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[Durien]

Hey all,

So I have been in Paris for about 4 days now. Some interesting things I noticed.

I find the people friendly but sometimes lol, funny experiences. We went to the Conciergerie today. I try to ask in french if it was the place where Gojira played. Lol it was so terrible she literally says in English, "I have no idea what you are saying. I speak English." In perfect English. So I ask again and she got kind of excited and was telling me where it was and how to get a good picture of the location.

We ate at one location next to the Conciergerie and it was a good experience. Again I tried my best to order in French, waiter was super accommodating. Super friendly. He was getting visibly irritated at the people not even attempting to speak French.

One interesting thing, we ate at the Versailles Palace and they asked us to tip.

Food is good, baked goods are awesome. France needs to sit down and join the rest of the world when it comes to ice. When it is 90+ degrees, drinking room temp water is not refreshing. But the water tastes better than other countries and even some of the other states I have been to.

The train. So I have been spoiled with my trips to Japan. I think AI runs their connection app because a regular human being is not going to go 800m in 2 minutes =/ we missed a couple of connections trying to run from one train to the next. The other; the trains NEED to say what they are on the outside. Several times we are wondering if it was the right train because there was nothing on the outside to validate it.

I can see the allure of Paris, for the young, as at night it is a pretty hopping place. Along the Seine there were djs going well into the morning.

Google maps...Holy f'ing crap...what is up with Google maps? So I plug in directions to X. Google has me all over the map. Cross this street to get back on the street to cross again to go back to the street I was on. Not only that, say I wanted to go to the Conciergerie from my hotel. It would tell me to go a couple blocks east then go west adding time and confusion. I am still using ATT as I have international in my data plan. Usually I would just plug in the location and make my own way over to the marker.

Laundry facilities. My wife and I walked 20 minutes to find a Lavari. No laundry facilities in our hotel, but that is on us. They have the service but not the machines. (We are used to going to resorts where they have machines).

Grocery stores. So we have been to 2 and I think we haven't been to a real store yet. We have been to Monoprix which is like hmmm a better mini mart I guess (but holy cow the amount of produce) we qent to another one that is more grocery store (can't remember the name) much better selection.

Will add to this.

Lol We are washing my clothes, which is how I have time to write this. One thing that really gets my goat though are the perfume baths. Dude. I was on the train next to someone one who i think soaked in perfume over night. My eyes were burning, I could barely breathe. And it happens often. I don't understand this.Can't they smell themselves??

 

[666]

 

[Insane Metal]

Come on lol.

I'll read it later, gonna take a nap now. Good for you to be there brother. Or not.

 

[John Marston]

Have fun as I live vicariously through you mon ami

 

[RJMacready73]

Hey all,

So I have been in Paris for about 4 days now. Some interesting things I noticed.

I find the people friendly but sometimes lol, funny experiences. We went to the Conciergerie today. I try to ask in french if it was the place where Gojira played. Lol it was so terrible she literally says in English, "I have no idea what you are saying. I speak English." In perfect English. So I ask again and she got kind of excited and was telling me where it was and how to get a good picture of the location.

We ate at one location next to the Conciergerie and it was a good experience. Again I tried my best to order in French, waiter was super accommodating. Super friendly. He was getting visibly irritated at the people not even attempting to speak French.

One interesting thing, we ate at the Versailles Palace and they asked us to tip.

Food is good, baked goods are awesome. France needs to sit down and join the rest of the world when it comes to ice. When it is 90+ degrees, drinking room temp water is not refreshing. But the water tastes better than other countries and even some of the other states I have been to.

The train. So I have been spoiled with my trips to Japan. I think AI runs their connection app because a regular human being is not going to go 800m in 2 minutes =/ we missed a couple of connections trying to run from one train to the next. The other; the trains NEED to say what they are on the outside. Several times we are wondering if it was the right train because there was nothing on the outside to validate it.

I can see the allure of Paris, for the young, as at night it is a pretty hopping place. Along the Seine there were djs going well into the morning.

