What should my wife bring me from France?

[Manedwolf]

In France's defense, there ARE some nice, decent, quiet people there, but they're generally in the south, in the farming areas. There, there's NICE people, conservative, hardworking and all. You don't hear about them...because they're quiet. Pretty little villages, been the same way for hundreds of years, don't want to be bothered.

It's the deliberately-unemployed layabouts that make all the noise in Paris and the like that have caused the international stereotypes. And not undeservedly so. The government at the top, yes, has their fingers in all sorts of nasty dictators' financial pies.

[Dannyboy]

The people of Paris aren't anti-American so much as they are anti-anyone not from Paris.  They, like many New Yorkers, tend to think they are better than everyone else.  As Manedwolf stated, the people down south are much nicer, even on the Cote d'Azure.

[Perd Hapley]

It's the deliberately-unemployed layabouts that make all the noise in Paris and the like that have caused the international stereotypes.

Not to mention the fact that all their elites go to the same E'cole de Socialism or whatever that govt. academy is called.

[280plus]

Cote d'Azur...

[richyoung]

Top Ten Things the Wifey Should Bring Back From France:
10.  - Mrage III fighter-bomber
9. - Louvre T-Shirt with picture of Mona Lisa and caption:  My Ol Lady went to France and all I got was this lousy T-shirt with a picture of an ugly dame on it..."
8. - sovenire statue of the Eiffel Tower
7. - the cheese of his choice - EXCEPT American, Velveeta, Swiss, or Cheddar - that would just be WRONG, man...
6. - escargo
5. - a bottle of REAL Champagne
4. - a new-found appreciation for masculine men
3. - French Maid outfit  - (for HER to wear...)
2. - scandaloulsy scanty undergarments (again, for HER,.. although your mileage may vary...)

and finally, the Number One thing the Mrs should bring back from France:

The ability to tie a cherry stem into a knot with her tounge.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

In another incident, my wife and some female students were harassed by drunkenly amorous Italians.  I suppose most American tourists would have taken them for Frenchmen, so that may be the sort of thing that perpetuates stereotypes.

Ha!  My girlfriend was serenaded by a drunken Italian on the Metro late one night.  Must be a tradition.

I've met the rude Parisians, they're definitely real.  I suppose they're no worse than rude New Yorkers though.  The Frenchmen in the countryside are quite friendly.

Souvenirs?  I've seen some really beautiful French pocket knives.  Excellent metalwork and craftsmanship, a truly elegant gentleman's knife.  I don't have a clue where to find them or what they're called.  Opinels are an alternative, but a pretty poor one.

Postcards and photos pf the scenery are nice.  Images from the Normandy beaches are especially moving.  A visit to the American cemetery there is not to be missed.

[Perd Hapley]

My girlfriend was serenaded by a drunken Italian on the Metro late one night.  Must be a tradition.

Your girlfriend doesn't mind that you look like John Kerry?     Did this Italian serenade her with incoherent ramblings interspersed with "Bella!  Bella!"?

[Lee]

"The ability to tie a cherry stem into a knot with her tounge."

Sounds like that would require a lot of new found experience...not sure if I approve, unless she comes back with the maid.  A pocket knife might be better lol.

[doczinn]

Gauloises

Smell like the bottom of a hamster cage, and that's before you light 'em.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

My girlfriend was serenaded by a drunken Italian on the Metro late one night.  Must be a tradition.

Did this Italian serenade her with incoherent ramblings interspersed with "Bella!  Bella!"?

Yes!  You must have run into the same guy we ran into.  How cool is that?!

 

[Laurent du Var]

There is nothing you would need to go France for,
you can get almost everything shipped. Anyhow, have a look :

http://www.couteau-laguiole.net/

Although it gets me in a bit of a chuckle picturing you to impress your hunting buddies with a fine French pocket-knife.

Parisians are rude and cranky and busy - just like New Yorkers or Rabbi, Paris is great, the suburbs (banlieus) are a mess, but the countryside is lovely. 

Is it better to be served by a snotty waiter, manhandled and stripsearched on the airport, cheated by a cabdriver, insulted by a drunk, being hit on by Italians,  feeling out of place and looking for the word for toilette while your eyes are getting yellow and you have no change -  than staying back home listening to people who replace the words "Iron curtain" with "Homeland security" ?

You disliking us doesn't make me like you any less and smelly cheese rocks !
Having said that, I feel that there is a little  improvement in Euro-American relations lately, I've never seen any antiAmericanism here. At the most the
infamous indifference towards the rest of the world may have grown a little which is not a good thing. 
 
 

[The Rabbi]

 

Is it better to be served by a snotty waiter, manhandled and stripsearched on the airport, cheated by a cabdriver, insulted by a drunk, being hit on by Italians,  feeling out of place and looking for the word for toilette while your eyes are getting yellow and you have no change -  than staying back home listening to people who replace the words "Iron curtain" with "Homeland security" ?

