Travelling in France.

[rhys 0]

Since being in France for almost a week, I am surprised at how easy it is to travel here; surprisingly it is easier to get around than it was in California!!!

There are taxis at every intercity bus station and train station and the trains we have been on have travelled at 300kmph/180mph!!!

The language barrier hasn’t really been a problem, I learned to say “Bonjour, est-ce que vous parlez angais” meaning, “hello, do you speak English” as well as a few other words like thank you and excuse me, these few words have made it really easy to get around and find the things and eat the things we want.

The French are very polite people and more than willing to help even if they cannot speak any English.
It is peculiar how the stereotype of the French is quite different to what the reality is.

The architecture(see attachment) and history here is somewhat amazing also.

I highly recommend coming here.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[akarunway 1]

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Since being in France for almost a week, I am surprised at how easy it is to travel here; surprisingly it is easier to get around than it was in California!!!

There are taxis at every intercity bus station and train station and the trains we have been on have travelled at 300kmph/180mph!!!

The language barrier hasn’t really been a problem, I learned to say “Bonjour, est-ce que vous parlez angais” meaning, “hello, do you speak English” as well as a few other words like thank you and excuse me, these few words have made it really easy to get around and find the things and eat the things we want.

The French are very polite people and more than willing to help even if they cannot speak any English.
It is peculiar how the stereotype of the French is quite different to what the reality is.

The architecture(see attachment) and history here is somewhat amazing also.

I highly recommend coming here.

Any good landing area?

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[rhys 0]

yeah a nice big square! dunno about your chances of getting past the gargoils though, then you have JC and Mary to get ya?

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[Frenchy68 0]

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Since being in France for almost a week, I am surprised at how easy it is to travel here; surprisingly it is easier to get around than it was in California!!!

There are taxis at every intercity bus station and train station and the trains we have been on have travelled at 300kmph/180mph!!!

The language barrier hasn’t really been a problem, I learned to say “Bonjour, est-ce que vous parlez angais” meaning, “hello, do you speak English” as well as a few other words like thank you and excuse me, these few words have made it really easy to get around and find the things and eat the things we want.

The French are very polite people and more than willing to help even if they cannot speak any English.
It is peculiar how the stereotype of the French is quite different to what the reality is.

The architecture(see attachment) and history here is somewhat amazing also.

I highly recommend coming here.

Bwahahaha! We fooled you!

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[vortexring 0]

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The French are very polite people and more than willing to help even if they cannot speak any English.

That shouldn't be a problem, assuming you're speaking slowly and LOUDLY?

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It is peculiar how the stereotype of the French is quite different to what the reality is.

What! How long have you been there? 5 minutes!? Give it time mate, give it time....

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[chris74 0]

Hey Dude,
I am a froggy so PM me in case of problem !!
BS
Chris

[tetra316 0]

You must not be a poor college student traveling I spent 6 weeks hoofing it around western Europe and France was by far the rudest country. Nothing but disdain. Now on the other hand if you have some money to spend I'm sure they treat you better

[livendive 8]

I've not yet made it to France, but I hope to go there and spend a LOT of money some day, partly in gratitude for the help they've given our country over the years, partly for the statue of liberty, and mostly to piss off all the Americans who've forgotten those things.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[warpedskydiver 0]

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Since being in France for almost a week, I am surprised at how easy it is to travel here; surprisingly it is easier to get around than it was in California!!!

There are taxis at every intercity bus station and train station and the trains we have been on have travelled at 300kmph/180mph!!!

The language barrier hasn’t really been a problem, I learned to say “Bonjour, est-ce que vous parlez angais” meaning, “hello, do you speak English” as well as a few other words like thank you and excuse me, these few words have made it really easy to get around and find the things and eat the things we want.

The French are very polite people and more than willing to help even if they cannot speak any English.
It is peculiar how the stereotype of the French is quite different to what the reality is.

The architecture(see attachment) and history here is somewhat amazing also.

I highly recommend coming here.

Bwahahaha! We fooled you!

Devious bastards!

Keep him there!....please?

[StreetScooby 5]

My experience in France was completely different. Beautiful country, but the people were complete assholes. Both country folks and city. Won't go back until the Germans rule it, again.

We are all engines of karma

[billvon 3,119]

>Beautiful country, but the people were complete assholes.

Had no problems at all in the country; people everywhere put up with my bad french. The cities were pretty snooty though.

Actually the place I ran into the most attitude was Heidelberg Germany, where people seemed to go out of their way to be dicks.

[StreetScooby 5]

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Had no problems at all in the country; people everywhere put up with my bad french.

Well, to be honest, I didn't know any French. But, one of the skydivers I was with knew it fluently. Every single dinner, we would be speaking English. The waiter would end up short changing us. Then, Billy would calmly ask for the rest of the money in fluent French. You should have seen the look on their faces.

We are all engines of karma

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Not wearing anything to label you as a non-american are you?

[akarunway 1]

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My experience in France was completely different. Beautiful country, but the people were complete assholes. Both country folks and city. Won't go back until the Germans rule it, again.

Sounds like my last trip to OHIO.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[shropshire 0]

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My experience in France was completely different. Beautiful country, but the people were complete assholes. Both country folks and city. Won't go back until the Germans rule it, again.

I've had good and bad experiences in every country that I've been to (yes, even my own) - but way more good than bad!! It's probably the same for most folks here...

