What comes to your mind when i say France?

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maka

snails
then there is the food as well

nicealbanyguy

We went to France about 6 months ago and had a great time. The French folks in Paris treated us wonderfully. They did not like their own President or Bush. The riots were just slowing up and we ate dinner one block away from the student riots and felt very safe. They would sing - throw a rock and drink wine then sing throw a rock and sing and then go home. The students won .

We took the high speed train to Neimes and the Frenchmen and women were all great to chat with in either English or French.

We had rented a house in southern France from some friends who owned it in Albany NY and we drove all over southern France in the Cathar Region and just had a great time. The only thing I can say bad about french food is forget the beef but everything else they make to eat is great.

On the last night in the town we were staying at - 4 of us went to a local bar. I don't think they had seen Americans there since World War 11. We drank and played pool all night Free. The bartender gave us Free beer and wine and they treated us royalty.

I would go back again - France is an interesting country and the people there were very kind to us. To answer you question - we went to France because we were able to rent a house there and get to know the local population and culture and both my wife and speak French from having it in high school and college.

Hope this helps you with you report. By the way don't believe that the French people are arrogant or rude. They all treated us with open arms and were very helpful and friendly. Naturally the wine is wonderful

x SexySian x

Waking up in the morning to the aroma of strong coffee along with freshly baked croissants, mmmmm they taste so good...
Also walking around paris is a great adventure, good food, shops etc...

lily_sammie

When I think of France I think of warm weather, pretty houses, fashion, wine and well dressed women. I also think of people power as the French are great at protesting if they don't like something, which I think is a good thing. On the downside I think of heavy and oily food and dog poo on the streets! I love France though, it is a beautiful country.

LostChocolateMuffins

I think it's funny how one or two "rude" experiences from a French person can set the standard for the population of an entire country, in some people's minds. Did you ever think that the tourists (who probably know less about it then the people who live there) could be the rude ones...?

As for your answer... Food is the first thing that comes to mind. France seems to be the food capital of the world in my opinion. Now you're every-day tourist might not appreciate that, so food might not be the best thing to catch their attention. If you're looking for tourist motivation, then maybe mention the different areas of France. You have Paris (a city option), the Cote d'Azur (a summer option), the Alps (for winter visits), and then the Pyrnees is another draw for tourists.

emi79

France brings to my mind the traditional buildings of it like, Le Tour Eiffel, Le Louvre, Le champs Elysee, the wide river with calm waters and ships in it, the good chocolate, elegance, french language etc.
There are a lot of things to see in France, things that have influence the world architecture, things which have inspired a lot of artists to create movies, poems, books.
I would like to go there, because I like classic places! More classic than Paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brummy

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP COMPARING FRANCE WITH PARIS!!!!
Paris is not France and all french people are not parisians! If you've all only been to Paris, you've met the most horrible people in the world!! There are 60 000 000 french in France, and just a couple of millions in Paris. Paris is beautiful, has the eiffel tower, the champs Ã©lysÃ©es, but it is just one city out of 36 000 cities and villages with lovely people. Travel in France. Paris is just a tourist camp.

Well. Now, when you say France, I think of red Provence wines, Auvergne's cheeses, nice wheather in the south, wild seashore in Brittany, Choucroute in Alsace, Sarko soon elected :-(, the bl**dy endless strikes in trains, buses...
It is also the country who welcame a part of my grand parents who ran away from their country where they were persecuted; the country of the human rights, social and medical protection...

wemysslad

to be honest the first thing i think of is my very first boyfriend as he is from france swoon... other than that what made me want to go to france was to see paris and the sites which make it so famous. its true when they say just having a coffee outside cafe and watching the world go by is a great experience.

Chroma

Beautiful architecture and museums, elegant avenues, great shops, food, wines... Fantastic country and sea scapes, intelligent people and interesting people...

cherub

Well I lived there for 6 years and I guess the main factor for going back is to see friends. However the culture of food and wine is big, the language, the charming countryside with castles, the friendly people, the climate, not too far away, History and culture are motivating factors for Paris. Great camping facilities for family holidays. Good luck with your assignment. I am studying tourism too and did one on France but it was more geographical and holiday based than what you're doing. Have my exams now.

bottomburps

Dancing in the street in Paris with an italian on new years eve. The waiters stopped the traffic for us!

Wandering about looking in all the designer shop windows.

Crawling along the top level of the Pompideu Centre (I'm really scared of heights!)

My mate trying to run through the catacombs (she gets very claustrophobic!) with me hanging on to her for dear life because it was really slippy!!

Eating some amazing food and hanging out in some fab bars.

Katie

Mmmmmm- great food, sitting drinking coffee in pavement cafes, brilliant markets (even brilliant supermarkets!) beautiful countryside, the culture in general is good... can't wait to go back...

Katheryn - why the f**k should they speak english to you? You sound like the kind of arrogant ignorant Brit abroad (for Brit read - English) that makes me glad to be able to identify myself as a Scot in France and watch their attitude change from hostile to welcoming.

Go to France to see Jim Morrison's grave? yeah - you can join the rest of the beer swilling litter dropping morons in Pere Lachaise ignoring the graves of people like Chopin and Oscar Wilde and treating the cemetery with no respect. Idiot.

And people - not being big fans of America is not an exclusively French phenomenon - it's pretty global these days - more to do with the US's aggressive foreign policy than being French...

