Flying to France this Sunday...
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: formally Alamo battleground, now the crocodile with palm trees!
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There're people who can live with criticism, tolerance and open-mindeness...
and there're the ones who cannot. Those are usually the ones that point their fingers always towards others, scream the loudest and want to ban Harry Potter etc.
My favorite line I have seen here on this forum by a ppruner is: "Think, think, think! It'll hurt at the beginning but you'll get used to it"
How true.
7 7 7 7
and there're the ones who cannot. Those are usually the ones that point their fingers always towards others, scream the loudest and want to ban Harry Potter etc.
My favorite line I have seen here on this forum by a ppruner is: "Think, think, think! It'll hurt at the beginning but you'll get used to it"
How true.
7 7 7 7
Free Man, Not a Number
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OK OK 
, were going. I've always enjoyed any time in France and I'm looking forward to this one just as much. I just wanted to get a feeling from recent visitors about the sort of reception a Yank is going to get.
I guess if it's nasty we can always leave.
, were going. I've always enjoyed any time in France and I'm looking forward to this one just as much. I just wanted to get a feeling from recent visitors about the sort of reception a Yank is going to get.I guess if it's nasty we can always leave.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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You want it..................
The other day I was in a café more than willing to pay my due when the owner just plainly turned his back on me the minute I asked for the bill. Do not fret and go into deep paranoïa, they sometimes do these sort of things............to anyone including americans ! Fly Blue is right, they do not take gloves and it starts right among themselves.
I concur, enjoy, sip the wine, patronize as many restaurants as you can, MacDonald is abusing an already very abusive tax system and if your boys ask you for a Hamburger.....................put them on the first flight home to Granny !
One tip though, if you're driving in Nice, you want to keep your car and trunck locked even while driving. Car jacking has turned into a local trend.
You will come home, safe, having the satisfaction of having beaten the odds of survival and you'll see the look of admiration in your countrymen's eyes. As to your wife and kids they'll think of you are a mixture of Tarzan and Lord Montgomory ( I'd say this is worth the trip !!!
Allow me to just try something while droping by :
SCREW THE FRENCH !!!!!!! ( Danny, don't make me pay too high of a price for this, I'm still on bail !)
So that's what makes you tick ?? That's odd, I don't feel a thing.
The other day I was in a café more than willing to pay my due when the owner just plainly turned his back on me the minute I asked for the bill. Do not fret and go into deep paranoïa, they sometimes do these sort of things............to anyone including americans ! Fly Blue is right, they do not take gloves and it starts right among themselves.
I concur, enjoy, sip the wine, patronize as many restaurants as you can, MacDonald is abusing an already very abusive tax system and if your boys ask you for a Hamburger.....................put them on the first flight home to Granny !
One tip though, if you're driving in Nice, you want to keep your car and trunck locked even while driving. Car jacking has turned into a local trend.
You will come home, safe, having the satisfaction of having beaten the odds of survival and you'll see the look of admiration in your countrymen's eyes. As to your wife and kids they'll think of you are a mixture of Tarzan and Lord Montgomory ( I'd say this is worth the trip !!!
Allow me to just try something while droping by :
SCREW THE FRENCH !!!!!!! ( Danny, don't make me pay too high of a price for this, I'm still on bail !)
So that's what makes you tick ?? That's odd, I don't feel a thing.
I've just returned from a 4-day flying trip around Northern France- Lille, Reims and Calais(weathered in). There was no dicernable anti British feeling despite constant war coverage on French TV. The ATC man at Calais couldn't have been more helpful using his own internet access to update us on the weather.
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Jay Leno & David Letterman both host popular, late night talk-shows in the US. They are both well-know for their satircal comments on the Bush administration.
"President Bush announced tonight that he believes in democracy and that democracy can exist in Iraq. They can have a strong economy, they can have a good health care plan, and they can have a free and fair voting. Iraq? We can't even get this in Florida."
Jay Leno
"President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need the approval of the American voters to become president, either."
David Letterman
"Well, it looks like we've moved a step closer to war. Not with Iraq. With France and Germany. How did we screw that one up?"
Jay Leno
"As we head to war with Iraq, President Bush wants to make one thing clear:
This war is not about oil, it's about gasoline."
Jay Leno
"In a speech earlier today President Bush said if Iraq gets rid of Saddam Hussein, he will help the Iraqi people with food, medicine, supplies, housing, education - anything that's needed. Isn't that amazing? He finally comes up with a domestic agenda - and it's for Iraq. Maybe we could bring that here if it works out."
