I thought I would share it.
I don't get into the Muslim situation here, because I don't have the time tonight.
It is significant and I have seen the problems and have lived the problems.
Maybe for another post.
What do they call a “Quarter Pounder with Cheese” in Paris?
While hitchhiking from Paris (1977) a Frenchman picked me up...he spoke no English but did speak German. He was driving to Switzerland to pick up his French-Canadian girlfriend for a weeks vacation climbing in the mountains around Grindlewald. I got to know them both and I ended up climbing with them for the next week. The interesting thing was, no one could talk to everybody at the same time. I could speak to him in German and to her in English. They could communicate in French. It was fun.
I agree with all your points except #4.
This is true. Especially young women 20 to 30 years old. Nobody really knows why.
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10) French women are not fat.
True. Walking the streets of Paris for a few weeks, this is very apparent. Again, the question is why?
People who smoke are quite often thin. In America, people used to combine these two qualities, to a certain extent. Then, we decided to stamp out smoking. Today, we wonder where all the obesity came from.
It's all quite obvious.
A local PBS station is rerunning "Nicolas Le Floch" (set during Louis XV) and is supposed to be fairly historically accurate.
Any way, one of [police inspector] Le Floch's informants is a guy with a screen and bucket. Not that Le Floch hits his mark all the time...
Agree except as to the food. French food is great. Still cook out of my Julia Child cookbook.
My experience too: the French were friendly, generous, smart. I have no idea where the negative stereotypes came from. I have been to France about a dozen times over the last 20 years and I always had a great time and made new friends. If you visit the cemeteries in Normandy and the Muese-Argonne, you will be blown away with the beauty and reverence they have shown for our honored dead.
The only disagreement I have with the author of the piece is that the food is sensational everywhere. If you’re looking for American chow, not too available. If you’re looking fine dining, France is the best.
I spent over ten years in Europe. France is much like the rest of Europe, some people are nice, some are rude. Americans traveling in Europe are the same.
American and Mexican food is easier to find these days than back in the day, but why bother. Even the Brits are putting out fine chow these days if you know how to find it. Indian, Indonesian, Hungarian, etc. places are generally very nice. Frogs and snails were put on this Earth for a purpose, the French have figured this out.
American cars have never sold well in Europe because of how Europeans tax their cars and their gasoline. Maneuvering a ‘63 Buick through medieval villages was never going to work. I’ve tried most of them: Peugeot, Audi, VW, BMV, Lotus. The Lotus was the best except for the mechanics bills.
I would be interested in seeing that post.
Interesting observations. We had a wonderful time in Paris in 1986. The French people we came in contact with we’re charming and helpful although we had to make an attempt at their language.
My observation, not just in France, is that women who smoke use it for weight control which makes it especially hard to quit.
Have seen quite a few of those 'trikes' here, as an old motorcyclist, I wonder why, but to each his own. Do you see many 2-wheel motorcycles during the winter there? I was under the impression many ride all year round out of necessity-their only vehicle.
No cheddar in the cheese shops? I understand Britons do enjoy their local cheddar--chunnel coach run, maybe?
Having been there over 60 times, I would say your opinions will change in several of these categories.
Unless you are a Jew, or a female in a Muslim area.
I spent some time in Germany last year. The little 2 wheel scooters were catching on, but when you have BMW’s why bother
There were a few Toyota’s and so on, but when you have BMW’s why bother.
French fries are good, sausage and kraut are good, the beer is probably like the French wine. Good, cheap and plentiful, it is what makes it livable.
The big junk food there is Doner Kebap which is just a Gyro.
Transportation: Population density is the key here-- Germany has about 80 million people, two-thirds of whom live in a 300 mile wide corridor stretching from Munich to Hamburg. Ditto for France if you take a 200 mile wide circumference around Paris. It's a lot easier (and makes sense) to have top-notch public transportation than to have that many people try to drive every day. It's also the case that European capitals are viewed as showcases for public spaces, so the state spends lavishly. You won't find transportation or public spaces like Paris in the poorer provincial cities off the tourist routes (like Verdun).
Working Hard: remember, those who work in private enterprise in France have to work very hard-- they're paying for the +50% of GDP consumed by those on the dole and the hordes of government employees who can retire at 55.
With regard to why most cars in Europe are stick-shift, it’s simply the way it is. The most common thing I’ve heard as to why is better control in inclement weather conditions, particularly during the winter months.
Surprised to hear there’s an absence of Toyota and Honda autos; they’re quite common here in the Czech Republic, though not as common as the domestic automaker, Škoda. Ford is quite popular here too.
I enjoyed your comments. And would be very interested in a future post about Muslems in France.
My experience of France is from the late sixties. The people did smell then because no one wore deodorant, indoor plumbing was spotty, and women did not shave under their arms. I understand that all these conditions have improved.
Everyone in France smoked a lot. The favorite cigarette was the Gauloise. It stunk incredibly.
The food was wonderful; but then again, I was looking forward to French food and love omelettes, fruits and vegetables, especially potatoes, so I was not disappointed. Nor was I staying long-term; so I didn’t miss the Americanized ethnic foods (German saurkraut, Italian cuisine, etc) you described.
The people in the countryside were indeed warm, friendly and helpful, including when our car broke down. The people who worked in Paris were rude and snobbish, pretending not to understand my French (which was understood every other place in Europe, including outside of Paris) and generally behaving churlishly. One bakery woman would not even sell me a dozen croissants after I said it serveral different ways, lastly pointed to them and held fingers up, or even when I wrote it down. She laughed, shrugged and sneered the whole time. So I cussed her out in French, and judging by her red face and screams, she understood my French perfectly.
I wonder what kind of vehicle they use for the sorts of things we would use a pickup truck for?
I’ve never been to France but I’ve been to Denmark, and I was very aware of how much slimmer the people were. Portions in restaurants were smaller than here and food was generally more expensive.
You are surprised to see European cars in Europe?
Ever hear of Volkswagen,Mercedes, Renault,Pegeuot,Citroen,Fiat,BMW, Audi, Skoda, or SEAT?
Probably the only American player on the continent is Ford, with a huge factory dedicated by Henry and Adolph in the 1930s.