Holidays in France - I

We visited France last week. The country looked devastated by its recent history. Locals were wandering in disbelief, trying to forget, trying to accept the reality of last summer Football World Championship. I have seen youngster playing rugby on the beach, older people looking at me with watery eyes, housewife doing housekeeping; Life goes on was sounding everywhere around me, for as you repeat a lie enough times to yourself, you'll start believing in it.

We headed south, and stopped for a night rest in Chanas, a village in the south of Lyon, not mentioned in any touristic guide, and rightly so. The place was ugly, as ugly as France or Italy can be when they try hard, when they build shopping malls and automated hotels along the highway. We ate disgusting pizze, anyway much better than whatever you could get in The Netherlands - the quality range of world pizza is amazing.