Frenchmen

[sbryan]

I'm traveling through Europe here in a couple of months and I believe there are some well-traveled DVX users.

What mannerisms and what kinds of clothes are a dead giveaway that you're American?

What clothes do they wear over there? I've heard I should avoid wearing tennis shoes except when I go running... but that's about the only dress advice I've received.

[Hawk Teflon]

Not apparel wise, but bring toilet paper.

[JConnors]

What mannerisms and what kinds of clothes are a dead giveaway that you're American?

I'd suggest not wearing a pair of these.

http://plutoniumblond.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/rkd2.jpg

Why don't you want people to think your an american? I honestly think most places don't really care.

[sbryan]

I'd like to fit in as much as possible. Not that I mind being the outsider/tourist... I'd just like to make an effort to blend in since I'm spending four months in France and Italy.

I have those pants with Bush/Cheney '04 Stiched into the back. They won't be well received.

[ilauzirika]

I have those pants with Bush/Cheney '04 Stiched into the back. They won't be well received.

No they won't be well recieved....:Drogar-Evil(DBG):, just joking. I don't know how to diference people by their clothes...... Just wear some jeans and a normal not very atractive shirt and I'm sure no one will notice (not until you start talking in english with american accent, or french with american accent).

[Simon Höfer]

The clothing over here is still quite traditional. You can just shoot some animals and then you are fine :D
http://www.fwu.de/dbs/images/neandertaler.jpg

Well, but I can tell you that many frenchmen don't like english. they are proud of their language.

[Mark Harris]

I have one piece of advice about traveling in Europe: No matter what else you do, do NOT buy a pocket watch this this guy:

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/2939/1218226409.jpg

:)

[JConnors]

I have those pants with Bush/Cheney '04 Stiched into the back. They won't be well received.


I would literlly pay money to see you walk down a street in Paris with those on.

[ilauzirika]

Well, but I can tell you that many frenchmen don't like english. they are proud of their language.

True, I've been in some of those situations.........I started talking in english to ask for something (don't remenber what) and the man (he was a kind of recepcionist) didn't know english (which is pretty strange cause nearly everybody knows english at some extent) and he even look at me strangely.....

[Eastside Parkway]

I was trapped in France for 36 hours. No desire whatsoever to go back.

[Sad Max]

I have those pants with Bush/Cheney '04 Stiched into the back. They won't be well received.

I don't know.

People might enjoy kicking you there.

[J.R. Hudson]

hERE'S A GOOD OUTFIT

http://www.theparistraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/325007320_4e01a6dc97_m.jpg

[hvpz]

True, I've been in some of those situations.........I started talking in english to ask for something (don't remenber what) and the man (he was a kind of recepcionist) didn't know english (which is pretty strange cause nearly everybody knows english at some extent) and he even look at me strangely.....


Most young people (under 40 !) speak a minimun of english. The most difficult for us is your accent. Really hard for us to understand what you're saying, especially with Texans. But our poor accent is also for you such a pain !!

Regarding your clothes, excepted if you're a clown, you'll remain under radar.

Enjoy your stay. :-)

Most people get the month of August off here (between 3 or 4 weeks off) and
there is a festive, summer-vacation spirit in august, with many festivals.

[ilauzirika]

Most young people (under 40 !) speak a minimun of english. The most difficult for us is your accent. Really hard for us to understand what you're saying, especially with Texans. But our poor accent is also for you such a pain !!


I'm sure that most of the young french people know english, cause we need it to suceed in any job or just to communicate with friends in other countries....... For example english is really needed filmmaking.

About accents. Each country has its pronuntiation and some are easier to understand than others, this diferences can even happen in the same country (people from south speak differently than people from the north area........

Well, I'm spanish, but I also have problems when understanding french people's accent, for me is easier to understand an american or even an australian (sorry for this australians) than a french, I think that this is because french english accent is softer (well, the word is not softer, but I don't know how to tell) than other accents. And we talk louder, so is harder to understand people speaking soft.........

But, you know, after some years in any english speaking countries you are able to hide your accent at a great extent........(not my case).

It's a bit late and I don't know what I'm saying, if this post doesn't make any sense just skip it.......:)

BTW, Paris has some beautiful spots......

Hope you enjoy your stay in france.....

