Latest news with #GabrielleNadler

Local France

July 14, wildfires, and the big bike race: 6 essential articles for life in France

July 14th is the Fête nationale in France, sometimes known as Bastille Day in the anglophone world. It marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789 – the event that symbolises the beginning of the French revolution. There are many ways to celebrate, including fireworks displays, traditional parades and the highly popular bals de pompiers , where French firefighters host parties in their station houses. Here's what to expect this year. July 14th: What's happening during France's Fête nationale this year It's still early in the usual summer season for wildfires, but France has already dealt with two major blazes that caused widespread travel disruption – one of which saw hundreds of people evacuated from their homes in the country's second-largest city . These are unlikely to be the last major fires of the summer due to tinder-dry conditions and further forecast heatwaves. Scientists say that climate change is making the European wildfire season longer while increasing the geographical spread of fire risk zones and making the heatwaves that are a major cause of fires more likely. So.. Is France ready for a summer of increasingly severe wildfires? In total only around 25 percent of private homes in France have air conditioning installed, so if you're moving here then it's likely that your new place won't have it. There are, however, alternatives that will also keep you cool when la canicule (the heatwave) hits. 7 alternatives to air conditioning in France Advertisement It's fair to say France is a country that thrives on bureaucracy and admin – and many new arrivals are issued with strict instructions to never throw away any piece of paper, in case it proves vital at a later date. But, with more and more admin moving online things are perhaps less paper-based than they used to be, but still the terror of throwing away the wrong item remains. So, now, the French government's Service Public has issued a list of the papers that must be kept forever and ever, and those that can safely be thrown away after a certain amount of time. French government clarifies how long you must keep paperwork for They're expensive, but for some people full immersion French language exchanges are the best way to learn the language. Here, Gabrielle Nadler examines the advantages and disadvantages of these programmes. Are French language exchange holidays worth it? Some 184 riders from 26 countries set off on a big cycling tour around France with the dream of winning the world's most famous bicycle race – here's why you should watch the Tour de France, even if you have no interest in bikes. 7 reasons to watch the Tour de France (even if you have no interest in cycling)