Google maps...Holy f'ing crap...what is up with Google maps? So I plug in directions to X. Google has me all over the map. Cross this street to get back on the street to cross again to go back to the street I was on. Not only that, say I wanted to go to the Conciergerie from my hotel. It would tell me to go a couple blocks east then go west adding time and confusion. I am still using ATT as I have international in my data plan. Usually I would just plug in the location and make my own way over to the marker.

Laundry facilities. My wife and I walked 20 minutes to find a Lavari. No laundry facilities in our hotel, but that is on us. They have the service but not the machines. (We are used to going to resorts where they have machines).

Grocery stores. So we have been to 2 and I think we haven't been to a real store yet. We have been to Monoprix which is like hmmm a better mini mart I guess (but holy cow the amount of produce) we qent to another one that is more grocery store (can't remember the name) much better selection.

Will add to this.

Lol We are washing my clothes, which is how I have time to write this. One thing that really gets my goat though are the perfume baths. Dude. I was on the train next to someone one who i think soaked in perfume over night. My eyes were burning, I could barely breathe. And it happens often. I don't understand this.Can't they smell themselves??

Dude I created a thread for Gaff who are out and about in interesting places to post up a few photos... Paris is a gorgeous city been 3 times, last I stayed in the Hotel De Crillon, what a place so throw up some Picts for the rest of us, some of us like to see what others are up to around the world..

 

[IDKFA]

One interesting thing, we ate at the Versailles Palace and they asked us to tip.

They did that because I'm assuming your American? Tipping in France, or any European country isn't mandatory.

European nations actually pay their service staff a livable wage and if I'm not mistaken, in France a 15% service charge is already added to the bill.

The only time I've been asked for a tip in any European city was in Rome, but that's because they thought I was American. As soon as I explained I was English and my wife was Polish, they apologised for asking for a tip and gave me the bill.

Anyway, glad you're enjoying Paris. I've been many times as my cousin lives there. I think I dislike more each time I go. Some areas of Paris feel like stepping into another country and the scam artists/pick pockets get more brazen every year.

 

[Trunx81]

Last time I've been to Paris in summer, everything smelled like piss.
The streets. The people. The train stations.

 

[EviLore]

Wait staff will fish for tips from American tourists in Paris. Usually not in the rest of France. Don't feel obligated.

 

[Trilobit]

All you need to learn to say is: "Chew a tree unnnghhhh (make this face) cross ant"

 

[Liopleurodon]

 

[Durien]

Last time I've been to Paris in summer, everything smelled like piss.
The streets. The people. The train stations.

There are definitely some areas that smell...interesting but it definitely isn't all of Paris.

Oh on the laundry front. To dry our clothes you have to buy 8 minute increments...it qas 1€40 for 8 minute increment. Our card company is going to be like wtf are these charges?

 

[Liopleurodon]

I actually read it, although I missed a few parts for some reason.

Low attention span I guess.

 

[German Shocks]

 

[Sticks]

Did you fight the scammers and illegal immigrants

 

[Durien]

Did you fight the scammers and illegal immigrants

So I have not been to the Eiffel tower yet. My son is tooling around with his high school friend who is stationed in Germany. They went out last night and he said someone came up to him with a conversation like this:

Someone: Hallo hallo my English isn't very good. Give me money.

His friend: why?

Someone: because um give me money.

 

[jason10mm]

Hey all,

So I have been in Paris for about 4 days now. Some interesting things I noticed.

I find the people friendly but sometimes lol, funny experiences. We went to the Conciergerie today. I try to ask in french if it was the place where Gojira played. Lol it was so terrible she literally says in English, "I have no idea what you are saying. I speak English." In perfect English. So I ask again and she got kind of excited and was telling me where it was and how to get a good picture of the location.

We ate at one location next to the Conciergerie and it was a good experience. Again I tried my best to order in French, waiter was super accommodating. Super friendly. He was getting visibly irritated at the people not even attempting to speak French.

One interesting thing, we ate at the Versailles Palace and they asked us to tip.