[slimchrisp]

I'm traveling through Europe here in a couple of months and I believe there are some well-traveled DVX users.

What mannerisms and what kinds of clothes are a dead giveaway that you're American?

What clothes do they wear over there? I've heard I should avoid wearing tennis shoes except when I go running... but that's about the only dress advice I've received.

where all are you going? just curious since i'm heading there myself in a few weeks. we're flying in to madrid, visiting family in santiago de compostela (who i've never met and don't speak english), then making our way up to paris.

hey hvpz, any insider tips on something i should check out in paris that i wouldn't know about from travel books?

ilauzirika, any advice on san sebastian? we're stopping there on the way to paris.

[ilauzirika]

ilauzirika, any advice on san sebastian? we're stopping there on the way to paris.

I've only been there 4 or 5 times,
The scenary is great you can have a walk on the beach (and visit the "peine de los vientos") then visit the old part of the town and eat some "pintxos".

Here you have a link (http://web.jet.es/thori/Donostienglish.htm) for some info in english.

http://www.whatsansebastian.com/
(http://www.whatsansebastian.com/)

I've been once in Santiago and I liked it.

[slimchrisp]

thanks! this week we're putting together a list of cities we're going to visit. i'll check out those links. my wife was there 8 years ago, but only for a night and really wants to go back. can't wait.

i know san sebastian is in basque country, but will i be able to get by with spanish?

[ilauzirika]

i know san sebastian is in basque country, but will i be able to get by with spanish?

Yes, no problem, Spanish is stronger than basque, everybody speaks spanish but not everyone speaks basque, so no problem.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I was trapped in France for 36 hours. No desire whatsoever to go back.I was trapped in a bus terminal once. Didn't really want to go back in there either.

Being trapped anywhere sucks. Now being able to enter and leave at your own free will is usually a better experience. :D

[Eastside Parkway]

I was trapped in a bus terminal once. Didn't really want to go back in there either.

Being trapped anywhere sucks. Now being able to enter and leave at your own free will is usually a better experience. :D

Yeah, but unfortunately, every person I interacted with fit the stereotype like a glove. I'm sure France is a beautiful place but I can't deal with people like that.

I'd rather just go back to New Zealand.

[Sad Max]

Were you trapped in Paris? Because Paris <> France...

[Eastside Parkway]

Well I was stuck in Paris because the entire transportation industry was on strike. I rented a car and drove to Italy, so I met quite a few rural folks as well.

[JasonFox]

If our trip to Italy was any indication, you should wear red capri pants. Yes, as a man.

Tennis shoes on women are definitely a give-away.

[OldCorpse]

Yeah, but unfortunately, every person I interacted with fit the stereotype like a glove. I'm sure France is a beautiful place but I can't deal with people like that.

I'd rather just go back to New Zealand.

Funny, I had the exact opposite experience in France, every time I've visited. The friendliest people anywhere - much, much, much friendlier than the Germans for example (who seemed to me horribly rude and unpleasant - really the worst Europe has to offer, in my experience). Even the famous snooty Parisian waiters didn't seem to have any "attitude". Of course, generalizations are seldom accurate - France is changing and so is Germany and all of Europe (and the world!) - there are places in France I never go to, mainly the heavily crime-ridden areas where immigrants from Northern Africa predominate, and I suppose like anywhere in the world (including the U.S.) if you find yourself in one of those bad areas you may get a very unpleasant experience (so this is not a racial, ethnic or religious etc. issue).

[slimchrisp]

Funny, I had the exact opposite experience in France

i second that. i was in nice 4 years ago, and everyone seemed to go out of their way to be friendly. that goes for italy and spain as well. italy was probably the most extreme in that manner, as far as friendliness goes. i think you get what you give.

of course, there are gonna be some a holes everywhere i guess. maybe i've just been lucky thus far.

[Simon Höfer]

The friendliest people anywhere - much, much, much friendlier than the Germans for example (who seemed to me horribly rude and unpleasant - really the worst Europe has to offer, in my experience).

Shut your mouth bastard!








j/k.... I don't like the most germans as well :D But I don't feel like a real german at all. I don't really fit into our society.

