| Author | Message | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 748 Registered: 2-2002 |
Dave: As you said, you stayed in a tourist area. That makes a big difference. I could go into a long-winded discussion of my travails, but the point of fact is I wasn't treated with the same respect as I showed to the French. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 997 Registered: 1-2002 |
Actually, my wife & I have been to Paris twice. Both times we were treated with as much courtesy as we showed--which was a lot. The first time, in 1992, we did not stay at a high $$ hotel, and the only problems we had were (a) almost asphyxiating on all the cigarette & diesel smoke (and they're lecturing US about air p[ollution?? LOL!!) and (b) a major language & attitude barrier as we were trying to get help in a Matro station on which line to take from the ticket booth employees. Other than that, everyone was nice. The 2nd time, in 2000, we stayed at a high $$ hotel, and it was just the same. We took taxis & not the Metro this time, and had a wonderful time all over the city. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you can have a wonderful experience in Paris most of the time by trying to blend in, and showing humility in your attempts to communicate---and this is no different from the experience a French person would have in New York w/o a good grasp of English: mostly a good experience, interspersed with the occasional •••••••. ;) | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 743 Registered: 2-2002 |
I went to Le Mans in 1998. I flew to Paris and met some friends there. We rented a motorhome and drove to Le Mans for the race. The race was a fantastic experience, but the treatment I received from the French, both at the track and in Paris, was atrocious. I stayed in a non-tourist area in Paris, so I didn't receive the gold star treatment tourists who are spending big $$$ receive. Prior to that experience I didn't have negative feelings toward them, but now I know how childish and jealous they really are. | ||
| Jesse Hoffman (Hoffmeister)
New member Username: Hoffmeister Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2002 |
Haha. Good one. I've lived in Europe for over 5 years now and the worst time I've EVER HAD IN MY LIFE was New Year's 2001 in Paris! I've hated France ever since then. I can see now that it wasn't unfounded  | ||
| Marq J Ruben (Qferrari)
Member Username: Qferrari Post Number: 285 Registered: 2-2002 |
Loved it, Dave. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 992 Registered: 1-2002 |
A lady bought a new Lexus, and returned the next day, complaining that the radio didn't work. The salesman explained that the radio was voice- activated. "Watch this!" he said..."Nelson!" The radio replied, "Ricky or Willie?" "Willie!" he continued....and "On The Road Again" came from the speakers. She drove away happy, and for the next few days, every time she'd say, "Beethoven", she'd get beautiful classical music, and if she said, "Beatles!" she'd get one of theirs. One day, another driver ran a red light and nearlycreamed her new car, but she swerved in time to avoid him. "A$$HOLE!" she yelled..... The French National Anthem began to play. |