Im going to paris. does anyone know french or is french? how beautiful is it/is there something i should know?

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erock247

They are nice, but not to you. they do speak english, but not to you. Occasionally you will get a nice waiter that will flatter you, probably at a nicer restaurant, and always in hopes of a good tip, which is not the custom there. You are not expected to tip, and don't think because you left 13 cents on the table, that they will be gracious. I recommend a chain of restaurants called Chez Clement. There are a few in Paris, and the decor is funky and arty. Great menu selections also. (In English too!) They have pretty normal food too, but seem fond of salmon for some reason. The baguettes are fresh and warm in the early morning and the chocolate croissants or "pain au chocolate are great. My favorite beer there is Grimbergen Blonde, from Belgium, and my favorite thing about the city is the old architecture. Most structures are made of limestone or marble or granite, and have stood the test of hundreds of years without too much damage, and good restoration. Being from Boston, which is considered an old city by american standards, it is humbling to see a cistern under the Louvre that has been there since the 1300's. Take a bateau mouche ride, the fly boats go up and down the Seine River, and turn around up near the Eiffel Tower, go at dusk when it is all lit up. Some boat rides even offer a dinner cruise deal.
It is customary to always say Bonjour! as you enter a store, and when leaving as well. Don't worry they aren't going to start yapping at you in French, they just always say Bonjour. Au Revoir is good bye, and Merci is thanks, De Rien is your welcome. Pardon is excuse me, and that's all you really need to know. Oh, It is EXPENSIVE too.

Cabal

French people do not smile. It isn't because they hate you, it is because it isn't polite to smile to a stranger. That seems to irritate Americans tremendously for some reason. And as Erock says Bonjour, au revoir are mandatory.
If you come in summer you will be at the peak of tourist season, you will find more foreigners than French, and more French than Parisians. They are either on holiday or hiding in the back streets. And alas, the period where waiters are the most grumpy, that is true.
The city itself is beautiful. Walk around, this is a city to be enjoyed on foot. Look up as well, the front of the buildings can be funny, beautiful, interesting. Walk around in the evening, the buildings are lit up, soft yellow light that enhance the soft tone of the limestone.
You can probably get frog legs and escargots but you will find more often staples of more common French food, plenty of salads too which are enough for a full meal. French meal that is, there's much less food in your plate in France than in the States. If you feel courageous try the steak tartare, raw meat with an egg, onions, and different sauces.
Where you have tourists - 70 millions visitors in France last year - you have vultures. Keep you bag in front of you, keep it close and in crowded areas a hand on it is best. You won't be assaulted, Paris is safe, but there's nimble fingers working the crowds.

Enjoy your visit, this is a beautiful city well worth the visit.

Alex G

Hello,
I live in France and have lived in Paris.
Paris is very nice to see,there is a few things you can't miss :
- la tour Eiffel
-la rue des champs-ElysГ©es
-l'arc de triomphe...
For the food well the french food is very good and very varied
Well people in Paris are a little arrogant not very nice ...
butt not everyone is like that !!

and personally yes its worth going !!

have a good trip !
nevagas

tcoJCoLDS member

learn to speak French, regular food, you know, bread, cheese, meat, potatoes, pasteries. If you don't learn to speak French they will be either irritated or amused . It is beautiful but learn to speak before you go

wow, you sound fabulously uninformed about France for someone who is about to go there! knowing some french helps...getting a map of the Metro so you can get around...getting a tourist guide...and for sure they eat A LOT more than just frog legs and escargot--those are stereotypes. is it worth going? i have no idea how much fun you will have there as i don't know what type of person you are, but it seems like you would have a much better time if you were more of a fan of France in the first place! the people are not especially nice to Americans, which is why it helps to know a little bit about how to get around on your own.

Sweet Lilies & Lavender

I went a few years ago. It really is amazing and breath taking. My advice to you, Take lots of pictures, and explore everything! I tried snails for the first time while I was there...=)

Also, our curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers do not work there. It is a different type of voltage. You might want to ask if there are any converters. Have fun.

Misty

you might want to go to freetranslations.com

but u might also want to make sure u have correct pronounciations cause (salut-hi) and the meaning for pig..kind of like calling someone a slu* here sound alot alike. so i recommend not saying salut at all.
u should say *sil vous plait* and *merci* alot because they tend to be nicer if u do.

if ur taking the bus u might want to buy alot of tickets for one day because every time u change buses u need a new ticket.

Philipe L.

Personally, I think Paris is very romantic, and I would go there!

brother_lu

it's great.. just try and speak any if you know it and at least put some effort into it. if you try to speak their language, they will usually appreciate it and start speaking english. it's when you don't try to speak french is when they become snooty french.

they have awesome food... and even the cheap outdoor cafe's are nice and elegant.

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