Day 3198 (Wednesday) 11th March 2026

This is the palace in Monaco

and this is the Old Port in Nice.

 

It was quite overcast again today, the sun tried to come out and succeeded from time to time and it was warm enough to eat lunch outside, which we did in Bobbie’s in the square.  Town was very quiet with very few tourists around, really can’t wait until spring comes. 

Here are some more unusual facts about France…

French Inventions that Changed the World

Marcel Bich (Bic Company) created the Bic Cristal ballpoint pen in 1950, offering an affordable and reliable writing tool.

Maurice Lauré introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) in 1954, providing a more efficient tax system that has been adopted by many countries.

Le Fardier de Cugnot 1771 model is a steam-powered vehicle designed by French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, regarded as one of the earliest self-propelled mechanical vehicles, often referred to as the world’s first automobile.

France introduced the Metric System in the 1790s, creating a universal measurement system still used worldwide today.

Barthélemy Thimonnier’s sewing machine (1830) transformed textile production, making clothing manufacture faster and more efficient.

Charles-Joseph Dusaulx’s internal combustion engine (1870) powered the first automobile, laying the groundwork for the modern car industry.

Édouard Delamare-Deboutteville is credited with designing one of the first gasoline-powered cars in 1884, which predates Karl Benz’s patent. A two-cylinder gasoline engine powered his steam-engine-inspired vehicle.

Louis-Guillaume Perreaux created the motorcycle in 1871, offering a thrilling and convenient means of travel.

Gustave Trouvé‘s electric car (1881) pioneered eco-friendly transportation, paving the way for today’s electric vehicles.

Fernand Forest’s automatic transmission (1907) made driving more accessible, contributing to the widespread adoption of automobiles.

Louis-Sébastien Lenormand conducted the first practical parachute jump using a rigid-framed design of his own, making his historic descent from the tower of the Montpellier Observatory.

Louis Braille, who was blinded in childhood, invented the raised-dot reading system for the visually impaired, known as the Braille System, in 1824, when he was just 15 years old.

More Amazing Inventions

French hairstylist Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefroy invented the first mechanised hair dryer in 1888.

Eugène Poubelle invented the trash can (a bin) in 1884, promoting better waste management and public sanitation.

Antoine Redier’s adjustable alarm clock (1847) helped people start their days on time, becoming a bedside essential.

Georges Claude invented neon lighting in 1910, illuminating cities and signs with vibrant colours.

Dr. François Merry Delabost introduced the shower in 1872, promoting better hygiene and becoming a daily essential.

The septic tank, invented by Jean-Louis Mouras and Abbé Moigno in 1881, improved sanitation and waste management, particularly in rural areas.

Claude-Louis Berthollet, a French chemist, invented “Eau de Javel,” a type of bleach, in 1775. He discovered chlorine gas could dissolve in a potassium hydroxide solution to create a powerful bleaching agent.

Jeanne Villepreux-Power introduced the aquarium in 1832, enabling close observation of aquatic life.

A Legacy of Innovation and Technology

French mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal is credited with inventing one of the first modern mechanical calculators in the 17th century.

François Gernelle invented the microcomputer in 1972, bringing computing power to homes and businesses and marking the beginning of the personal computer revolution.

Roland Moreno’s smart card (1974) enabled secure, convenient transactions, becoming essential to banking and other industries.

Minitel was an online service that predated the Internet. Launched in 1982, it allowed users to access directories, banking services, shopping, chat rooms, and news long before the World Wide Web existed.

Philippe Kahn is recognised for developing the first camera phone solution. In 1997, this entrepreneur created a system that connected a digital camera to a mobile phone.

 

Culinary and Viticultural Excellence

A Taste of Frances’ Culinary Excellence

French cuisine was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2010, highlighting its traditions, techniques and customs.

Truffles were banned in monasteries during the Middle Ages as they were considered too sensual.

The most popular dishes among French people (2025) are poulet-frites (chicken and fries), raclette, and pizza, followed by couscous and beef bourguignon. We love them all.

