Le Nez du Paquebot France
by Sophie Gayot
The first time I ever traveled to America was by boat, even though aviation was no longer at its debut. I took the unforgettable journey with my family on the SS France, the fastest ship and the longest liner at the time. It took us five days to travel across the Atlantic, and I still have incredible memories of our passage. My brother Alain and I even got lost once going from our playground to the dining room.
Today, the once-powerful ship was sold in parts in Paris by the Artcurial gallery. The pièce de résistance was the nose, le nez. Estimated between € 80,000 to € 100,000, it was purchased by a realtor from Deauville, Normandy, for a whopping € 273,200. The remains of what was once a French point of pride will be displayed in the harbor of Le Havre where the SS France was once anchored.