Jay Leno
"President Bush said this Iraq situation looks like 'the rerun of a bad movie.' Well sure, there's a Bush in the White House, the economy's going to hell, we're going to war over oil. I've seen this movie, haven't I?"
Jay Leno
"CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts ... regular, premium and unleaded."
Jay Leno
"The Pentagon still has not given a name to the Iraqi war. Somehow 'Operation Re-elect Bush' doesn't seem to be popular."
Jay Leno
"In an interview with Dan Rather, Saddam has challenged President Bush to a live, televised debate. I think this would be fair, since English is a second language to both of them."
Jay Leno
"President Bush announced tonight that he believes in democracy and that democracy can exist in Iraq. They can have a strong economy, they can have a good health care plan, and they can have a free and fair voting. Iraq? We can't even get this in Florida."
Jay Leno
"President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need the approval of the American voters to become president, either."
David Letterman
"Well, it looks like we've moved a step closer to war. Not with Iraq. With France and Germany. How did we screw that one up?"
Jay Leno
"As we head to war with Iraq, President Bush wants to make one thing clear:
This war is not about oil, it's about gasoline."
Jay Leno
"In a speech earlier today President Bush said if Iraq gets rid of Saddam Hussein, he will help the Iraqi people with food, medicine, supplies, housing, education - anything that's needed. Isn't that amazing? He finally comes up with a domestic agenda - and it's for Iraq. Maybe we could bring that here if it works out."
Jay Leno
"President Bush said this Iraq situation looks like 'the rerun of a bad movie.' Well sure, there's a Bush in the White House, the economy's going to hell, we're going to war over oil. I've seen this movie, haven't I?"
Jay Leno
"CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts ... regular, premium and unleaded."
Jay Leno
"The Pentagon still has not given a name to the Iraqi war. Somehow 'Operation Re-elect Bush' doesn't seem to be popular."
Jay Leno
"In an interview with Dan Rather, Saddam has challenged President Bush to a live, televised debate. I think this would be fair, since English is a second language to both of them."
Jay Leno
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well, first of all I'm French and would like to thank all the people here who made constructive answers....
I confess I'm rather surprised... because I've seen more anti-French messages on PPrune, than pro-French...
well...
Like everywhere else, we have our bunch of bastards.... but hopefully the majority will welcome British and American people warmheartedly... of course, behave like a respectful tourist, not like a conqueror, and everything would go fine !!
and you won't find here the strong and obvious patriotism you would find in the US for example...
concerning the violation of a British war cemetery.... given what was written on the gravestones, I' not deeply convinced this has been done by... let's say... long-time French-rooted "Gallic" people...
I confess I'm rather surprised... because I've seen more anti-French messages on PPrune, than pro-French...
well...
Like everywhere else, we have our bunch of bastards.... but hopefully the majority will welcome British and American people warmheartedly... of course, behave like a respectful tourist, not like a conqueror, and everything would go fine !!
and you won't find here the strong and obvious patriotism you would find in the US for example...
concerning the violation of a British war cemetery.... given what was written on the gravestones, I' not deeply convinced this has been done by... let's say... long-time French-rooted "Gallic" people...
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Bigmouth
Surely you must be jesting ?? Must you not ?
What is your definition of patriotism ?? Waving little flags on the road side shouting " blow the mother f....s to dust, yeah, way to go !!! Or I'll gut you !!! "
Well then, you are spot on, not much patriotism in France or in Europe.
Nationalism ??? Well, we just managed to build the EEC in about 50 years, 15 countries so far after 3 wars that depleted the whole of Europe of young men and that, if not for a few people's wisdom, would have been enough to start centuries of resentment. Not so.
I don't see a weed of nationalism there.
I'd kindly advise you to trot to the nearest Barnes and Noble store, history section, far corner to the right..........there you are, good boy ! You should find a few books to " enlighten " you a tad on world affairs.
Surely you must be jesting ?? Must you not ?
What is your definition of patriotism ?? Waving little flags on the road side shouting " blow the mother f....s to dust, yeah, way to go !!! Or I'll gut you !!! "
Well then, you are spot on, not much patriotism in France or in Europe.
Nationalism ??? Well, we just managed to build the EEC in about 50 years, 15 countries so far after 3 wars that depleted the whole of Europe of young men and that, if not for a few people's wisdom, would have been enough to start centuries of resentment. Not so.
I don't see a weed of nationalism there.