France produces more than 1,600 types of cheese, making it one of the most diverse cheese-producing countries in the world. They are categorised into soft, hard, blue, fresh and goat varieties.

The French consume approximately 50 million croissants weekly and around 30,000 tons of snails each year.

The world record for the longest baguette is 140.53 metres, achieved by the Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie Française in May 2024.

French fries originate from Belgium. Their name likely comes from American soldiers who encountered them in Belgium during World War I.

Jean-Louis and Jean-Claude Hecht created the automatic hot baguette dispenser in 2014, offering freshly baked bread anytime.

Influence on Wine and Spirits

France offers an impressive selection of over 200 native grape varieties, ranging from popular ones like Merlot and Chardonnay to lesser-known varieties such as Tannat and Mondeuse.

Some old French vineyards, such as Château de Goulaine in the Loire Valley, have been producing wine for over 1,000 years, long before the USA even existed.

Champagne was discovered by monks in the 17th century, who accidentally bottled wine before it was fully fermented. Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk, helped refine the process.

In the 19th century, doctors prescribed Champagne for health benefits, believing it helped digestion and nerves. Some called it “the best tonic.”

A 1945 bottle of Romanée-Conti (Burgundy) holds the record for the most expensive wine ever sold at auction, at €558,000.

French Coffee Facts

Paris has one of the highest concentrations of cafés per capita in the world, with over 40,000 within its city limits.

A coffee plant at the Jardin des Plantes played a pivotal role in the global cultivation of coffee. Today, nearly all Arabica coffee in Latin America can be traced back to this historic Parisian coffee plant.

The first patent for a coffee press with a plunger and screen (or cheesecloth) was filed by Henri Otto-Mayer and Jacques-Victor Delforge, two Frenchmen, in 1852.

Le Procope, established in 1686, is the oldest café in Paris still in operation. At four centuries old, this iconic establishment has witnessed the history of the capital.

Le Café de Foy is considered the precursor to the Paris stock exchange, La Bourse, and was a key hub for French merchants in global trade.

Engineering and Architecture

Contributions to Transportation and Engineering

The Pont de Millau is the world’s tallest bridge, soaring 343 metres above the Tarn Valley. Opened in 2004, this architectural masterpiece, designed by Norman Foster, spans 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles).

The chain-driven bicycle, invented by Eugène Meyer and André Guilmet in 1869, offered efficient and enjoyable transportation, boosting cycling’s popularity.

Gare du Nord, in the heart of Paris, is one of Europe’s busiest railway stations. It is a major hub for regional and international train services, connecting Paris to various destinations within France and other European countries.

In 2007, a specially modified TGV (train a grande vitesse) train set a world speed record of 574.8 kilometres per hour (357.2 mph) on the LGV Est line in France.

The story of Mont-Saint-Michel, nicknamed the “Wonder of the West, starts in 708 AD. Its striking historical Gothic spires attract nearly 3 million visitors each year.

Remarkable Engineering and Architecture

Versailles Palace contains over 2,300 rooms, including 1,250 fireplaces, 67 staircases, and more than 6,000 paintings.

The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest museum, with nearly 73,000 sq. meters of exhibition space.

Born in the 1920s in Paris, Art Deco flourished, transforming architecture, fashion, jewellery, and design with bold geometry, sleek lines and luxury.

Félix Léon Edoux invented the hydraulic elevator in 1867, enabling the construction of tall buildings and shaping modern city skylines.

France is home to approximately 42,258 churches, including Catholic, parish, and chapels, as well as cathedrals. The country has nearly 100,000 religious buildings, averaging almost three per commune.

Notre-Dame de Paris was founded in 1163 during the reign of King Louis VII. The main construction of the cathedral was essentially completed around 1345, meaning it took about 182 years from start to finish.

The Tour First is a 242-metre-high skyscraper, one of the most recognisable structures in Paris La Défense, Europe’s largest business district.

This was Badger last night being super-cute.