Poll: Help in trying to explain something

[Jean-F]

Watching an old “Who Wants To be A Millionaire” Saturday evening, a guy was asked, “In which country is Biarritz?”
Options were, Spain, France, Austria (I think), and maybe Russia, I honestly can’t recall.
I said to my wife, “It’s in France, on the Bay of Biscay I think.”
She said, “Sure it’s not Spain?”
Anyway, the guy took the money, about £8000 I think, and as I said, it is in France.
Then it started;
My wife, “So it’s in the South of France?”
Me, “No, the South of France is recognised as the part that borders the Med, the French Riviera, Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez etc., Biarritz is on the Atlantic Coast, in South West France, just above Spain.”
Wife, “So it IS in the south of France?”
Me, (knowing that I really should have just given up), “Technically, it’s south of U.K., and south of Calais, Normandy, or Paris, BUT it’s not in the part of France that is referred to when people say the South of France.”
She started to go through a cupboard, looking for a map of Europe, so I surrendered, “Okay, Red, you’re right.”
Any advice on how I can explain to her that Biarritz is NOT in what most people know as the South of France?

 

[Jean-F]

Biarritz is definitely in the South of France.

Jesus H. Christ, you’re in league with my wife!
Yes, GEOGRAPHICALLY it’s in the southern part of France, but St Tropez, (in what is universally accepted as the part of the country known as the South of France), is some 800 km from Biarritz, on the Atlantic Coast, on the Bay of Biscay, in the Basque region.

 

[Jean-F]

Did she put her phone down to do this? You know, the phone that contains the entire internet at her fingertips, including Google and their Maps service?

I’d already showed her on an iPad where Biarritz is situated, on the Atlantic Coast some 8 km from Bayonne, what she wouldn’t accept was that there is a difference between that area on the Atlantic S.W. Coast of France, and the coastal area on the Med, known throughout Europe as the “The South of France”, which features towns like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes and Nice.

It depends on whether "South of France" is a recognised area name rather than simply a description. Maybe Biarritz is in the south of France but not in the South of France. Like, for example, how almost all of the city of London is not in the City of London. If so, then it has both meanings depending on context so both are correct.

Exactly, and to me, “The South of France” is a definite recognised area of Mediterranean coastal resorts.

I think you're right.

If someone was saying they are going to south of france on holiday, 99% of people in this thread would think southern med coast, not western atlantic coast.

Again, this is how I see it, and probably lots of people do.

I think Cherokee squaw.

For a Frenchman with an intimate knowledge of London's streets having taken The Knowledge, I find I have to disagree with your geography of your home nation, sorry Jean. I would say south of France too...

But that aside, women and maps are dangerous bedfellows.

I don’t think that you’re right Chris, but I have too much respect for you to argue about it.

If someone said they were going to the South of France, I wouldn't expect to see them on the Atlantic coast, even though that place is South in France, it's not in the South of France.

If I give you my wife’s email address would you gently point that out to her?

Geographically Biarritz is located in Southern France, but like JF I wouldn't associate it with the region known as the South of France.

At last, someone who can see what I’ve been trying to say.

Why do you call her Red?

Because she has dark red hair, my English daughter-in-law has strawberry-blonde hair, and I often call her “Red” too.
My son, her husband, calls her Tonge (Tonj), he said it was what Scots guys in his regiment called anyone with red hair.

 

[Jean-F]

Isn’t the med coast bit of France the French Riviera?

The French Riviera is also known as La Côte d’Azur,
Biarritz is close to being on La Côte d’Argent.

 

[Jean-F]

It's in Aquitania

The Aquitania was a Cunard ship, I think that you meant Aquitaine, or Nouvelle Aquitaine.

 

[Jean-F]

I think Wikipedia agrees with your wife

While I sincerely appreciate your weighing in on my wife’s side, and Wikipedia for agreeing with her too, I know exactly what part of France I’m referring to when I say, “I’m going to the South of France”, and it’s a long way from Biarritz, on the Atlantic Coast.
I’ll also agree that Biarritz is geographically in the South-West of France, but it’s NOT on the Mediterranean coast of France in an area known universally as “The South of France.”

 

[Jean-F]

You and Red have sure started something here mon ami mate....

Hélas, c'était toujours la même mon pôte

 

[Jean-F]

Your wife is right, you're wrong. Go buy her some flowers and apologise.

Having been to the South of France many, many times - it spans from the Atlantic to the med. If I'm visiting Bordeaux or Toulouse, I'd say I was going to the South of France.

You're thinking of the French Riviera.

My wife gets flowers regularly, I’m a bit old school in that respect.
I too have been to Bordeaux many times, my great-aunt Sylvie lived in Bègles, close to the Garonne, and Georges, a distant cousin lives in Blagnac, near Toulouse airport.
If I was going there I’d just say that I was going to Toulouse or Bordeaux.
It’s never a good idea to tell someone what they are thinking, unless you’re a clairvoyant or mind reader.
I’ve stated enough times now that there is a difference between Southern and/or South Western France, and the area on the Med that is specifically referred to as “The South of France”, (which includes the French Riviera).
Pour moi ça suffit je suis dehors.

 

[Jean-F]

Mes voisins l'appellent Sud Ouest France.

Which is good enough for me.

Pour moi aussi, vos voisins sont très sages.

 

[Jean-F]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Aquitania?

Depends how you wish to say it, maybe we should have a poll for which Aquitania pronunciation is correct

It wasn’t the pronunciation, it was the spelling, Aquitania or Aquitaine, ask @terminal Boy, he’s a French resident.
In addition, Henry 11 married Eleanor of Aquitaine (not Aquitania), in 1152.
If you really want a poll, knock yourself out.

 

[Jean-F]

Conquerors

Glace mince mon ami, or if you prefer, thin ice pal!

 

[Jean-F]

Aren't you a user of "could care less", yet you argue semantics over this?

Yes I do favour “I could care less”, but to attempt to explain the difference between my attitude to using “could care less” and my attitude toward the difference between “South-West France” and “The South of France” would take up too much of my time, plus probably bore everyone to death in the process.
It would probably be better if those that believe that Biarritz is in the popular holiday area known as The South of France carry on believing that, while I, (safe in the belief that I’m right), sit on the sofa nursing a glass of Armagnac while slowly shaking my head from side to side resignedly.