We're off to see the cheese-eating surrender monkeys in ...

[rubato]

... in their natural habitat. Last year in St Pierre and Miquelon my wife fell in love with the Gallic idea of lunch; 2 hours when everything shuts down to honor the highest traditions of French civilization.

Any travel tips for Paris or Northern France? First two weeks of May.

We'll be about a week in Paris and another driving around Normandy, Brittany and possibly Belgium. Air travel is booked and we have a few options set up for hotels. Outside of Paris prices seem very reasonable and, compared to S.F., Paris is not all that bad either.

yrs,
rubato

[loCAtek]

Bon Voyage!

[dales]

Can you speak French?

If not you will probably be ignored.

My father spoke French (alas with an Algerian accent) and some of those frogs prentended that they did not understand him. This was c. 1965 so perhaps the French haughtiness has mitagated to a degree.

Let me say this was mostly in Paris, once out in the beautiful French countryside the townsfolk were very friendly toward Americans (despite my father's unorthodox French).

At that time it was 4 Francs to 1USD......kripes, the d@mned euro is worth more that the dollar, be prepared to spend a sh-tload for even the most basic of necessities.

Now let me tell you about the Germans.............

[BoSoxGal]

If you're going to Belgium, check out Bruges. I saw it in a great movie (In Bruges) and it's a beautiful city! Allegedly has terrific beer, too!

[Sean]

Great movie!

As Colin Farrell put it:

Ray: There's a Christmas tree somewhere in London with a bunch of presents underneath it that'll never be opened. And I thought, if I survive all of this, I'd go to that house, apologize to the mother there, and accept whatever punishment she chose for me. Prison... death... didn't matter. Because at least in prison and at least in death, you know, I wouldn't be in fuckin' Bruges. But then, like a flash, it came to me. And I realized, fuck man, maybe that's what hell is: the entire rest of eternity spent in fuckin' Bruges. And I really really hoped I wouldn't die. I really really hoped I wouldn't die.

Ray: A great day this has turned out to be. I'm suicidal, me mate tries to kill me, me gun gets nicked and we're still in fuckin' Bruges!

They have dwarves there too!

[rubato]

I was looking at Bruges but I don't think it fits in very well. We were in Antwerp last year. Belgian beer is the best in the world.


My wife is interested in the landscapes from "Tess" which was filmed in Brittany and the other direction from Bruges.


I speak a little French. Present-tense only, limited vocabulary but good pronunciation. Most people are very nice if you are reasonably personable and make an effort. Besides, the French love us.


yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

Post photos when you return!

[Guinevere]

Try to visit Reims, and the cathedral where the Kings and Queens of France were crowned. And the caves. Reims happens to be the capitol of Champagne. 'Nuff said.

In Paris, stay in Monmartre (its in the 18th). Take in as many museums as you can, hit all the major highlights, but don't forget L'Orangerie and those lovely water lily panels. And de Cluny, and the tapestries. Eat, drink, wander the streets. Get up early for the markets.

I had my worst experiences in France in the northwest, especially Le Havre. I've never had a problem in Paris.

[Gob]

Post photos when you return!

[rubato]

"... Get up early for the markets.

... "

My normal work day starts at 4:30am. We never get up early on vacation. Never. We're the 'lounging around in bed with room service breakfast and coffee' types.

yrs,
rubato

[Daisy]

Brittany is lovely. Great food and a lovely relaxed ambience about the place. Have moules et frites with Roquefort and a nice glass of Gris for lunch.

If you're visiting Normandy then you must visit the beaches from the Normandy landings also the museum at Gold Beach and of course see the Bayeux Tapestry at the museum in Bayeux. Also Mont Saint-Michel is worth a visit.

Northern France is a lovely part of the world, enjoy it. I'm dead jealous as we're giving France a miss this year in favour of a Christmas Cruise with the family.

[Guinevere]

"... Get up early for the markets.

... "

My normal work day starts at 4:30am. We never get up early on vacation. Never. We're the 'lounging around in bed with room service breakfast and coffee' types.

yrs,
rubato

My day often starts at 5:30AM, and because of my practice I often have night meetings that go until 10PM. I enjoy a more relaxed pace to my vacation, but some things are worth getting up early for, even on vacation.

[loCAtek]

When an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger” aired in France, the French surrendered to Chuck Norris just to be on the safe side.

[Sean]

Is there any truth in the rumour that French tanks in WW2 were fitted with rear view mirrors so that they could see how the battle was going?

[Andrew D]

The French have always been fully prepared for combat.

[Gob]

Where We've Seen It:

The image of the "cowardly Frenchman" has appeared in virtually every media possible, from movies to children's shows and video games, right down to the personal sentiments of Captain America (and he wouldn't lie to you; dishonesty makes Captain America vomit in rage).

Why it's All Bullshit:

Ask Rudyard Kipling, who once famously said about the French: "Their business is war, and they do their business." And boy howdy, a quick glance at France's history shows business is booming:

Since 387 BC, France has fought 168 major wars against such badasses as the Roman Empire, the British Army and the Turkish forces. Their track record isn't too shabby, either: They've won 109, lost 49 and drawn (or as close as you can "draw" a war) 10 times. Professional boxers have been crowned world champions on shittier records than that.

And while it is true that France surrendered to Germany relatively early in WWII, that was only because they hadn't picked themselves up after WWI yet. And WWI (despite being an entire "I" lower) wasn't exactly an anemic playground chickenfight--the French suffered about 5.7 million casualties (the war killed or wounded an incredible 37 million people worldwide).

So yes, the next time around they let the Germans take over officially, but they never actually stopped fighting: the French resistance was one of the most enduring symbols of Nazi opposition in Europe. The resistance was the originator of the archetypal trench coat wearing merchants of bloody death you see in countless action movies and video games today. They blew up bridges, staged daring night raids, slit German throats while generally looking fantastic (if a little ennui-stricken) while doing it.

And not a damn thing's changed since then: France is the most underestimated military force in the world, with the third highest military spending on the planet and an estimated 300 nuclear warheads at their disposal. So basically... we might want to knock off the "coward" talk now, lest we find the impeccably-styled death squads smoking their thin cigarettes on our doorstep.

[Sean]

So what of the Germans' plan to bomb that white flag factory in Paris, thus completely obliterating France's military capabilities?

[rubato]

I've been working on my French:

qui a coupe le fromage?

ou est mon tarantula? Je l'ai perdu.

Puis-je avoir une araingnee sur mon visage?

Vous sans Parasites?

pour une francaise vous n'etes pas tres poilu

[Daisy]

Was that from How to Speak French by Jeremy Clarkson ?

[rubato]

Was that from How to Speak French by Jeremy Clarkson ?

That paragon of Englishness ? That exemplar of colourful self-expression?

I am flattered! Thanks!



yrs,
rubato