[zenihan]

I guess this will not be a well commented on thread but I feel it is necessary to make mention of something.

I first visited Paris over twenty years ago and my impression of the place was not good - I thought it smelly, messy, the people were rude, the food awful, the transport chaotic etc.

Having been selected as part of the British team to go to the European Championships in Paris I was not filled with delight about the location.

Well, I think the time has come for someone to speak up for the French.

What a fantastic city it has become!

The streets are immaculately clean. The people are friendly and chatty and confident. The Metro, RER, trams and buses were punctual, clean, easy to use. The food has started to live up to its reputation. It is cheap (certainly compared to say London or Stockholm). There is little to no graffiti (a little on the railway system). There was no vandalism- at all.

Here is an example of what I mean. Each day we had to take a tram to the dojo - this cost about 1 Euro. You paid at a ticket machine then 'franked' the ticket when you got on the tram. Nobody checked if you bought a ticket or got it franked - it was done as a matter of honour. And people did. Had this been London or many other places, people would either have got on without paying or they would have bought a ticket but only franked it if they saw a Conductor checking tickets ( thus being able to re-use the ticket over and over again.) People just realised that if they didn't pay they would lose this facility so they paid.

And this is just one example of many.

Yes the toilets are still pretty desperate but on the whole Paris proves that if you have the will, you can turn any city into a place to be proud.

Vive La France.

[ChexEcodece]

Sarkozy!

Just kidding...

[DoctorDulitlBest]

No I think Sarkozy will be okay.

Certainly couldn't be as bad as Bush or Blair/Brown

[sicheAscems]

"In praise of France"

Well, this is going to be a short thread.

[mpxricyNimb]

Cities are cities, and most european capitals are very similar these days, I never make assumption based on visiting a country capital (and I come from one), I think is always best to visit the countryside, then you get properly inmersed in the culture.

[rNr5Di3S]

I guess this will not be a well commented on thread but I feel it is necessary to make mention of something.


Vive La France.

Have you been drinking again? Or did you actually take your medication? This doesn't sound like you. Who are you and what have you done to Satsumaruma?

[regfortruegoo]

"In praise of France"

Well, this is going to be a short thread.

That's what I said. but still. You should give praise when praise is due.

Cities are cities, and most european capitals are very similar these days, I never make assumption based on visiting a country capital (and I come from one), I think is always best to visit the countryside, then you get properly inmersed in the culture.

I think country people are also the same the world over - they all think towns folk shouldn't interfere in what they see is purely their own affair.

On capitals, i sort of agree with you. They seem to produce an 'aloofness' within their inhabitants. Amsterdam has always been an exception - feels friendly and small and everywhere is accessible. Belfast is a bit intimidating despite the overt friendliness of the locals. Stocklhom was clean and pretty but not overly friendly.Never been to Dublin, Rome, Berlin etc.

But I made this post because I was so impressed by the way the french have turned round their capital into somewhere in which they can be truly proud.

Have you been drinking again? Or did you actually take your medication? This doesn't sound like you. Who are you and what have you done to Satsumaruma?

I know I know. As the self appointed master of irreverence this shocked me too

[EtellaObtaite]

But I made this post because I was so impressed by the way the french have turned round their capital into somewhere in which they can be truly proud.

Absolutely, my brother was over a couple of months ago, he was also fairly impressed.

[hauptdaunnila]

What is also impressive is the lack of US comments about this.

France is the most visited country on the planet so I guess many Americans will have been there and yet no Yank on these forums has made either a good or bad comment.

How interesting.

[Bonioners]

Nobody checked if you bought a ticket or got it franked - it was done as a matter of honour. And people did. Had this been London or many other places, people would either have got on without paying

I think you are being unfair to London. The new 'bendy' busses rely largely on people being honest and it works. The few times where I have seen conductors come aboard to check tickets, it appears that everybody had a valid ticket/travel card.

[Gaiaakgyyyg]

You may have a point but I will say that this observation was initially made by a Londoner. this was then universally supportde by the remaining Londoners present. London has its good points of course. But public transport I do not think is one of them.

