nice to see the pics

Hi,

I’d like to say how much I enjoyed looking at the Paris pictures. Unfortunately I was unable to go myself but was there in spirit. I’m very new to 2CV-ing but am becoming an "almost anorak" already.

Best Regards,

Hello from Paris

It was a pleasure receiving you in Paris. We hope you had some good time and enjoyed the meeting. You have a very good website with very nice pics. Would it be possible to receive some as, being organizers, we did not have some times to take some photos ourselves. We are looking for some pics from the camping, flea market, opening and parties as well as some pics from the Champs Elysées and Tour eiffel.

Editors 'Note: "Please contact Xavier (gene-2cv@worldnet.fr) if you have photographs that could be used (and would like ones in exchange) by Génération 2CV

Xavier AUDRAN

Cheers A bientot Vive la Deuche!

Xavier pour Génération 2CV!

"Pour que les 2CV roulent encore très longtemps!"

1948-1998: 50 bougies pour 2CV!/50 candles for the 2CV

4/6/98

I always thought my French was reasonable - at least the reading of it and I think my husband assumed he could understand basic vocab.

Behind our auberge in the far corner of a vast courtyard - er -carpark was a little 2cv van. The lower half was hand-painted red and the top white. We went over to investigate. It was covered in little bits of tree and in the wind screen a large notice stated VIANDES. Oh, we said, FOR SALE and started to poke at the rust and mould round the bonnet hinge. We wondered how long it had been abandonned.

The next day we looked out of our window because we heard those familiar tones. Well, at least the engine's O.K. . . .Then my school girl French came flooding back. It wasn't for sale - it was the faithful little butcher's van. Far too busy to go dashing off down the Champs Elysees.

Speaking of which one of our Puddleducks was in the Grand Jam accompanied by her two sons when she was accosed by an irate Parisian who demanded what right she had coming over here blocking up his fine City!

Another Puddleduck, her husband and we two went over to the big tent to get some birthday cake on the promised evening. Not much sign of celebration but then she espied a group sitting round a huge chocolate cake. She was so disappointed that it wasn't THE cake that they had to give her a slice to make her go away!

And I've got a terrible admission. I couldn't find the "rally" instructions for Paris and told Peter we didn't have any in our goody bag. (We didn't have a Programme either but got one later.) Anyway we joined in the convoy behind the cake-lady and the Green family and did very well and so that I could work out where we had been I made notes on the back of some A4 scribble. Well we flowed round the Place de la Concorde, glimpsed the Eiffel Tower along the Seine, sailed past the Moulin Rouge - we lost our friends and followed some others. Eventually the car in front stopped and asked us if we knew where we were going. Well, not really. Sorry,we're just going to visit some friends said these helpful French people.

To cut a long story short while my husband has navigated the oceans of the world the cities of the world give him nightmares. How can you locate horizons with all these buildings blocking the view? So I couldn't persude him to search for the Eiffel Tower and we found our sombre way back to the camp.

Still, all was not lost. We were to spend an extra 3 days with my Parisian friend. So we parked Sneezy in their garage and went on the Metro to finally gaze at the fabulous Tour Eiffel. Then when I got home I was sorting through the postcards and souvenirs and I came across my notes....I nearly cried with frustration when I realised what that scribble I had been writing on the back of was. Still, I've got a lovely Puddleduck man and he didn't say a word.

Gillian Puddleduck

15/6/98