50 random things I have learned about France:
1. We have (had) Wonderland, Adventureland and Luna Park. They have Festyland. Festy!
2. Speed limits are for tourists.
3. Each area has a designated day off, it is just difficult to work out which one.
4. Road rules ... see point 2.
5. There is a pharmacy on every corner.
6. If there is a view, they will destroy it with wind turbines or signs or power poles etc.
7. Nothing stops lunch, 12 - 2pm, minimum.
8. Public holidays are actually public holidays and nothing is open.
9. Every town and village, no matter how small, has a weekly market and a mayor.
10. Every town and village, no matter how small, has a church and a town hall.
11. Nobody speaks English until you demonstrate how bad your French is.
12. Everything closes on Sunday at lunch.
13. Their roses are beautiful and brightly coloured but have no perfume.
14. The wine region (terroir) is more important than the grape variety.
15. There can't be anyone left in England because they are all in the south of France operating Gites.
16. If part of your car fits, then you can park there.
17. In Lourdes there is a discotheque called My Lord. (No, seriously there is).
18. Their wine bottles still have corks. Old school.
19. There are dogs everywhere and they accompany their owners everywhere.
20. Mind your step. See the above point.
21. The narrower the street, the faster you drive and the bigger the truck you meet.
22. Side mirrors on cars have a 'fold-in' option for a reason.
23. Fresh food abounds, but limes, chillies and green prawns are difficult to procure.
24. Sustainable is important in food and power.
25. A Roman ruin is just around any corner.
26. Bicycles have right of way on the road or the footpath.
27. Signs are like bike lanes in Sydney, they begin and end without warning and don't actually take you anywhere you want to go.
28. Community is really important.
29. 'The Revolution' is a justification for the defacement and graffiti-ing of just about anything.
30. The bread is the BEST! Tasty, crunchy and not that white. Love baguettes.
31. Motor bikes inhabit the footpaths of Paris and find them a positive alternative to the road to avoid red lights.
32. The stairs are steep ... everywhere.
33. People in wheelchairs don't ride the Metro because there are no lifts or escalators at many stations.
34. Parisiennes are cold and rude is a myth. They have been lovely and helpful - again.
35. The national food of France is the same as that of Australia: pizza.
36. Hospital food is the same everywhere.
37. The give way to the right rule is wrong. It's like giving way to the left in Australia.
38. All insurance companies are the same. They only pretend to care. It's all about money.
39. OHS? What's that? How refreshing that you have to take responsibility for your own actions (stupidity). I'd like to see more of that at home.
40. Take-away (aside from the viral fast food chains) is pretty much limited to pizza. Fish and chips is non-existent.
41. Watching French TV is like a trip back in time to the 1980s.
42. The French do not understand the meaning of the word 'slowly' when speaking or driving.
43. There needs to be an education program regarding the use of public toilets.
44. There also needs to be an education program around littering, just like there was in Australia in the late '70s.
45. Soap holders in showers and toilet roll holders are not particularly common. Curious.
46. Road rage exists everywhere. Two drivers got out of their cars and caused a massive 'bouchon' on one of the Seine bridges. Gendarmes had to break it up.
47. Modes of transport to work in Paris are many and varied, aside from the obvious. Roller skates and blades are not uncommon, but the dude in the suit and tie on a razor scooter made me laugh.
48. Wine can be purchased just about everywhere: wine shops, supermarkets, service stations, the corner store ... that is cool.
49. European rain. Pfft. What is it? It's like the spray from the car in front when they're cleaning the windscreen. Annoying and inconvenient maybe, but that's it.