I guess that depends on whom you ask.  Ask Hollywood celebs and the staff of the NY TImes and you're probably right.  Ask average Americans and I suspect you'd get an argument.  And dont get me started on offal.....

[280plus]

"If I tell you what it is, you won't try it..." 

[Perd Hapley]

Parisians are rude and cranky and busy - just like New Yorkers or Rabbi

 


I don't know how serious you are about Homeland Security/Iron Curtain.  Hope you're not that ill-informed. 

[Laurent du Var]

 
The word Iron curtain is off course far fetched.
What I was refering to was simply the statistics which show us that
Americans travelling to Europe came down in numbers roughly from
12.1 millions in 2001 to 10.6 millions in 2006. And I wonder where are those
unbelievable 1,5 million people and why do they stay home ?
Is it the war, the terror, the economy, the sudden dislike of Old Europe ?
I rather hear from people judging us because they came here and know that we're ungrateful and rude, than people just having an opinion from hearsay ordering freedom fries back home. Before 2001 I travelled and lived for 2 years in the US and I've been more than well treated wherever I went.
Today I wonder how I would feel about people standing in line behind somebody      who's inquiring about the origins of a strangers girlfriend to continue with F*** the French. Godd times, fistful, huh...     

To avoid lynching I probably would have to put on an Italian accent : Excuse me, signorina, you have beautyful eyes, hey where are you going, stop running...

[HankB]

. . . And I wonder where are those unbelievable 1,5 million people and why do they stay home ? Is it the war, the terror, the economy, the sudden dislike of Old Europe ? . . .

I would guess (and it's only a guess) that a significant percentage of those 1.5 million people have simply decided not to fly if they don't have to, thanks to rising airfares and intrusive security. Teleconferencing and video conferencing have probably curbed the need for some business travel.

Increasing costs, perceived anti-American feelings (from some governments, if not the people themselves) and the availability of other vacation destinations are probably other factors.

[Perd Hapley]

Today I wonder how I would feel about people standing in line behind somebody      who's inquiring about the origins of a strangers girlfriend to continue with F*** the French. Godd times, fistful, huh...   

 
 
Eh, he was just one of those jerks.  If it wasn't you Frenchies, it would be somebody else he'd be mad at.  I just mentioned him to show that we Americans have people that meet our stereotypes as well.  His sentiment is understandable, however, given that the French and German and Russian knives in our backs were still fresh, over that Iraq argument.  Now, I wouldn't hold that against every Frenchman or woman, but some people will. 

[280plus]

With the recession and the fuel prices going sky high, a lot of us cain't afford to fly across the pond these days. Most of my spare cash has been going to gasoline lately.  .

 A while ago a "friend" of mine tried to impress me with the statement, "I won't drink French wine, I'm boycotting everything French." I said, "Good, more for me!" 

[Manedwolf]

. . . And I wonder where are those unbelievable 1,5 million people and why do they stay home ? Is it the war, the terror, the economy, the sudden dislike of Old Europe ? . . .

I would guess (and it's only a guess) that a significant percentage of those 1.5 million people have simply decided not to fly if they don't have to, thanks to rising airfares and intrusive security. Teleconferencing and video conferencing have probably curbed the need for some business travel.

Increasing costs, perceived anti-American feelings (from some governments, if not the people themselves) and the availability of other vacation destinations are probably other factors.

I personally fly less because unless you go business class, and even sometimes then, a long flight is sheer torture of being jammed like a sardine in a can into a stale-air cabin of zero legroom and zero elbow room. To "save money", the air system doesn't cycle the cabin air out enough, and the seats are so damned tight that it's literally pain for a tall person...not to mention if you get jammed in between, shall we say, supersized sorts who spill over the armrests?

I absolutely love flying when I'm at the controls, but I despise being mashed into the back of an overheated people tube for hours.

[The Rabbi]

In addition to the increased hassle of flying, I am sure the political situation has something to do with it.  I know I am not planning any trips to Paris, even though it is my favorite city, because I am nervous about getting beaten up.
Of course there's no anti-Semitism in France.http://www.ucsdguardian.org/cgi-bin/opinion?art=2003_03_10_04

[Perd Hapley]

Rabbi, if I ever find out you've been beaten up by a French mob, I'll presume you did something to provoke them, you ornery cuss. 

[The Rabbi]

Sure, go ahead, blame the victim....

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'd be embarrassed if I got beat up by a French mob.

[Iain]

You shouldn't be. There'd be no shame in taking a beating from one Frenchman like this one...

[Perd Hapley]

I can't believe our favorite Englishman is afraid of a Frog.  The Queen is very ashamed of you right now.  But don't worry, she would give that Frenchie a beatdown if he tried to hurt you.