Food is good, baked goods are awesome. France needs to sit down and join the rest of the world when it comes to ice. When it is 90+ degrees, drinking room temp water is not refreshing. But the water tastes better than other countries and even some of the other states I have been to.

The train. So I have been spoiled with my trips to Japan. I think AI runs their connection app because a regular human being is not going to go 800m in 2 minutes =/ we missed a couple of connections trying to run from one train to the next. The other; the trains NEED to say what they are on the outside. Several times we are wondering if it was the right train because there was nothing on the outside to validate it.

I can see the allure of Paris, for the young, as at night it is a pretty hopping place. Along the Seine there were djs going well into the morning.

Google maps...Holy f'ing crap...what is up with Google maps? So I plug in directions to X. Google has me all over the map. Cross this street to get back on the street to cross again to go back to the street I was on. Not only that, say I wanted to go to the Conciergerie from my hotel. It would tell me to go a couple blocks east then go west adding time and confusion. I am still using ATT as I have international in my data plan. Usually I would just plug in the location and make my own way over to the marker.

Laundry facilities. My wife and I walked 20 minutes to find a Lavari. No laundry facilities in our hotel, but that is on us. They have the service but not the machines. (We are used to going to resorts where they have machines).

Grocery stores. So we have been to 2 and I think we haven't been to a real store yet. We have been to Monoprix which is like hmmm a better mini mart I guess (but holy cow the amount of produce) we qent to another one that is more grocery store (can't remember the name) much better selection.

Will add to this.

Lol We are washing my clothes, which is how I have time to write this. One thing that really gets my goat though are the perfume baths. Dude. I was on the train next to someone one who i think soaked in perfume over night. My eyes were burning, I could barely breathe. And it happens often. I don't understand this.Can't they smell themselves??

How much like Paris and how much like a north african market is it? My wife is going there on a girls trip next spring and feels like she is about to enter the third world, not the height of culture.

 

[Durien]

How much like Paris and how much like a north african market is it? My wife is going there on a girls trip next spring and feels like she is about to enter the third world, not the height of culture.

I think it is where you choose to go and stay. We are staying in the super touristy Saint Germaine district so I don't see a lot of the immigration issues. I have seen some sketchy back alley stuff, again trying to use google maps.

 

[jason10mm]

Wait staff will fish for tips from American tourists in Paris. Usually not in the rest of France. Don't feel obligated.

I don't understand why they think I'm american?????

 

[Uberman77]

How are you coping with the reek of garlic, onions and cowardice?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

It's like Gamefaqs all over again

Hey all,

So I have been in Paris for about 4 days now. Some interesting things I noticed.

I find the people friendly but sometimes lol, funny experiences. We went to the Conciergerie today. I try to ask in french if it was the place where Gojira played. Lol it was so terrible she literally says in English, "I have no idea what you are saying. I speak English." In perfect English. So I ask again and she got kind of excited and was telling me where it was and how to get a good picture of the location.

We ate at one location next to the Conciergerie and it was a good experience. Again I tried my best to order in French, waiter was super accommodating. Super friendly. He was getting visibly irritated at the people not even attempting to speak French.

One interesting thing, we ate at the Versailles Palace and they asked us to tip.

Food is good, baked goods are awesome. France needs to sit down and join the rest of the world when it comes to ice. When it is 90+ degrees, drinking room temp water is not refreshing. But the water tastes better than other countries and even some of the other states I have been to.

The train. So I have been spoiled with my trips to Japan. I think AI runs their connection app because a regular human being is not going to go 800m in 2 minutes =/ we missed a couple of connections trying to run from one train to the next. The other; the trains NEED to say what they are on the outside. Several times we are wondering if it was the right train because there was nothing on the outside to validate it.

I can see the allure of Paris, for the young, as at night it is a pretty hopping place. Along the Seine there were djs going well into the morning.