I just came back from the yearly parish fair in my town. Jeeez, I felt so uncomfortable and left after 30 minutes! All those customs and false community friendship... :zombie_smiley:

Well, here are also some really nice folks, but they are the minority in my eyes.

[ugafan]

j/k.... I don't like the most germans as well :D But I don't feel like a real german at all. I don't really fit into our society.


admit it simon, you're american at heart.

[hvpz]

hey hvpz, any insider tips on something i should check out in paris that i wouldn't know about from travel books?


Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what travels books are recommending to see, to visit, to eat...

But being on dvxuser and if you're in Paris before/until 08/17, you can go to "cinema de plein air" at La Villette (north east). People is going to picnic and watch movies on a big screen in the park. People is very friendly and it's one of the best way to meet Parisians.
http://solere.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/cin_en_plein_air.jpg

Here, the screening schedule : http://www.villette.com/images/PDF/programmecine2008.pdf
(As usual it's eclectic and you can see great movies from 1910 to nowadays (about 50% US movies (subtitled in french) but also Spannish, German, Italian, Japanese and French movies of course) )
ex : August 14th - A classic : Gilda with the gorgeous Rita Hayworth.

The best way to go there is by walk along canal St-Martin (captured just below)
http://www.travelphoto.net/a-photo-a-day/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/paris-photos-0050-1-800.jpg



Just off the top of my head things I supposed not (yet) in travels books :

To have a drink (bars and cafés) : "Rue Mouffetard" which was at the origin a Roman road !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rue_Mouffetard,_Paris

Walks :
* The "Planted Stroll" (2.5-mile) that locals call "La coulée verte" a viaduc turned into a suspended garden.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_plant%C3%A9e (with pictures in the links)

*La "Nouvelle Athènes" in the 9th arrondissement close to Pigalle ! Often overlooked, this is a quiet and small aera (only 3 streets !!) which worth the walk. Many artists and musicians lived there, including Berlioz, Chopin, George Sand, Jean Cocteau, Delacroix and Guillaume Apollinaire.
http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60805024/paris-athens.html

The 3 streets :
rue de la Tour-des-Dames (beautiful houses)
rue de La Rochefoucault (the museum Gustave Moreau is there (in his house/atelier) if you like this painter)
rue Saint-Lazare


You can also perhaps look at this site "walks in unknown Paris" (unfortunately in french)
http://www.parisinconnu.com/promenades/index.htm
ex : on n°2 - historical Paris, you have 12 propositions (parcours) of walks (on the right in the sub menu) .


Just 2 pics for the pleasure (from beautiful galleries depicting Paris => http://www.pbase.com/didierv/paris)

From "paris_en_couleurs" gallery => http://www.pbase.com/didierv/paris_en_couleurs

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/87/415087/2/49523582.IMG_8778editedlo.jpg

And "paris_city_of_light" gallery => http://www.pbase.com/didierv/cityoflight

http://k53.pbase.com/o6/87/415087/1/72748934.9zKaEbsl.PanoLouvrelo.jpg

(Btw, from the gallery "paris_sans_couleurs" => http://www.pbase.com/didierv/paris_sans_couleurs (pic 7th row, third column= - A stop at Café Le Nemours at the Palais Royal is highly recommended (even if more bourgeois !!))

Hope this helps (at least a little !!)

Enjoy your stay ;o)

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

admit it simon, you're american at heart.So he is an ahole! :Drogar-Love(DBG):






Just kidding for those of you without a sense of humour.

[slimchrisp]

Hope this helps (at least a little !!)

it helps more than just a little. we won't be there until the end of september, so we'll miss some of the things you mentioned, but plenty more in your post.

:dankk2:

[Erik Olson]

We went to France with the kids this summer. If you're asking what to wear to look less conspicuous, I'm going out on a limb and assuming that you know little if any of the French language.

Do whatever you can to learn some key phrases and how to apologize in French for knowing so little of their language. It will go farther than you can imagine. In the Provencial regions, you'll find that people dress in the European manner. You are likely to see men in proper slacks and sometimes in jeans. Not a lot of shorts. I don't wear pants when it's hot, so I rocked shorts. But I don't care about looking like a tourist. That's what I am. I always try to be a good ambassador and act as a courteous and gracious guest. That'll go a lot farther than disguises and fakery.

France is an amazing country. Have a great time!

e