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Going to France at the end of July ... (Page 2)
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 2012-07-22 7:16 PM in reply to: #4324087 |
Iron Donkey 38643       , Wisconsin |  Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ...MadMathemagician - 2012-07-22 12:55 PM 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-22 12:38 PM Thanks, everyone, so far, for reminding me to make sure to be on my best behavior, since I like to be smarmy at times (oh, really?). I have a free Android French translator app since I don't know beyond the basic "Thank you", "Good Night", and a couple of other things, but the host family Father and son do speak very affluent English. I'm sure they'll poke fun at me at times, all in jest. My wife and I just purchased a Canon EOS T3 DSLR and I'm learning as much as I can about it so as to take some great shots while out there. J'adore ton bon mots. Je les souris. A translator came up with the following:
WHAT??? |
| 2012-07-22 7:17 PM in reply to: #4324354 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... rkreuser - 2012-07-22 6:01 PM Dan-L - 2012-07-22 6:49 PM rkreuser - 2012-07-22 4:50 PM Dan-L - 2012-07-21 6:14 PM rkreuser -The French are afraid that the US culture will push theirs to the edge, or out of existence, which in part it might, but you can't tell them that, or behave like it's a given.....They were afraid that their language, and culture, would slowly erode. However, globalization happened, and the cat was out of the bag....so... ...the French have recognized this, so now it's not about protecting their culture - it's about protecting their pride. I read this post two hours ago and i'm still really aggravated and annoyed. I showed my wife and she just laughed. I'm not going to derail a nice thread so won't be replying again but it's astonishing. Afraid that the US culture will push theirs out of existence?? Interchanging globalisation with US culture?? You might speak both languages fluently but you understand nothing. How ironic. I guess we'll agree to disagree, and I'm sorry it annoyed you. There was no disrespect intended. My comments were based on living there in the 70's and 80's, and doing business there in the 90's and current decades, not just speaking the language. I bet I've spent 20-30% of my life there. It's my experience and opinion, backed up by about a thousand conversations about why things are they way they are with French citizens, business people, expats, and visitors. Including the CEOs of several large French companies, and living through the transition that France has gone through. I don't think I'm off base, but you're entitled to your opinions, other than it's hard to know what your opinion is, because you've chosen to bash me, rather than have a decent conversation. I'd appreciate it if you'd confine your comments to my views, not me personally, and if you'd like to offer anything more about what you don't think is accurate on on target, in your view, that would be much more helpful than attacking me without providing any constructive input. Thankyou in advance. I really don't think it's worthy of conversation, your view is based on a very solid batch of experience and I won't be changing your mind in a couple of posts, we're too far apart and I find your views extremely offensive (which is anyone's right of course, it's ok in this environment of free speech to have views that others find offensive IMHO - I don't expect or want someone not to express a view just because I think it's deplorable) However, I apologise for the tone of my post, I don't want anyone to think I'm attacking them personally as it's really not my style. That's cool, no worries. And Rick is a mod with close to 6300 posts on this site. Need I say more?? |
| 2012-07-22 8:00 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
Master 1970 Somewhere on the Tennessee River | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Perhaps I did not conjugate the verb sourire quite right. I smiled at your words. |
| 2012-07-23 9:00 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Airplane information should be a little easier - online checking is not straight-forward as it seems. GAH! |
| 2012-07-24 7:05 AM in reply to: #4267558 |
Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Bon voyage! J'espère que tu vas nous écrire un rapport de tes expériences après ton retour! |
| 2012-07-24 11:26 AM in reply to: #4327275 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... axteraa - 2012-07-24 7:05 AM Bon voyage! J'espère que tu vas nous écrire un rapport de tes expériences après ton retour! Je vais faire de mon mieux. (gotta love these online translation apps!) |
| 2012-07-24 8:25 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. |
| 2012-07-25 6:16 AM in reply to: #4328869 |
Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 10:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb that whenever I travel somewhere that I will have to exchange money (or will just be paying by CC and getting dinged there), the rates will swing wildly against me right before I leave and then return to normal when I get back. |
| 2012-07-25 6:40 AM in reply to: #4329203 |
Champion 6627 Rochester Hills, Michigan Gold member | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... axteraa - 2012-07-25 7:16 AM 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 10:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb that whenever I travel somewhere that I will have to exchange money (or will just be paying by CC and getting dinged there), the rates will swing wildly against me right before I leave and then return to normal when I get back. This one I can help with. For money exchange, don't use Thomas Cook - or any exchange office - to change money. Best plan? Use your ATM card when you get there. You'll get your bank's exchange rate, and at least with my bank, nothing more than a non-bank ATM fee, like $3.00. No exorbitant fees, no usurious rate. Most credit cards don't charge a foreign transaction fee, some do. Check with your CC provider for your setup. Again, if there's no extra fees ( Amex doesn't, one of my Visas does), then fire away with the credit card. |
