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From: boren@randvax.UUCP (Pat Boren)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: paris, france
Message-ID: <2826@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Dec-85 12:57:09 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2826
Posted: Tue Dec  3 12:57:09 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 16:44:11 EST
References: <874@ihlpa.UUCP> <13400011@uiucdcs> <2313@amdahl.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 29


I was in Paris twice this past September, a couple weeks apart.
We had a great time our first pass through -- got along knowing
really no French, but not expecting the Parisiens to speak
English.  Sometimes I'd use a Spanish word, sometimes I'd point,
and other times I'd simply butcher a French word, but I always
managed to communicate.  (I only used English if I was spoken
to in English first, which many waiters did.)  Also, I was in
a happy mood and tried to smile and act pleasant, and I'm sure
that helped.

Our second pass through was every tourist's nightmare.  At the
train stations and tourist offices, the information booths have
signs up saying "English spoken," but do you think that applies
to any of the rude bunch on duty?  A typical situation:  you
ask in English which metro to take to Versailles, and you get
an answer in French like "gauche" -- left.  The left metro?!
You try for a further explanation, and the guy leaves his post
for another customer behind you.

I have friends who swear Parisiens are ok, and I have friends
who will never return there (and in fact, cut short their stay).
So, I guess it just depends, and I don't know on what.
-- 


		Patricia Boren
		decvax!randvax!boren
		boren@rand-unix.arpa