*Jgsummer*

luuuv 2 go there!!!!! the yummy sweet desserts n the tower n n also the fashion all the clothes frm there n n n also d little towns n streets oh n also a visit 2 lourdes!! mostly luv 2 go 2 experience the summer up there!!!

venus8926

I think about my family in Alsace, how I would love to go back and stay there.
I also think about Paris and sitting over by the Seine, overlooking Notre Dame, drinking vodka with a very beautiful Russian man. Doesn't get much better than that!
I think about Audrey Tautou and the other amazing actors, actresses, and artists from France.

Stareyes

I think of sidewalk cafes, crepes and the Eiffel Tower. I basically think of the beaty of France even though I have never actually visited there.

Duchess Ella

French women in long overcoats holding bags of grocery, with a baguette sticking out, walking on a cobblestone street.
Sidewalk cafes next to the Seine, the air full of the aroma of coffee. Couples kissing on the bank of the river.
Climbing up 700+ steps to get to the top of Tour Eiffel, and the view of Paris at sunset. (I did that TWICE!)
Window shopping on Champs-Elysees, at shops where I'd never be able to afford buying a scarf.
Lavender fields and the lovely sunshine in Provence.
The houses, small and short, with crampy staircases and brightly coloured walls and doors. (Think: Amelie's flat)
(I live in a place so crowded that I think I've only seen houses 10 times here in my whole life)
The sound of French words dancing in my ears gently.
The vast number of beautiful museums, chateaux, cemeteries, etc. where I can spend days walking around.
Seeing Monet's waterlilies and Japanese bridge in Giverny, and Van Gogh's olive trees in St. Remy, and Picasso's Avignon...

Perhaps what I have in mind is an idealized France? But I've been there already, and still love it enough to keep going back, and seeking out these images.

Oh, and I cannot stress enough France does not equal to Paris. Even though the only place I've been to is Paris (and Versailles) I do actually know that, and that is why I'm going to Provence and perhaps Toulouse this summer.

And for people who think non-English speaking French people are arrogant... now who's being arrogant? What makes you think everyone in the world who knows a bit of English has to speak to you in English? I believe travelling to a place is in order to experience the real life and culture there, not to force your own values onto somewhere else. Lots of French people just melt when tourists try to say a simple "bonjour" - that's not hard, is it?

Pennypitstop

I think a lot of people, like me, see France and particularly Paris as a place that they must visit in their life. It's reputation for culture, art, beauty, romance and it's fabulous wine make it very attractive- I think a lot of people simply want to find out if the hype is true! ...and hope to have an experience which fulfills some of their dreams of the place. For me, I look forward to trying to make use of the six years I learnt French and love the notion of travelling alone to Paris and immersing myself in a culture which seems to be more free and uninhibited, or mature, than lots of other western cultures. Paris has been sold by the movies as very chic and sophisticated place for all time...have you seen Sex & the City? What woman wouldn't love to see the glamourous Paris depicted in the final season?

charlienoble92001

All the girls in France
You can see their underpants
And the way they shake
Its enough to kill a snake.
:)

SuzyBelle04

Paris, French perfume, baguettes, berets, La Sorbonne, l'Arc de triomphe, le tour eiffel, sidewalk cafes, wine, le TGV, the french Revolution..........i can go on and on.........both my grandmothers are French, but only one has ever been there.............she loved it and said she would go back anytime........she wanted to take my sister and brother and I but her mom got sick so we did not go. my friend just spent 4 months there studying abroad and staying in youth hostels and with a host family...............it was thru the student exchange program at the university we go to. he loved it and enjoyed every single day he was there, but said he was glad to finally come home just because the culture was so different and he missed his car!!!!

~â™¥OzZâ™¥~â„¢

snails and crossaints

neil desperandum

Berets, bicycles, striped shirts, bunches of onions, cheese, baguettes, wine, frogs legs, snails, accordion players, TGV, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee, Paris, Nice, Roeun, Mont Blanc and the list goes on..............

BillyCorgan

underpants

pete m

far too many illegal immigrants,well here in paris anyway.that aside its a beautiful country.most of the french are nice and friendly but alot live up to their stereotyped name...

Julieann

Pick pockets on the subway. My school group got robbed when they went. I love landmarks and architecture so L'Arc de triumphe and the Eiffel tower would appeal to me. Shopping would be wonderful but I probably couldn't afford it.

tennessee

France is not what it used to be.
There are still some nice people left.
A lot of them hate Americans.
The wine and food is great.
People are a lot nicer out in the countryside.
There is dog poop everywhere on the streets.lol
The little cafes are so cool and the coffee is strong.
The wine is fabulous.

I,m not too impressed by the French, I was in Dublin in February for the six nations rugby game between Ireland and France, the french men were so horrible they thought it was their given right to grope any female who came close to them. Before you say anything it was the majority of the male supporters who were there that tried to grope and feel me and my friends along with other females who were out trying to have a good time.
I would love to go to Paris but only to see Jim Morrisons grave, other than that I could give France a wide berth, A

elhelo_abdo

evil tower

Wine and rude wimps

barbara c

Dont like the french.

Katheryn R

i think france is shite! soz for the language but it is. i have been there too many times for my liking. the ppl never stop at crossings, altho neither do some other countries. they r rude. they dont bother to speak the slightest bit of english if you struggle with french, i mean, we all know they know it so why do they hide it!
and frankly the weather there is usually just as bad as the UK!
and i do travel and tourism at college, and wld not recommend france, unless u r stockin up on booze! does that help ur little experiment? hehe

chasmol

Been to France, didnt like it, people arrogant and rude.

What comes to your mind when i say France? pic 1
What comes to your mind when i say France? pic 2

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