| 2012-07-25 7:43 AM in reply to: #4329225 |
Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... rkreuser - 2012-07-25 8:40 AM axteraa - 2012-07-25 7:16 AM 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 10:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb that whenever I travel somewhere that I will have to exchange money (or will just be paying by CC and getting dinged there), the rates will swing wildly against me right before I leave and then return to normal when I get back. This one I can help with. For money exchange, don't use Thomas Cook - or any exchange office - to change money. Best plan? Use your ATM card when you get there. You'll get your bank's exchange rate, and at least with my bank, nothing more than a non-bank ATM fee, like $3.00. No exorbitant fees, no usurious rate. Most credit cards don't charge a foreign transaction fee, some do. Check with your CC provider for your setup. Again, if there's no extra fees ( Amex doesn't, one of my Visas does), then fire away with the credit card. Oh I agree 100%. But when the exchange rate goes against you right before your trip, the CC and/or debit card rate will follow suit. That was more what I was referring to. I don't think I've ever actually exchanged money at an exchange office of any sort. |
| 2012-07-25 9:45 AM in reply to: #4329225 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... rkreuser - 2012-07-25 6:40 AM axteraa - 2012-07-25 7:16 AM 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 10:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb that whenever I travel somewhere that I will have to exchange money (or will just be paying by CC and getting dinged there), the rates will swing wildly against me right before I leave and then return to normal when I get back. This one I can help with. For money exchange, don't use Thomas Cook - or any exchange office - to change money. Best plan? Use your ATM card when you get there. You'll get your bank's exchange rate, and at least with my bank, nothing more than a non-bank ATM fee, like $3.00. No exorbitant fees, no usurious rate. Most credit cards don't charge a foreign transaction fee, some do. Check with your CC provider for your setup. Again, if there's no extra fees ( Amex doesn't, one of my Visas does), then fire away with the credit card. Good tip! One problem, though - I gave up using an ATM card many, many moons ago. |
| 2012-07-25 12:40 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Speaking of credit cards in France, that reminded me of something. Maybe this was covered earlier, I didn't read carefully... If you have a rental car and are getting gas: 1.) make sure you know if you are driving a diesel or gas and "gazole" is NOT gas, it's diesel! 2.) the pumps would never accept my credit card for payment, they wanted a pin and wouldn't accept my regular pin. I just got in the habit of pumping and then paying inside. |
| 2012-07-25 2:09 PM in reply to: #4328869 |
Champion 14571 the alamo city, Texas | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 9:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. ummm, don't you want the euro to be cheaper while you are there??? therefore you get more for your dollar??? |
| 2012-07-26 2:47 PM in reply to: #4330212 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... mehaner - 2012-07-25 2:09 PM 1stTimeTri - 2012-07-24 9:25 PM Dear Euro: Your decline in monetary value is pizzing me off. You better start doing better in the next few days. ummm, don't you want the euro to be cheaper while you are there??? therefore you get more for your dollar??? You are correct. I was wrong in my statement. I just did a currency exchange, and have less Euro for my dollar - 1.27 exchange rate for Euro to dollar. Stupid Euro. ONE. MORE. DAY! |
| 2012-07-26 9:50 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Boarding pass!! I was allowed to upgrade to a "Seat Plus" for a window seat and extra leg room! Found that the seats were at the Exit row and bathrooms in front. Hmmmmmm, smelliness and people constantly going in and out of there (and me trying to squelch any mile high attempts for my son's sake). I think we'll stay in our assigned seats. |
| 2012-07-27 8:57 AM in reply to: #4267558 |
Champion 14571 the alamo city, Texas | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... bon voyage! |
| 2012-07-31 5:02 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... WHAT AN AWESOME COUNTRY!!!!!! I was able to take several photos of the mountainous area, rode in the lift up to Le Pic Du Midi and the observatory, and while in my host's car did a video of coming down in a section where the Tour cyclists would ride coming up to the top of the Pyrenees of Col du Tourmalet (amazing and quite dangerous). I'm still in awe. I purchased a Col du Tourmalet bike shirt and pants (yes, I'm a big time poseur now). Now, I really need to learn the language and this non-Qwerty keyboard!! |
| 2012-08-02 1:24 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Uh, some bathrooms, like at a theme park, are NOT really that separated for men and women - please excuse my embarrassment while you, Madam, stand there in the entry area facing the urinals while I'm going. |
| 2012-08-04 5:34 AM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Learned a swear word today!! |
| 2012-08-04 1:18 PM in reply to: #4267558 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... Shopping here is FUN! Clothes, food, whatever ... sure beats Wal-Mart anyday! |
| 2012-08-21 2:35 PM in reply to: #4346970 |
Pro 4578 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Going to France at the end of July ... I'm guessing that you are back now? Let us know what you saw. I spent one day in Toulouse and I loved it. |
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