Gendarme
When I was a child and/or teenager we sometimes watched French films starring Louis de Funes. He was a famous French comic actor and made many films, usually playing some bumbling something or other. He made several films about 'le Gendarme de Saint Tropez', showing his failure to control the town, his wife, his daughter and the other gendarmistes (is that a word?). He had to deal with female gendarmistes (I've decided it is), nude sunbathers and aliens. His daughter had a beau (to stay in French mode), his men fumbled along and there would always be a few nuns in an old renault screeching down some hill.
Of course, that view of the gendarme isn't correct. They usually don't have to deal with aliens (not sure about the rest) and they do fine work. Now, you might wonder who the gendarme are. Well, I asked a lovely policewoman in Paris and she told me they were the military policeforce among civilian populations.
They have the same rights and duties, plus a few added ones, mostly the military themselves. They do border checks (in the Netherlands anyway), guard the Royal homes (again in the Netherlands) and accompany military formations en route to wherever. Not all countries do have a gendarme, but here are a few that do: Italy (Carabinieri), Spain (Guardia Civil), Netherlands (Royal Marechaussee).
For more G-words from around the world, please check out ABC Wednesday and join in the fun!
Photo taken May 2010, in Paris, France
Hmmm I'm very interesting now, about this place and the French films!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post!
Hugs
Léia
one of the more unique takes on the G so far :) well done..
ReplyDeleteMy ABC Wednesday G
Great G word for the day! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Your summary of Louis de Funes town and its gendarmistes made me giggle! I certainly needed that today.
ReplyDeletepoor "policemen"- there is some form of slapstick in every nation about a bumbling man who can't do his job- wasn't the pink panther like that too?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, indeed! And thank´s for your nice comment Mara!
ReplyDeleteAnnelie E
ABC Wednesday Team
I had no idea! What a fun, educating and entertaining post! And, fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI learn so much each week visiting the ABC posts. That was a Great G word for this week. I never heard of it before much less know what it meant.
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining the term gendarme! Cool post, Mara!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Louis de Funés. I remember him well. Exhausting little man. But I think I thought it was funny. Not sure if I will still find it funny. Would you?
ReplyDelete(love the photo)
Aha! I always thought they were regular police with a special name. Thanks for teaching me something new today!
ReplyDeleteA very original post for the letter G. Lots of information and much to think about.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that word for a long time and really enjoyed reading your delightful narrative! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that a gendarme wasn't an ordinary policeman.
ReplyDeleteSo now I know what a Gendarme is, thank you.
ReplyDeleteheard the term but didn't know the specifics - thanks!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Wow. : ) I have never seen any movies on that subject matter. Thanks for the lesson as per usual!
ReplyDeleteWe saw Gendarmes or the equivalent of, in Argentina. It's a bit disconcerting to see the large rifle like arms they bear.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting... Also like your blog wall paper.
ReplyDeleteA new take on gendarmes, - I always thought they were ordinary policement - never too late to learn!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific post - G is for gendarme.... very unique... and I learned something. (As for your list of places to visit, Mara: close your eyes and place a pin on the list... then plan on going to that one place... just that one place... and don't wait for the lottery - it really does not need to cost that much.)
ReplyDeleteOf course I know Louis de Funès, I have seen all his movies. At that time the Frenchs did nice movies, today when they want to be funny they only use vulgar language and that's not only my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIn Belgium we also had a Gendarmerie until a few years ago, now they are all federal police. There are no guards in front of the King's palace or changement of guards, the actual King didn't want it anymore he found that especially in winter or hot summers it was not human to let them stand there.
thanks for letting me know about this interesting info...
ReplyDeleteI hope you can drop by
My ABC Wednesday here
And HERE TOO
Very interesting! Lots of good information on your post as ever. Gendarmes always look so smart.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a difference between gendarmes and police. I think chasing aliens would make anyone's day more interesting though ;-)
ReplyDelete