In message , Ian Spare
writes
On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 13:41:23 +0200, Ace wrote:


'Mere' is the misleading part here. In French, anywhere there is
skiing is referred to as a Station de Ski. It's in no way connected to
the existence or otherwise of town, village or city.

Quite right, I'd forgotton that the French "stations de ski" was
generally translated as ski resorts until you mentioned it.
Personally, resorts doesn't sound right to me, it suggest places you
vaction in, 90% of my skiing (probably like yours) is weekends in one
of my flats or days from the house (which should improve this year as
we're living near enough for Verbier).

But you wouldn't call a place a "station de bagnade" if it had only a
beach, would you? You'd expect hotels, a promenade - all the facilities
of a seaside/lakeside resort.
Isn't it the place with two lifts and a cafe that doesn't deserve to be
called a "station"?

(My grandmother went to the hill station each hot weather; Indian
English still has the coastal station too.)
--
Sue ]