It's the luck of the draw, whio you encounter, what mood are they in, what mood are you in.

Our experiences are predicated by chance more than national sterotypes.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[rhys 0]

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Well, to be honest, I didn't know any French.

I believe the reason people have treated us so well is that We tried to speak french

If a french, german, russian or any nationality came up to you and asked for directions in a foreign language in you home country....

you would not take it too well.

It took me all of about 5 minutes to learn the basic hello an thank yous.

maybe you deserved to be treated the way you were!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[CornishChris 5]

My view is that wherever you are in the world you should be able to say 'Hello' and 'Thank You' if nothing else. A little effort in these places gets a lot of reward.

CJP

Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people

[rhys 0]

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My view is that wherever you are in the world you should be able to say 'Hello' and 'Thank You' if nothing else. A little effort in these places gets a lot of reward.

exactly

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kbordson 8]

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My view is that wherever you are in the world you should be able to say 'Hello' and 'Thank You' if nothing else. A little effort in these places gets a lot of reward.

Personally, I agree with this. When I travel to foreign countries, I try to respect the people and know more than "basics" - not just "hello" and "thank you"

German - I could take advanced math classes (it wasn't easy, but I could understand it) Some of the American GI's confused me for being a German (but... maybe it was just because they couldn't tell how truly bad my accent was)

Spanish - I could ask appropriate medical questions for my field. And not just words pieced together - "baby move" - rather "is your baby moving" (now, I couldn't order a detailed 7 course meal... but that was never my goal)

HOWEVER to say "maybe you deserved to be treated the way you were! " is a level of superior arrogance of it's own (even if followed by the "cute" icons). Part of me is arguing against your point because it is you... and well .... I will admit that your persona itself raises my ire. But, honestly, why should someone "deserve" to be treated poorly? When I get women in labor and delivery that speaks solamente españo, I give her the same respect that I do a suburban WASP. . . . as she DESERVES. Or if a Chinese female comes in - we have language lines to interpret so that she understands. You are wrong to assume that ONLY Americans go to other countries unable to speak the language. And to insinuate that those that don't speak the language deserve less is unkind.

[nerdgirl 0]

My experiences have been similar.

In French cities – like cities around the world – one will encounter hectic rushed folks who aren’t interested in playing tour guide (when I was late for a meeting I had very little tolerance for American tourists in DC who couldn’t figure out standing on the left side of the Metro escalator is *verboten* -- “stand right, walk left” … “yes, even going up, some of us do walk *up* escalators … in heels” ) as well as helpful folks willing to indulge lost tourists.

I’ve been to France 6 or 7 times (not counting transfers at CDG). I’ve never had a bad experience. One of my most treasured memories was a Sunday afternoon in Lyon in which I was out walking around the town and ran into an older man who started telling me stories about his memories of being a child liberated by American soldiers at the end of WWII. His English was much better than my very basic French, but we still managed to communicate.

And I loved the TGV!

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[rhys 0]

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HOWEVER to say "maybe you deserved to be treated the way you were! " is a level of superior arrogance of it's own (even if followed by the "cute" icons). Part of me is arguing against your point because it is you... and well .... I will admit that your persona itself raises my ire.

so you would trat a french person with respect if they walked up to you in america and sarted aking questions in french? without the slightest hello ot excuse me?

this is what we call respect, and without it, you don't get it.... unless you pay$$.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kbordson 8]

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this is what we call respect, and without it, you don't get it.... unless you pay$$.

Hmmm.... sounds like a similar argument that we had. Except then you were arguing the other side of the coin.

If someone speaks to me in a language that I don't understand (or even one that I do, but I am not obligated), I don't automatically treat them poorly. Especially if she is pregnant, scared, in pain.... French, Spanish, English.... all deserve the same respect as a person.

[rhys 0]

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Hmmm.... sounds like a similar argument that we had. Except then you were arguing the other side of the coin.

you can take your head out of your books, professor. we are talking about respect/service not heathcare.

If you are a loud ass, demanding asshole but give big tips you will be likely to be treated well wherever you go, if not then you will not be treated well.

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If someone speaks to me in a language that I don't understand (or even one that I do, but I am not obligated), I don't automatically treat them poorly. Especially if she is pregnant, scared, in pain.... French, Spanish, English.... all deserve the same respect as a person.

Who said anything about being in distress or pregnant?

We are talking about travelling, eating etc. etc.

I am sure that in france if you are pregnant and in distress you will be helped very well, and you will probably not get a bill fir it at the end of your treatment either

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kbordson 8]

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We are talking about travelling, eating etc. etc.

We were talking about speaking the language in another country. And you implied that those who don't know the language "deserve" to be treated poorly. I disagree on a personal level. Have I felt disappointment in friends that were GI's and were stationed overseas and didn't know the language? Yes. But I don't think they deserve to be treated any worse than the travelers over here that don't speak English. And I do not (or try not to) treat travelers over here poorly.... unless they become arrogant and demanding.

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I am sure that in france if you are pregnant and in distress you will be helped very well, and you will probably not get a bill fir it at the end of your treatment either

Not that I am wishing you poorly, cuz I hope that you won't have to need it, but HAVE you researched what you need to do if you become sick or injured? French Healthcare basics

An entitled attitude and not speaking language will REALLY endear you to the locals.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Of course people will be nice to you, there is every reason to do so.

You are kind, pretty, cool, educated, have class, not a snob, and have a belt fed w/200 rounds hanging out of it.