Google maps...Holy f'ing crap...what is up with Google maps? So I plug in directions to X. Google has me all over the map. Cross this street to get back on the street to cross again to go back to the street I was on. Not only that, say I wanted to go to the Conciergerie from my hotel. It would tell me to go a couple blocks east then go west adding time and confusion. I am still using ATT as I have international in my data plan. Usually I would just plug in the location and make my own way over to the marker.

Laundry facilities. My wife and I walked 20 minutes to find a Lavari. No laundry facilities in our hotel, but that is on us. They have the service but not the machines. (We are used to going to resorts where they have machines).

Grocery stores. So we have been to 2 and I think we haven't been to a real store yet. We have been to Monoprix which is like hmmm a better mini mart I guess (but holy cow the amount of produce) we qent to another one that is more grocery store (can't remember the name) much better selection.

Will add to this.

Lol We are washing my clothes, which is how I have time to write this. One thing that really gets my goat though are the perfume baths. Dude. I was on the train next to someone one who i think soaked in perfume over night. My eyes were burning, I could barely breathe. And it happens often. I don't understand this.Can't they smell themselves??

It sounds okay, but city stuff ain't for me. I'm more of a rural kind of gent

 

[Nocty]

Did you fight the scammers and illegal immigrants

you realise all the crap you see on Musk's social media algo is nonsense? france is nothing like these right wing retards will have you believe.

 

[Sticks]

Cmon now

 

[Fbh]

I went to Paris for a couple days like 10 years ago.

Spoke to everyone in English, everyone did their best to reply in English, I never felt like anyone got upset or offended about me as a tourist not knowing french aside from a few words like hello, thank you, etc. The service in restaurants and tourist attractions was mostly good.

So I've never understood that stereotype about people in Paris being super rude if you don't speak French. At least in touristy areas.

 

[RJMacready73]

How much like Paris and how much like a north african market is it? My wife is going there on a girls trip next spring and feels like she is about to enter the third world, not the height of culture.

I never seen anything sketchy in all my times in Paris, these YouTubers and click bait artists no doubt pick extremely specific places, in my walks all around the Lovure, Galeries Lafayette etc it was exactly like any big European city, have we imported a bit too many "other cultures" sure but it's a massive city and my wife whose as right fucking wing as you can get lol loves the place so it's not completely overrun just yet, your wife and and friends will have a great time, tell them to treat themselves to high tea at the Hotel de Crillon or the many other proper 5* hotels, they'll have a ball

 

[RJMacready73]

I went to Paris for a couple days like 10 years ago.

Spoke to everyone in English, everyone did their best to reply in English, I never felt like anyone got upset or offended about me as a tourist not knowing french aside from a few words like hello, thank you, etc. The service in restaurants and tourist attractions was mostly good.

So I've never understood that stereotype about people in Paris being super rude if you don't speak French. At least in touristy areas.

Fully agree, this was my stereotype the first time I went and it couldn't be further from the truth, then again once they knew I was Irish and not English they did go above and beyond lol those old rivalrys don't die easily

 

[p_xavier]

Carrefour is the best value for your money IMO when in France. Lidl also.

Also there's an English menu which has a higher tab with tip. So speak French if you can.

 

[The_hunter]

The Louvre has lots of nice pieces, when I went it was packed.

 

[Durien]

Today we hit Mt Saint Michel, Friday is the Louvre. We lost a day when Delta cancelled our flight over. I have flown for over 40 years and this was the first time I ever had a flight cancelation.

 

[p_xavier]

Also

Today we hit Mt Saint Michel, Friday is the Louvre. We lost a day when Delta cancelled our flight over. I have flown for over 40 years and this was the first time I ever had a flight cancelation.

Mt Saint-Michel (there's one in the UK too) might be the best place to visit.

 

[EviLore]

So I've never understood that stereotype about people in Paris being super rude if you don't speak French. At least in touristy area

The thing about France is that most people are fine, but there's 5% or so who are the rudest people on planet Earth. That little subset's special brand of arrogant and malicious rudeness will leave an indelible mark on you once you meet them. There's a much higher concentration of them in Paris than elsewhere in the country. Many French people specifically hate Parisians as well, so it's not just tourists.

