulouse.
The 167 kilometres route meanders through the south of France against the backdrop of the Pyrenees on what is described as a flat stage, although there were plenty of hills to climb for the riders.
The last sections were pretty flat, so a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome.
This is the last flat stage before the climbs in The Pyrenees.
The finish was in Compans Cafarelli, not far from the city centre.
Here is recording of our Facebook Live quiz of 9 January 2019 – our first of many.
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Police officers will use their vehicles to knock moped thieves off their bikes – even during high-speed pursuits, Scotland Yard has said.
Commander Amanda Pearson, of the Metropolitan Police in London front-line policing unit, said a hard-line approach using “tactical contact” is needed to stop dangerous chases and arrest suspects.
In a briefing at Scotland Yard on Friday, police chiefs warned there is no maximum speed for police cars to hit mopeds, and that it is a common misconception among moped thieves that officers will end their pursuit if the suspect drives dangerously or removes their helmet.
“A lot of them get up and run away, looking aghast at how dare we,” Ms Pearson said.
Marrakech is famed for its pink walls and historic buildings and souks, but just as important to the city are its beautiful gardens.
From the lush courtyards of the riads to the expansive formal gardens of its palaces and museums, these green spaces are havens from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Here are Three of those gardens and palaces – Le Jardin Majorelle, Le Palais Bahia and Le Jardin Secret.
