Provence Blog by ProvenceBeyond

France Café Taxes Lowered - Grasse Café Prices Steady

Taxes (TVA) for cafés and restaurants in France were lowered at the beginning of this summer (2009) from 19.6% to 5.5%. The lower TVA was finally done, at the insistence of  the café-restaurant owners to "allow them to have lower prices, attract more customers and be more competitive".
We were in Paris a month or so ago, just after the lowered-TVA law came into effect. There were immediate studies by newspapers and other more official organizations to determine how many, and which, establishments actually passed the lowered taxes on to the customers in the form of lowered prices.
Results were mixed, but it seemed that many, if not most, cafés and restaurants did lower their prices. If not by the full tax-reduction amount, at least enough to be interesting to the clients.
That was, of course, in Paris, where competition is a consideration.
An article in this morning's local paper (4 August 2009) described the results of a study of the café-restaurant tax-reduction effect in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world. Results: TVA reduced, prices steady. With only a very few exceptions, the excuse of the Grasse cafés and restaurants is: (paraphrased, of course) "we're going to wait until the tourist season is finished to see what effect the lowered TVA has before we lower our prices".
This Gallic logic seems a bit self-serving to us.

Birds of Prey from Entrevaux Medieval Festival

At the Medieval festival in the Medieval village of Entrevaux, this weekend we watched a wonderful Falconery and Horse show put on by Hippogriffe (www.hipppogriffe.net). Seeing birds of prey in action is a great experience. And being able to see the rapaces close-up, without intervening screens and wire enclosures is a rare experience.

This little group of photos is to share our experience with you, beginning with the American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), above.

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus).

 

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), on the hand of Hélène, master horsewoman.

 

Barn Owl (Tyto alba).

 

Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - we think; there are very many varieties of sparrowhawks. We even caught one once, that had landed injured in our yard, and eventuallly made it back into the wild.

Medieval Festival of Entrevaux!

This is a great Medieval festival in the authentic Medieval village of Entrevaux, and you have one more day to attend -- or never again!? We spent the first have of today (Saturday 1 Aug 2009) at the festival, and it's wonderful. It's probably too late for you to attend this evening, but there's all of tomorrow (Sunday 2 Aug 2009), and then perhaps never again. (This is the first time the festival had been held in 4 years, and there may not be any budget for future events.)
The whole village is "in character". Medieval costumes everywhere, and many of the faces and characters seem truly Medieval, as if the costumes were their regular clothes. The atmosphere is relaxed and happy, the setting is magnificent, and the events are many and fun.
    Crossing into the walled town over the drawbridge we were met by Medieval troups and wandering minstrals. A wedding took place in front of the 15th century church and troups and minstrals marched and wandered throught the narrow streets and picturesque squares (like in our 2nd photo).
Lots of Medieval games for the kids. Stands throughout the village selling period articles, and many yesteryear trades and crafts are displayed and explained.
    The Medieval encampment is spread out on the parkland between the village and the river (our 1st photo). The kids games are down here, along with events such as the fabulous falconery and horse show. Our 3rd photo from this event is a shot of the American bald eagle.
    What a great time!