Welcome to the 2025 Taconic Region NYS Park Summer Geocaching Challenge. Please see FA 01 for more information. This is a bonus cache. It does not contain a stamp for the passport; it is simply for your enjoyment.
Ah, France in the summertime! What could be better? If you can only go as far as Clarence Fahnestock State Park, this series of geocaches will bring a bit of France to you. You can learn some new French vocabulary from the geocache names. The original swag includes items inspired by France.
This bonus puzzle cache DOES NOT contain a passport stamp.
This is a simple armchair puzzle with questions about French history and culture. If you don’t already know the answers, your favorite search engine will help.
The geocache is not at the posted coordinates, although they are a good place to park. To obtain the final coordinates, answer the following questions.
- The phrase “French fry” is a misnomer. In the trenches during World War I, American GIs saw French-speaking soldiers frying potatoes in hot oil. What country were the soldier-cooks actually from?
A. Germany (A = 0)
B. Mexico (A = 3)
C. Belgium (A = 1)
D. Papua New Guinea (A = 7 )
2. This friend of the American Revolution, featured prominently in the 2015 smash hit Broadway musical “Hamilton”, returned to the United States for a successful grand tour in 1824.
A. Gilbert de Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (B = 7)
B. Pepé le Pew (B = 6)
C. Lin-Manuel Miranda (B = 2 )
D. Marcel Marceau (B = 9)
3. Each year, the city of Paris holds a “Grand Prix” in which city bakers compete to make the best version of this item. The winner receives a cash prize of €4,000 and becomes one of the suppliers of the Presidential Elysée Palace for a year.
A. Croissant (C = 0)
B. Baguette (C = 7)
C. Blueberry muffin (C = 6)
D. S’more (C = 4)
4. In what year was the current President of France, Emmanuel Macron, born?
A. 1987 (D = 2)
B. 1967 (D = 5)
C. 2017 (D = 4)
D. 1977 (D = 6 )
5. The Walt Disney Company produced two hit musical movies based on this fairy tale originally written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.
A. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (E = 7)
B. Puss in Boots (E = 1)
C. Beauty and the Beast (E = 0 )
D. The Matrix (E = 9)
6. This cathedral suffered a major fire in 2019, evoking sadness not only amongst Parisiens, but also from many people worldwide.
A. Notre Dame (F = 5)
B. Saint Patrick’s (F = 9)
C. Saint Peter’s (F = 2)
D. Saint Basil’s (F = 1)
The geocache can be found at: N 41 27.ABC W 073 51.DEF
FTF prize is a genuine €1 coin (approximate value $1.08 as of April 1, 2025).
Bonne chance à tous!