 

[Durien]

So we were in Versailles Palace looking at the art:

13 year old daughter: "Why are all these woman painted with their bazonkers hanging out? I guess they had to find a way to get paid somehow."

 

[German Shocks]

Can't they smell themselves??

The French are the smelliest peoples on Earth, and they compensate by drowning themselves in eau de toilette or parfum.

 

[p_xavier]

The French are the smelliest peoples on Earth, and they compensate by drowning themselves in eau de toilette or parfum.

We called them pâté-chinois in the 90s, cause they layed so many odors.

Anyways OP. Do Catacombes, it really puts life in persepective.

I guess you did Versailles? That is really nice.

 

[p_xavier]

Once in Paris in a restaurant, I was talking to my cousin. The waiter said, you seem happy, you must be Canadian. Sums up the experience.

 

[Nocty]

Cmon now

youtubers like this have been called out plenty of times for setting up these kind of videos for clickbait and even worse.

Musk has specifically set up his algo to promote anti migration content, amplify videos showing violence against white europeans while actively suppressing similar crimes in european cities comitted by native peoples. It's all a game of smoke and mirrors to manipulate political ends. If you cannot see that at this point the algo has you hook line and sinker.

One of the worst such cases is the south African guy who actively winds up African and middle eastern immigrants off camera before turning the camera on when they rightly tell him to fuck off filming them without their consent and plays the victim, He's been caught multiple times handing them money to 'misbehave' when he goes live. These people make a living deceiving naive people that think their content is actually organic, unknowing they are being farmed for clicks and engagement via ragebait.

The times when awful prices of shit end up killing people like the young guy on the news recently gets amplified by the bots while ignoring the thousands of other such cases in europe which by and large has always had cases of extreme violence committed by it's own native people.

I've been all over the world in the military so have seen my fair share of culture and I have never seen more friendlier places than france, japan, warsaw, berlin just to name a few..

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

France would be a great country wihout French people.

 

[lifa-cobex]

Stealth "i went to see Gojira" thread.

 

[Toots]

Hope you'll have great vacations OP but it seems right on the way for it !

For those who don't know, Mont Saint Michel is actually pretty far from Paris (325km) and not the type of thing you go visit when you are in the capital. But it is a truly magnificent site, so good for you to get to visit.

As the boss said, anyone who asks for a tip does it because you are english speaking. Feel free to tell them to fuck off. Also be mindful when you pay by card, because nowdays there is a legal scam when you pay that asks you if you want to round up the sum you owe to the upper euro to give to ongs. It is low sums but it is a scam and can add up quick if you only pay by card. Just be careful it is the amount you owe that is written on the screen and not anything else.

Enjoy the bords de Seine, there are lots of free activities to do. Also go to canal Saint Martin to see everyone having fun and swimming in the canal. And don't forget the parcs, there are beautiful ones. Buttes Chaumont, Jardin Botanique, Jardin des Plantes, Jardin d'acclimatation, etc.. You can picnic there without trouble and see beautiful flowers and animals.

At night there are also tons of concerts and stuff to do for those who don't want to listen to a dj.

https://supersonic-club.fr/#

This club here has a lot of free rock concerts almsot everyday of the week, and there are numerous ones like it.

Dm me if you need anything, i'll be happy to help a fellow gaffer.

 

[AJUMP23]

Is this about the town in Texas?

 

[Toots]

youtubers like this have been called out plenty of times for setting up these kind of videos for clickbait and even worse.

Musk has specifically set up his algo to promote anti migration content, amplify videos showing violence against white europeans while actively suppressing similar crimes in european cities comitted by native peoples. It's all a game of smoke and mirrors to manipulate political ends. If you cannot see that at this point the algo has you hook line and sinker.

One of the worst such cases is the south African guy who actively winds up African and middle eastern immigrants off camera before turning the camera on when they rightly tell him to fuck off filming them without their consent and plays the victim, He's been caught multiple times handing them money to 'misbehave' when he goes live. These people make a living deceiving naive people that think their content is actually organic, unknowing they are being farmed for clicks and engagement via ragebait.

