Birt Family Focus

Epcot World Showcase, France -- 8/13/02

Bon Jour, Mes Aime! (please don't judge my spelling- my spoken French is even worse!)

Today we visit the lovely France Pavilion. Properly stuffed with tea, ale and Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips, it is now time for dessert!

I like how one must cross the bridge from the UK to France over the waterway. It reminds me of crossing the English Channel from the real UK to the real France. Do you suppose it was planned that way? Hmmm....

This showcase presents the period in France known as La Belle Epoque, which means the beautiful time. That was from approximately 1870 to 1910- basically the period around the turn of the 19th century. The area consists of beautifully done brick buildings with wrought iron trims, interesting concrete work, and lots of flower gardens. It is supposed to resemble "springtime in Paris". The garden that you see on the side as you cross the bridge is taken from a Seurat painting called "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte". There is even an Eiffel Tower here. It is built using the technique of forced perspective to make it look the proper size, but it is, of course, really much much smaller. The color is similar to the color it was during the Belle Epoque.

France features a bookshop where one can actually find some rare and original tomes- some autographed. There are also autographed and framed photos and letters available up the stairs from the perfume shop. I saw one from Albert Schwizer to someone and another from Jules Verne to a colleague. That one was $6000. The perfumery has authentic French colognes and parfums which may be tried on and purchased. My DH got me some from here one year for Christmas and I never use anything else now- I love it. It's called Escada, if you want to try it yourself.

There is a theatre here with a movie about France, just as there is in all the other Pavilions. It is worth a look, unless you have already seen it. It's 18 minutes long and called Impressions de France. The gift shop here features art and "stuff" with famous French art reprinted on it as well as all sorts of things with Gargoyles. There is also a shop with an impressive collection of kitchen and cooking objects- mostly in the country French design and in colors of blue and yellow. There is also a wine shop called Vins De France and they will give you samples for the price of a souvenier glass.

There is a sidewalk cafe, the Pastrie shop (YUMMY and great for lunch or a quick nosh) and the rather grandiose Le Chef's du France restaurant. This place requires priority seatings. Many rave about it- I haven't been here, the pastrie shop is enough for me. There is also a Bistro on the second floor above Chefs. There are lots of little carts outside to look like the garden markets in Paris with all sorts of goodies for sale.

There is a spot on the corner with a sort of column in the middle and a bit of landscaping/ fencing around it that is where the kids do their kid cot thing. Now Kid Cot is a program where the kids get a mask to decorate with different stuff at the different pavilions. It was invented to keep the littles a bit more entertained while mom and dad explore mini-europe. I specially mention it here because each time we have gone (though we haven't been in 2 years) there has been a CM with a classic French painter outfit on who has the kids paint a picture with water colors and mounts them on the column to dry. You can wait for it or pick it up later and let the masses admire your young-un's work. Some are amazingly good. DD loves to do this.

There are 2 entertainment venues here and I love them both. Check your guide maps and make sure you are here for a performance of Imaginum. These are the living statues. There will always be some unsuspecting person who will walk up close for a better look and that is where the fun begins. Look below to see what happened when my DD got a bit too close. ;-) The other is a performance of Cyranose De Bergerac by the World Showcase Players. No, I did not spell it wrong. This is hilarious and involves audience participation. The dialogue is mostly improv and anything can happen. Make sure you have a potty break before watching- you may laugh hard enough to...well...moisten yourself!!

Well- that's that for this week. Do spend some time here on your next visit to Epcot- and have an eclair, you'll be glad you did.

Au revoir (I think!)