50. Wannabe a Parisien? Buy a jacket, scarf, satchel and baguette. The beggars and gypsies leave you alone then. If you wannabe a Parisienne, swap the satchel for a chien.
 |
| Even the sandwich shops are festy! Who'd eat there? |
2. Speed limits are for tourists.
3. Each area has a designated day off, it is just difficult to work out which one.
4. Road rules ... see point 2.
5. There is a pharmacy on every corner.
6. If there is a view, they will destroy it with wind turbines or signs or power poles etc.
7. Nothing stops lunch, 12 - 2pm, minimum.
8. Public holidays are actually public holidays and nothing is open.
9. Every town and village, no matter how small, has a weekly market and a mayor.
10. Every town and village, no matter how small, has a church and a town hall.
11. Nobody speaks English until you demonstrate how bad your French is.
12. Everything closes on Sunday at lunch.
 |
| 13. |
14. The wine region (terroir) is more important than the grape variety.
15. There can't be anyone left in England because they are all in the south of France operating Gites.
16. If part of your car fits, then you can park there.
17. In Lourdes there is a discotheque called My Lord. (No, seriously there is).
18. Their wine bottles still have corks. Old school.
19. There are dogs everywhere and they accompany their owners everywhere.
20. Mind your step. See the above point.
21. The narrower the street, the faster you drive and the bigger the truck you meet.
22. Side mirrors on cars have a 'fold-in' option for a reason.
23. Fresh food abounds, but limes, chillies and green prawns are difficult to procure.
24. Sustainable is important in food and power.
25. A Roman ruin is just around any corner.
 |
| No entry ... except bikes. (26) |
27. Signs are like bike lanes in Sydney, they begin and end without warning and don't actually take you anywhere you want to go.
28. Community is really important.
29. 'The Revolution' is a justification for the defacement and graffiti-ing of just about anything.
30. The bread is the BEST! Tasty, crunchy and not that white. Love baguettes.
31. Motor bikes inhabit the footpaths of Paris and find them a positive alternative to the road to avoid red lights.
32. The stairs are steep ... everywhere.
33. People in wheelchairs don't ride the Metro because there are no lifts or escalators at many stations.
34. Parisiennes are cold and rude is a myth. They have been lovely and helpful - again.
35. The national food of France is the same as that of Australia: pizza.
36. Hospital food is the same everywhere.
37. The give way to the right rule is wrong. It's like giving way to the left in Australia.
38. All insurance companies are the same. They only pretend to care. It's all about money.
39. OHS? What's that? How refreshing that you have to take responsibility for your own actions (stupidity). I'd like to see more of that at home.
40. Take-away (aside from the viral fast food chains) is pretty much limited to pizza. Fish and chips is non-existent.
41. Watching French TV is like a trip back in time to the 1980s.
42. The French do not understand the meaning of the word 'slowly' when speaking or driving.
43. There needs to be an education program regarding the use of public toilets.
44. There also needs to be an education program around littering, just like there was in Australia in the late '70s.
45. Soap holders in showers and toilet roll holders are not particularly common. Curious.
46. Road rage exists everywhere. Two drivers got out of their cars and caused a massive 'bouchon' on one of the Seine bridges. Gendarmes had to break it up.
47. Modes of transport to work in Paris are many and varied, aside from the obvious. Roller skates and blades are not uncommon, but the dude in the suit and tie on a razor scooter made me laugh.
48. Wine can be purchased just about everywhere: wine shops, supermarkets, service stations, the corner store ... that is cool.
49. European rain. Pfft. What is it? It's like the spray from the car in front when they're cleaning the windscreen. Annoying and inconvenient maybe, but that's it.
50. Wannabe a Parisien? Buy a jacket, scarf, satchel and baguette. The beggars and gypsies leave you alone then. If you wannabe a Parisienne, swap the satchel for a chien.
Hi Jayne and Brad
ReplyDeleteI hope all goes well with the cutting of the cast. Many blessings for an uneventful trip home.
Love
Mary
Thanks Mary, all went well. Just finalising that post now.
ReplyDeleteWe had a good laugh at this - priceless!
ReplyDelete*May we add that in France you get a choice of tourist brochures/guides/audios etc in English or American????
*Paul said something about bra-less-ness not being confined to galleries alone??? Don't know what he was looking at in and around the streets of Paris?!!