It also reminds me of a year long ago that I spent in Normandy. A friend bought a red Citroën 2CV just like this one. We drove it all over the place that year, from Rouen to Paris, Chantilly, Etretat, Deauville, and the Mont St-Michel. That was the year when I realized I needed to be in France.For a long time I thought I would own a 2CV myself one day. Now I think I've given up on the idea. I once owned a Renault 4L, which is the same kind of car but a little less of a French icon. It was a 1973. I loved that car. Walt and I had a lot of fun tooling around Paris in it 1981 and '82. Today's cars aren't nearly as much fun as those were.
I do plan to go to Paris at least once this summer. When I do, maybe I'll go have a crêpe at this stand over at Bercy. Among other food treats around the city.Time to go walk the dog. She's being very patient but I know she's ready.
I had a 2CV and loved it. It was like a toy, not a car.
ReplyDeleteWhat about lunch at "le Vent de Sable"?
Hi Ken, In Flemish we used to call a 2CV 'een geit', which means 'a goat'. I wouldn't know why, though, as I can't see any ressemblance :). Can you? Martine
ReplyDelete4Ls are great -- I'd love one of those! Old 50s/60s French cars are so stylish too: Peugeot convertibles, Citroen DSs ...
ReplyDeleteIn Dutch I think they call a 2CV 'een eend' which means a duck. Maybe because it wobbles like one?
ReplyDeleteIn French it's a deuch' (short for "deux chevaux"). In the UK they are called dustbins -- enthusiasts go on "dustbin days out" in convoys.
ReplyDelete2CV's are always great photo ops.
ReplyDeletechm, thanks! I've just put Le Vent de Sable on my list for Oct.
BettyAnn
You're welcome BettyAnn. Here is a link you might find useful. It shows the location.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.oubouffer.com/restaurant-paris/bs13203-le-vent-de-sable
We imported a 1966 4L from France to Maine after seeing one while visiting friends in the south of France. "Gee, I'd really like one of those, I said innocently," to my friend Patrick, not knowing the other guy with us (Jacques) had just retired from Renault and was looking for a project. We went back to the States and then, a few months later got a call. Jacques had found one in a shed in Provence. We gulped, agreed on the price and Jacques hauled it up to his garage in Paris and got it running once again - after a 20 year rest. He wouldn't take any money for his work, just for out-of-pocket expenses. So instead we flew him, his wife and my friend and his wife over to the States to be with us when the 4L arrived in Boston. Jacques and his wife had never been to the USA so it was a special time. The French car magazine Gazoline has a brief article about our 4L in this month's issue.
ReplyDeleteI think in American English it's called a "Whuhhhh? Why do French people have such weird cars?" *R*R* At least, that's probably what my students would call it :))
ReplyDeleteJudy
I love the photo of the white deux cheveaux that you posted a while back. Is it okay that I use it as a screensaver? Cute cars but they look like they'd be uncomfortable to ride in.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind at all if you use the picture as a screensaver. And you'd be surprised how comfortable the 2CV is to ride in.
ReplyDeleteCHM, I don't think the 2CV is a toy. It's more like a motorized wheelbarrow, but with comfortable seats.
I adored my Renault 4. Once it had rusted its way to the Great Scrapyard In The Sky (they tried to tell me it was going to a farm in the country), I never had another car.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager I once stayed with a family where Madame drove the 2CV (I seem to remember the front-seat passenger had to operate the windscreen wipers manually), while Monsieur's company car was a DS. You can imagine the culture shock, going from one to the other.
PS: word verification= aging (oh, the shame)
Fantome, that's a great story! Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeletePatrick, a DS was kind of like a 2CV on steroids, don't you think? It had a similar suspension: very soft. You could get seasick riding in either one.
ReplyDeleteFantôme, I tried to find your article in Gazoline but was unsuccessful. Is in on line? Can you give us a link? Do you still have the car? I'm envious.
Soft suspensions, yes, but the point about the DS was that it was a hydraulic system of some sort that lifted several inches when you started the engine and likewise lowered you gently when you switched off -it made you feel very presidential or Cannes-filmstar. The 2CV was just mounted on I don't know what - I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been canvas straps.
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