Part Four: Ten do’s and don’t’s for the Anglo-Saxon visitor to France #france #french

Posted on Jun 13, 2019 by TanGental

Do go.

Don’t go via Calais unless you hail from Redditch in which case the comparison will be positive

Do try and speak the language

Don’t try too hard to speak the language because you won’t understand the answer – no nation slurs its words together quite like the French

Do try all foods and drinks on offer.

Don’t ask what they are or where they came from or how they were made, unless you ask in perfect French – see above

Do escape the main cities and enjoy the fabulous countryside

Don’t try and leave Paris via the Peripherique since once on the orbital bypass you will never escape its Faustian clutches

Do expect to find yourself, at least once, confronted by one or more of: Les gillet jaunes blocking access to your hotel; signs with ‘en greve (on strike)’ in the window of the vital service you need that morning; the CRS blocking access to your hotel; students/workers/professionals/civil servants/rodent support groups blocking access to your hotel in protest at the government

Don’t think the French are any different to any other nation in the world; know they are and be grateful they are. After all, when considering who one might have as neighbours, at least we’re not Canadian…

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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26 Responses to Part Four: Ten do’s and don’t’s for the Anglo-Saxon visitor to France #france #french

  1. trifflepudling says:
    Jun 13, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    Very cheering on such a dull, cold and wet day!
    Definitely avoid La France and Les Français during periods of unrest. My mother insisted she remembered farmers catapulting frozen chickens at Le Ministère de l’Agriculture de l’Agroalimentaire et de la Forêt in the 7th arrondisement during a dispute!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. John W. Howell says:
    Jun 13, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    I was fortunate to get into the countryside and found it lovely. Your dos and don’ts are right on.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. JT Twissel says:
    Jun 13, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    Driving in or out of Paris is definitely Faustian. This will date me but I was in France when De Gaulle died and the whole country shut down – you couldn’t even make a phone call. And it was like that for at least three days.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Erika Kind says:
    Jun 13, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    Haha, you made me laugh so hard, Geoff. How I can relate to most of your points. We went to England via Calais once. I had to add another Don’t: Don’t stay in a hotel less than 3 stars… you may die from disgust.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. willowdot21 says:
    Jun 13, 2019 at 8:29 pm

    I know the Peripherique well, or not depending on how you look at it 💜. Is dog with you 💜

    Liked by 1 person

  7. derrickjknight says:
    Jun 14, 2019 at 10:12 am

    A useful list. Starting a conversation is particularly rash

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Elizabeth says:
    Jun 14, 2019 at 9:37 pm

    What is wrong with Canada? (I have dual citizenship.)

    Like

  9. Widdershins says:
    Jun 15, 2019 at 2:36 am

    ‘…at least we’re not Canadian…’ … it does get a bit, trying, at times.

    Like

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