The times when awful prices of shit end up killing people like the young guy on the news recently gets amplified by the bots while ignoring the thousands of other such cases in europe which by and large has always had cases of extreme violence committed by it's own native people.

I've been all over the world in the military so have seen my fair share of culture and I have never seen more friendlier places than france, japan, warsaw, berlin just to name a few..

The truth is if you look dumb enough to become a target for those type of people without you antagonizing them first, you must be looking extremely dumb.

As OP's son experienced most time they will come and try their "give me money" schtick and just leave when you say no. Of course a few of them are worse but it is the minority.

 

[p_xavier]

France would be a great country wihout French people.

Well not many French people left, is it now?

 

[MarV0]

you realise all the crap you see on Musk's social media algo is nonsense? france is nothing like these right wing retards will have you believe.

Sounds like the OP had the upper mid class experience of Paris.

Me and my wife visited Paris when we were in our early twenties while saving for a mortgage. We had to take the subway, stay in a affordable hotel and avoid anything expensive. We were harassed by illegals constantly, the subway was overrun by cylon visors that hadn't discovered deodorant yet and we were served really bad food by third worlders.

That was more than a decade ago and the experience was so shockingly bad that we vowed to never visit again. Can't imagine how bad it is now unless you're rich enough to avoid the third world that has taken over.

 

[Nocty]

Sounds like the OP had the upper mid class experience of Paris.

Me and my wife visited Paris when we were in our early twenties while saving for a mortgage. We had to take the subway, stay in a affordable hotel and avoid anything expensive. We were harassed by illegals constantly, the subway was overrun by cylon visors that hadn't discovered deodorant yet and we were served really bad food by third worlders.

That was more than a decade ago and the experience was so shockingly bad that we vowed to never visit again. Can't imagine how bad it is now unless you're rich enough to avoid the third world that has taken over.

man this is just not reality

One bad experience in one random part does not tar the entire city. There are shit parts of every city on earth. God, I was in new york in the 80s and it was ROUGH as a motherfucker, even worse than it is today. Doesn't have anything to do with race or nationality man come on.

 

[Nocty]

The thing about France is that most people are fine, but there's 5% or so who are the rudest people on planet Earth. That little subset's special brand of arrogant and malicious rudeness will leave an indelible mark on you once you meet them. There's a much higher concentration of them in Paris than elsewhere in the country. Many French people specifically hate Parisians as well, so it's not just tourists.

accidental double post, but this is a thing in England as well. My appearance in certain parts of London gives very noticable responses of snobbery and 'tuck your chain in' vibes cause they think they are about to get robbed. It's almost always middle aged white folks that are convinced every black person is a thief. It goes beyond that though, wealth snobbery and the rudeness towards serving staff in restraunts in london is rife.

 

[MarV0]

accidental double post, but this is a thing in England as well. My appearance in certain parts of London gives very noticable responses of snobbery and 'tuck your chain in' vibes cause they think they are about to get robbed. It's almost always middle aged white folks that are convinced every black person is a thief. It goes beyond that though, wealth snobbery and the rudeness towards serving staff in restraunts in london is rife.

Yeah London has also turned into a shit hole lagging Paris only by a few years. We had to move (more like flee) twice as the neighbourhood got overrun by moped gangs, kebab shops and Turkish barbers knee deep into organised crime.

All the people we knew also fled into commuting towns. Couldn't care less what you think. Observing reality and acting accordingly is pragmatism, nothing more.

 

[p_xavier]

How much like Paris and how much like a north african market is it? My wife is going there on a girls trip next spring and feels like she is about to enter the third world, not the height of culture.

It's really bad. I wouldn't spend time in Paris these days as it's basically a dump. I've been to France 17 times and spent one year near Saint-Nazaire in middle school. The regions are much much better. Normandy is great (Mont Saint-Michel), Loire also (castles, especially Angers) were my favourites.

 

[EviLore]

Normandy is great yes. Very welcoming people too.