Here is another example. In Paris a ticket costs about 1 euro - for this you can go on a tram or bus for up to 1 1/2 hours or travel in one zone on the metro/RER. The cost of a comparable ticket in London cost £4. In Paris the transport was immaculately clean (as are the stations, bus stops etc). Can we really say that about our own capital? The staff were smart and well presented and helpful; London? Oh dear!!!!!!

Another French attitude which seems far better than our own is the solution to get the public to use public transport. In Paris they made all the public transport as cheap as possible to encourage the public to use it. They also made sure it was as nice an environment as possible. Here in the UK, we created bus lanes to force drivers off the road, we devised Congestion Charges to add another tax on top of an already high road tax (oh and you know they did this by 'adjusting' the traffic control systems to create even more chaos?). And our public transport is an absolute disgrace. The stock is dirty, the staff are rude ( I can speak from personal experience of one little arse at Finsbury Park), it is disorganised. And it is never their fault. You travel down a road in London or any other major city and you are overwhelmed by the plethora of road signage - the French teel you only what is necessary.

Jakob, if you have read some of my previous posts you will know I have no particular affinity for the French but I will tell you this if any French politician decided to stand for election in my constituency and promise to apply French 'values' to improve the way we do things he/she would have my vote.

[prmwsinfo]

What is also impressive is the lack of US comments about this.

Naw it's just Americans have better things to do than blow sunshine up France's arse.

The streets are immaculately clean. The people are friendly and chatty and confident. The Metro, RER, trams and buses were punctual, clean, easy to use. The food has started to live up to its reputation. It is cheap (certainly compared to say London or Stockholm). There is little to no graffiti (a little on the railway system). There was no vandalism- at all.

Isn't that to be expected? Why all the praise for that?

[worldofwarcraft]

Naw it's just Americans have better things to do than blow sunshine up France's arse.



Isn't that to be expected? Why all the praise for that?

Are you guys still upset that they wouldn't help you invade Iraq?

How dare the French decide that as a sovereign nation they can choose for themselves who they go to war with! kuh!

[ssiikmuz]

Another French attitude which seems far better than our own is the solution to get the public to use public transport. In Paris they made all the public transport as cheap as possible to encourage the public to use it. They also made sure it was as nice an environment as possible. Here in the UK, we created bus lanes to force drivers off the road, we devised Congestion Charges to add another tax on top of an already high road tax (oh and you know they did this by 'adjusting' the traffic control systems to create even more chaos?).

Congestion charging and bus lanes has greatly increased the usability of the buses in London. The price for using a bus has actually gone down since congestion charging was introduced.
London is simply not suitable for that many cars and priority should be given to public transport.
Similar with the tube. Service has improved since Ken Livingston became mayor.

Finally, I really hope you don't pay road tax. You'd be very silly if you do.

Not to take anything away from the French. I'm sure that their system is better...but it *is* improving in London...

Jakob

[ApporpSothe]

Are you guys still upset that they wouldn't help you invade Iraq?

How dare the French decide that as a sovereign nation they can choose for themselves who they go to war with! kuh!

My comments have zero to do with Iraq.

[RemiVedia]

What is also impressive is the lack of US comments about this.

We had a meeting about this.
We have decided to abstain from comment due to the sublime irony.

[reiruviartugs]

What is also impressive is the lack of US comments about this.

France is the most visited country on the planet so I guess many Americans will have been there and yet no Yank on these forums has made either a good or bad comment.

I like fine wine, decent bread and cheese and any movie with Jean Reno.

[MarythePuppy6]

I like fine wine, decent bread and cheese and any movie with Jean Reno.

And girls that don't smell as bad as the english.

[Filmania]

And girls that don't smell as bad as the english.

They have most of their teeth in France, don't they?

I think Sats got a French girl to actually talk to him, and he's still woozy from the shock of it.

[Carfanate]

I can find no fault with the country that contributed to much of the United State's original political and social philosophy.