France is a large and diverse country. French cuisine is legendary. France is also a very pleasant place to stay. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. France maintains ties with its former colonies through aid, trade, and military pacts. The French have developed modern political ties with former colonies still under French administration.
France's nuclear power program has cost some FF 400 billion in 1993 currency, excluding interest during construction. Half of this was self-financed by Electricit? de France, 8% (FF 32 billion) was invested by the state but discounted in 1981, and 42% (FF 168 billion) was financed by commercial loans. FRANCE was a two class vessel, eschewing the middle category, Cabin Class, in favor of a larger and more spacious First and Tourist (later dubbed "Left Bank") accommodation. Her interiors were almost spartan, certainly sterile in comparison to the gilded and plush LIBERTE and ILE, but the FRANCE was the product of a late 1950's/early 1960's vision. France is no longer a destination solely reserved for the lucky few who can afford to splurge on a lavish vacation; in fact, it is possible to travel in France on a very tight budget. In our contemporary age of budget air travel and inexpensive hostel lodging, it is possible even for students living on a very small income to spend time exploring France.
