Kitty Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 And so to autumn, with the annual congés, when all the traders etc who have braved the tourist season close down for 2 weeks for a holiday. You go to the boulangerie and it will be closed. And the tabac. And the cave. And the etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Yes, I emember it well!And in a couple of weeks, our favourite restaurant closes - for 4 months!Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 One of our two boulangeries is closed until tuesday from 2 weeks holiday and the Spar/tabac took his weeks congés the 3rd week of august! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 [quote user="gardengirl "]Yes, I emember it well!And in a couple of weeks, our favourite restaurant closes - for 4 months!Jo[/quote]Well you will frequent these mega-expensive joints in Uzes! [6]They're off on the proceeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 How can they afford to completely close up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Because some (by no means all) set up for the short season, and then that's it. They go and do something else till next year.Makes sense when you think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Our favourite which will close for 4 months, and did the same last year. They are very busy all through the summer, just a husband and wife team and a waitress - two in high season. They went travelling last winter, then had a big re-opening in March; local wine growers came and dispensed free wine, and lots of lovely nibbles were provided. We didn't need dinner that night! The place was packed out, and put them back on the map in a big way! It's such a comfortable place to visit, all very smiley; the food doesn't change a lot, but is very good, with a good wine list. We really miss it during the winter.Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"]How can they afford to completely close up?[/quote]By charging extortionate prices to holidaymakers who they'll never see again. I posted on another thread some time ago of the seasonal establishment in La Tranche sur Mer who charged €3,60 for a 25cl glass of beer. We'll stick to the CMU bar which is open all year round in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 [quote user="Benjamin"]We'll stick to the CMU bar which is open all year round in future.[/quote]I presume that CMU = PMU ?[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 [quote user="Clair"][quote user="Benjamin"]We'll stick to the CMU bar which is open all year round in future.[/quote]I presume that CMU = PMU ?[:)][/quote]Benjamin was right - it's the one with the SAMU on standby for when you get the drinks bill......[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Of course it is! Silly me! [:D][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 The restaurant I mentioned doesn't make a fortune from tourists, Benjamin. Of course they get a lot in, but I guess half of their customers are locals, including the people who run the big posh hotel in town. While they are open in winter locals tend to be the only customers. They did reduce some prices in the VAT cut, unlike many others. We can't afford to eat there every week, but we're there when we can. Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 [quote user="gardengirl "]The restaurant I mentioned doesn't make a fortune from tourists, Of course they get a lot in, but I guess half of their customers are locals ,..[/quote]One of our local restos does just the same - it closes in November and reopens in March. It is done purely for financial reasons; the reasoning being that the tourists have gone away and the locals cannot afford to eat out all the time. The owner tried staying open throughout all of his first year but ran into dreadful cash-flow problems in the January and had to close for 2 months. Must say though he does have a fair number of staff as he doesn't cook and his wife is a teacher.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]Benjamin was right - it's the one with the SAMU on standby for when you get the drinks bill......[;-)] [/quote][:-))] Oh dear. These senior moments just seem to come thicker and faster these days. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deby Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Gosh you are lucky, the local village boulangere closes for his conge right in the middle of august - because 'he believes' its the vacances for him too!! We were out in Blaye during August and the amount of shops which had 'nothing to buy' barely an ice-cream on a hot day frustrated me immensley. I stopped at a Pizza restuarant and guess what it was closed for Lunch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 [quote user="Deby"]Gosh you are lucky, the local village boulangere closes for his conge right in the middle of august - because 'he believes' its the vacances for him too!! [/quote]Well it is!In my area 5 out of 6 boulangeries are shut, a good proportion of the hotels also, those that stay open are often shut at the weekend and usually the restaurant will be closed (chef en vacances), the only "restaurants" left open this year were a kebab shop and a baraque à frites.If it weren't for the hoards of bemused looking tourists wandering around looking for something to do, eat or drink, all you would see would be tumbleweed.It used to really wind me up and it is truly the worst part of the year for me (the rest aint so hot though!) but I have finally found the answer, if you cant beat em, join em, next year I will take a break somewhere more exciting, which leaves me rather a lot of places to choose from [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyF Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Well, if the boulanger has school age children, s/he probably wants to have holidays with them, rather than when they go back to school. In our small area of southern Manche, the boulangers seem to come to some arrangement so that they aren't all closed at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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