I'd kindly advise you to trot to the nearest Barnes and Noble store, history section, far corner to the right..........there you are, good boy ! You should find a few books to " enlighten " you a tad on world affairs.
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Any US or UK citizen is welcome here.
Personnally I am against this war; your leaders think differently , you may support it or not , you have your own reasons. But you are welcome here.
If you think we bother that much to insult people just because they are US or UK ... It's a bit sad.
Personnally I am against this war; your leaders think differently , you may support it or not , you have your own reasons. But you are welcome here.
If you think we bother that much to insult people just because they are US or UK ... It's a bit sad.
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The mayor British ?????!!!!!!
Where on earth did you see that ?? You must have confused him with Ken Linvingstone..........mayor of London.
Unless you are a french citizen, you are not allowed to vote and even less to hold public office.
Where on earth did you see that ?? You must have confused him with Ken Linvingstone..........mayor of London.
Unless you are a french citizen, you are not allowed to vote and even less to hold public office.
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Wallabie, thanks for knowing better than a Frenchman how it works here. Here's the official text:
Quelles sont les conditions pour être élu ?
- être de nationalité française (sauf pour les élections municipales et européennes, auxquelles les ressortissants d'un État membre de l'Union européenne résidant en France peuvent participer)
I will translate (not for you, obviously you speak French, it's a minimum to know how this country works)
Conditions to be elected (general elections)
-To be a French citizen (except for the council elections and for the European parliament, where any EU citizen residing in France can participate)
I guess UK is part of the EU. I confirm, there are British mayors in some French villages
Quelles sont les conditions pour être élu ?
- être de nationalité française (sauf pour les élections municipales et européennes, auxquelles les ressortissants d'un État membre de l'Union européenne résidant en France peuvent participer)
I will translate (not for you, obviously you speak French, it's a minimum to know how this country works)
Conditions to be elected (general elections)
-To be a French citizen (except for the council elections and for the European parliament, where any EU citizen residing in France can participate)
I guess UK is part of the EU. I confirm, there are British mayors in some French villages
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Concerning the original question, for YWIW
I too am planning a trip to France later this month, and am very much looking forward to it, despite current events.
I have always found the French, as individuals, to be very pleasant and friendly, even though I'm one of "those Yanks". I'm sure that you will have a very enjoyable time and not encounter any problems if your family sticks to normal rules of politeness (i.e. no loud-mouth shouting of political views, etc. ).
I have always found the French, as individuals, to be very pleasant and friendly, even though I'm one of "those Yanks". I'm sure that you will have a very enjoyable time and not encounter any problems if your family sticks to normal rules of politeness (i.e. no loud-mouth shouting of political views, etc.
).
Man of the Marsh
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One should not confuse national politics with individuals. French politics have been aggravating to "Les Anglos" since time immemorial, as no doubt have ours to them. We regard Napoleon as being on a par with Hitler, for the misery he inflicted on Europe, while France still holds him as a hero. A national difference.
As a Man of Kent having been raised closer to mainland France than to London, I have many lifelong froggie friends, and hospitality in France remains superb. You have nothing to worry about.
However, I wish they'd keep their hands off my wife . . . . . .AMEX!!!
(From last summer's Gatbash)
As a Man of Kent having been raised closer to mainland France than to London, I have many lifelong froggie friends, and hospitality in France remains superb. You have nothing to worry about.
However, I wish they'd keep their hands off my wife . . . . . .AMEX!!!
(From last summer's Gatbash)
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Bigmouth, I think you read the definition of "nationalism" backwards.
What Europe has achieved in the last 50 years, as wallabie (whose franco-french blood must boil with indignation 3MTA3 ) says, demonstrate it fought any kind of nationalism to build the Union. And I don't think the French are the ones who can be accused of flying solo...
Throughout Europe people demonstrate in the street against the war. What should the governments do? Like in Italy or Spain, where people hang flags outside the windows or make noise every day banging on pans outside their homes to show their contempt of a government who betrays its people?
Who's chosing egoistic economic interests against common interests?
What Europe has achieved in the last 50 years, as wallabie (whose franco-french blood must boil with indignation 3MTA3
) says, demonstrate it fought any kind of nationalism to build the Union. And I don't think the French are the ones who can be accused of flying solo...Throughout Europe people demonstrate in the street against the war. What should the governments do? Like in Italy or Spain, where people hang flags outside the windows or make noise every day banging on pans outside their homes to show their contempt of a government who betrays its people?
Who's chosing egoistic economic interests against common interests?
