License plates
were long and the last two digits designated the province or region.
Water was
drinkable everywhere.
The lack of
protective gear/devices/rules was noticeable and most prominent at the Cognac
cooperage.
Most bike paths
were about a meter wide and could be scary when meeting an oncoming biker.
In the French
countryside we never saw a McDonald’s---had to get to Bordeaux for that.
On another trip to
France I learned quickly how important it is to always greet someone with Bon Jour before any further conversation.
It is considered very rude to just approach someone and start talking. Twice I
forgot this courtesy, did get my answer, but in a very curt way.
Public
transportation, especially the metro/ trains, are convenient, quick, clean and
prompt and easy to follow. Doors on the train do not automatically open when
stopped. One needs to press down the handle. Sure felt stupid the first time we
went to get off standing in front of the closed door. An old-timer helped us
out.
Site/museum
tickets are easily obtained from cigar shops.
We
saw young people in jeans but older women were always in a skirt or dress even
in the gardens or fields.
One scarce
item was toilets, and when we did find them they were not all that clean or
well equipped. We ran into a couple male/female
water closets equipped with both male and female urinals in the same
open spaced room. We learned early that female urinals are very common and
there is a technique to flushing them!
People
outside the big cities who were involved in the tourist industry spoke enough
English to get by, but others spoke little or no English. Generally the French
were pleasant, helpful, friendly and honest. Often they were talkative with a
desire to improve their English language skills.
The
people in the Normandie area are very pro American and never have forgotten
what we did for them in WW II. They are very friendly to Americans. We ran into
and talked to some really interesting people as we traveled around the area in
our van
No comments:
Post a Comment