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Post by christina on Apr 23, 2007 15:04:31 GMT -5
CD is a teacher too! Paris is a fun city, though I haven't been since I was 14 so it wasn't much use then. I'd much rather explore the slightly smaller French cities and beautiful countryside these days. Brittany and the Deux Sevres regions are so gorgeous I can't wait to go back in the summer. The immersion in another culture and not knowing what the fuck anyone is saying is the most fun part. And as long as I can buy a pastry from the local patisserie, I'm happy. Come back with those pics soon, Justin Dolly
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Post by Citizen Pakaki on Apr 24, 2007 6:14:19 GMT -5
Yeah, seems like I've read that quite a bunch of us here are teaching these days.
I'd much rather explore the slightly smaller French cities and beautiful countryside these days.
Me too. We took a day trip to seem the castles of the Loire Valley and half the fun was seeing the towns and farms along the way. Here, just about every community is dying to be just alike with their gas stations and fast food joints and etc. etc. It was refreshing to see something different.
One of my proudest moments was entering a tiny Parisian bread shop and successfully buying apple tarts by stringing together all of the French language I could muster.
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Post by chem 1 on Apr 24, 2007 7:58:53 GMT -5
For my money, Bordeaux is the best french city.
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Post by christina on Apr 24, 2007 11:28:47 GMT -5
Bordeaux certainly makes some damn fine wine.
One of my proudest moments was entering a tiny Parisian bread shop and successfully buying apple tarts by stringing together all of the French language I could muster.
Haha - this was me a few weeks ago successfully buying a pain raisin and a tarte au citrone from the patisserie! It's always a result when they don't answer your poor attempt at French in contempt-laden English.
Your journey sounds lovely, CD. Hoping to do a similar kind of exploration ourselves in the summer hols. This first time though was just an introductory exercise so we knew how to stoke up the fires, change the gas canisters, and the like. Gorgeous little cottage the fella's folks have got - and we have the use of it whenever we like. I could quite get used to the relaxed French lifestyle. Oh yes.
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Post by Citizen Pakaki on Apr 25, 2007 6:03:22 GMT -5
It's always a result when they don't answer your poor attempt at French in contempt-laden English.
ha, yes, exactly. This happened to me when I asked to use the restroom in the Bon Marche department store. Of course it ended up being a tiny little room on the highest floor in the far corner.
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Post by mark on Apr 25, 2007 8:44:16 GMT -5
For my money, Bordeaux is the best french city. Bordeaux is great, and you can't beat good cheap wine, but I like the areas around Nice better. Not Nice necessarily, but the smaller towns, like St. Raphael. The people are so lazy, it's like you're in Spain.
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Post by Citizen Pakaki on Apr 25, 2007 15:14:28 GMT -5
haha, I like Mark's quote at the bottom.
I didn't get to actually experience a lot of the smaller towns, just drive through them or make a stop or two. Sounds nice, though. If I get to go back I'll definitely check them out.
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Post by christina on Apr 25, 2007 15:18:51 GMT -5
It's always a result when they don't answer your poor attempt at French in contempt-laden English. ha, yes, exactly. This happened to me when I asked to use the restroom in the Bon Marche department store. Of course it ended up being a tiny little room on the highest floor in the far corner. It wasn't a 'french toilet' then? I.e. a hole in the ground? That's just uncivilised.
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Post by christina on Apr 25, 2007 15:23:21 GMT -5
haha, I like Mark's quote at the bottom. I'd say Liam Gallagher was being ironic with the bright bunch comment, but I doubt he's capable. I don't think there were many brain cells left in the family coffers after Noel took his share.
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Post by Citizen Pakaki on Apr 25, 2007 15:26:45 GMT -5
It think it was just a very long hole towards the ground.
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Post by christina on Apr 25, 2007 15:30:36 GMT -5
Dirty dirty Frogs.
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Post by chem 1 on Apr 27, 2007 14:07:00 GMT -5
It's always a result when they don't answer your poor attempt at French in contempt-laden English. ha, yes, exactly. This happened to me when I asked to use the restroom in the Bon Marche department store. Of course it ended up being a tiny little room on the highest floor in the far corner. It wasn't a 'french toilet' then? I.e. a hole in the ground? That's just uncivilised. The hole in the ground is not nearly as common in France as people think. Its also a lot more sanitary than most people think.
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Post by Citizen Pakaki on Apr 30, 2007 12:55:12 GMT -5
Yeah actually I didn't see any "holes in the ground" toilettes.
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Post by christina on Apr 30, 2007 14:22:17 GMT -5
They're definitely out there. But they're getting less common these days. In public conveniences you'll often find one remaining 'hole in the ground' and some regular cubicles.
What I found really fascinating though was those urinals in the middle of the street, totally open except for a chest-high screen. Managed to snap one while we were in Colonges. Locals probably wondered what the hell the weird English girl was doing photographing street stalls.
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Post by christina on Apr 30, 2007 14:23:24 GMT -5
How long do you reckon we can keep up a thread about French loos for?
There's a challenge, if ever there was
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