Day 2566 (Monday) 17th June 2024

This is Villefranche-sur-Mer

and this is Saint Paul de Vence. 

Our Swedish guests checked out late yesterday afternoon so we went up to the apartment to make a start on it. The guests had left it pretty clean and even washed all the towels, which was a great help – I wish everybody did this.

The blue thing in the sea below the red buoy is something to do with the arrival of the Olympic flame tomorrow. We can’t find any details about what’s going to happen other than it arrives at 7.45 but we’re very excited about it. Apparently the proper summer is going to arrive tomorrow – fingers crossed.

The apartment downstairs has been empty for ages and today we saw a bit of life with a man laying a deck. It’s a big space and should have a hot pool but it doesn’t look likely. 

 

What’s happening in France this week – the Local France.

People take part in the French midsummer Festival of Music, "Fete de la Musique" on Place de la Republique in Paris on June 21, 2021. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

From two French matches in the 2024 Euros to the annual Fête de la Musique and the start of the official campaign period for France's upcoming parliamentary elections, here's what is happening in France this week.

Monday

Euro 2024 - The France team will play its first match against Austria on June 17th at 9pm at the Merkur Spiel Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. Bars and cafés around France will likely be screening the game, so expect larger crowds than usual, and it will also be shown on free-view French TV.

Ceremony rehearsal - With a little over a month to go from the start of the Paris Olympic Games, there will be a second rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony, due to take place along the Seine river, on Monday morning.

Start of the official campaign period - As France prepares for snap parliamentary elections at the end of June and beginning of July, the official election posters will begin to be put up starting on Monday, with the candidates having already been finalised on Sunday.

With the official campaign period beginning, TV and radio stations will be required to give strictly controlled allowances of time to each party.

Tuesday

Anniversary of de Gaulle's appeal - On June 18th, 1940, Charles de Gaulle made his famous 'Appel' after arriving in London following the loss of the Battle of France. Many consider it to be an important moment for the start of the French Resistance during World War II - this year marks the 84th anniversary and there will be commemoration events in towns and cities around France.

I can’t believe they haven’t mentioned the Olympic flame arriving on the French mainland in Villefranche-sur-Mer on Tuesday!

Thursday

Joséphine Baker festival - The second annual Joséphine Baker festival, recognising the artist as well as her activism against racism and anti-Semitism, will be held from June 20th-23rd in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and Sarlat in the Dordogne département.

Friday

Fête de la musique - Every year, France rings in the the longest day of the year and the start of summer with the Fête de la Musique, in which towns and cities across France see a day of concerts, music events and street musicians. 

Museum for women artists - Europe’s first museum dedicated to showcasing the works of female artists is due to open in Cannes on June 21st.

Netherlands v France - As the Euros continue, the French team will play against the Netherlands on Friday, June 21st at 9pm at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.

French Word of the Day: Populaire

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

This French word might describe the cool girl from secondary school, but it may also come up when discussing politics or neighbourhoods.

Why do I need to know populaire?

Because this French word is usually an important part of the vernacular for politicians looking to represent the working class.

What does it mean?

Populaire – roughly pronounced pop-you-lair – is a French adjective that technically translates to ‘popular’ in English. 

While it can be used to refer to something or someone that is liked or admired by many, populaire usually takes on a different meaning in French. 

The first alternative translation is ‘grassroots’. You might hear a politician or union leader call for a ‘mouvement populaire’ - this is essentially asking for a grassroots, or people-led movement. You can see this meaning in the Front Populaire governments of the 1930s, which were a coalition of leftist groups. They are commemorated with a Metro station on Line 12.

The original Front Populaire is the inspiration for the left-wing coalition ahead of the snap parliamentary elections in late June and early July 2024.

The other time you will hear this French word is when people are talking about neighbourhoods and city districts.

A quartier populaire is actually a working-class neighbourhood. If you were looking to describe a popular district where people like to hang out you might say quartier branché instead.  

And finally, populaire can be a stand-in for 'working class'. A synonym might be classe ouvrière.

Use it like this

Il a grandi dans un quartier populaire de la banlieue parisienne. – He grew up in a working class neighbourhood in the Paris suburbs.

L'homme politique français a déclaré que "le moment est venu de passer à la censure populaire" après l'échec des motions de censure au Parlement. – The French politician announced that ‘the time has come for a people’s condemnation [of the government] after the votes of no-confidence failed in Parliament.

Nous voulons représenter l'ensemble de la classe populaire en France. - We want to represent all of the working class across France. 

This was Badger last night – he didn’t stay there very long but at least he went up there.