Know Before You Go: France
I should preface this post with what I grew up thinking about France. My dad is one of those grizzled old Army types that still holds a grudge against France for, I think, something to do with the Marshall Plan and Pepe Le pew. So, not that we talked about this a lot, but I had some preconceived notions about France and a small frame of reference before I went.
I did watch Amelie, so maybe that helped.
So, after spending two weeks in France, here are 5 things that I think you should know before you go:
1. Not everyone speaks English. Ok, so maybe this is my bad, but I just kind of assumed almost everyone spoke English. Certainly younger populations in cities are more likely to speak English, but it really wasn't common - especially once we got more out into the countryside. My poor dad had to drudge up his school boy French, which I'm sure brought back shudder inducing memories of being taught by nuns in catholic school in the 50's and 60's. I would say that compared to Germany and Italy, for example, we ran into more language barriers in France.
Fully aware this picture is slightly terrifying. You're welcome.
2. It is CHEAP. Caviar wishes and diamond dreams abound, because in France, a block of brie is 2 Euros.
2 EUROS!
This is a double edged sword though, because if you consume enough wine, bread and cheese you will invariably end up looking like Gerard Depardieu.
Something one of our B&B hosts said was "the French love a good bargain" and I have to agree that from what we saw this was true. Prior to coming, my perception of France was that everything was Chanel and beluga caviar, but the reality is that people just do everything so well that you can get anything a tourist needs: accommodations, transportation, food, wine and entertainment for a very reasonable price without sacrificing quality.
3. Gardening is NO JOKE
One of our B&Bs was situated in a prime location, right near the marketplace in Sarlat. The B&B was beautifully run, the hosts were charming and helpful but they let us know they would be leaving that location soon. Their B&B did not have a garden, so they were purchasing one right outside town that did. Now, I'm sure there may have been other reasons for their move but can you really imagine anyone outside of a Jane Austen novel, moving for this reason? We were in France in May, which seems like prime garden season to me, but even so - the abundance of flowers, fresh produce and (to my eye) professionally turned gardens in residential areas seemed above and beyond anything you would find in America. Locally grown produce and farm products seemed to be the norm rather than the exception and even if our lodging or restaurant did not personally produce the food we were served, they sourced it from neighbors or local farmers.
4. You will eat all the bread, drink all the wine and inhale a macaroon or twelve.
We tend to try and avoid all the delicious, life worth living food in our day to day life (bread, pasta, muffins, ambrosiiiiiiiia) and other than grocery stores and the random tucked away bakery, our lack of gluten goodness isn't shoved in our faces. NOT SO IN FRANCE.
Listen, when in Rome, do as the Romans, so when you're in France, you better shove baguettes down your gullet like a goose. They are just so good everywhere you go. Literally every morning in France started with someone asking, "Should we stop at a boulangerie?"
"Oui!"
Yes, you should and you will because they are all over the place. The smells are an intoxicating siren song that will draw you into their yeasty depths and 1 baguette is probably something like 1 Euro because see item 2.
5. The people are incredibly nice.
This picture was taken by a French tourist who insisted on getting a picture of the two of us. He was incredibly helpful in the most forceful way possible, but it was just one of many random acts of kindness we experienced there. I think he perfectly captured the moment Jorge was trying to tell him not to center us in the middle of the picture.
A big theme during our France vacation seemed to be either getting lost or needing help because while the people might be nice, they don't really believe in signs or thorough instructions. Hence the parking fiasco. We had to return our rental car to the train station in Bordeaux and I kid you not, the sign directing you to rental returns was printed on a piece of standard 8X11 paper and taped to a pole about knee height at the side of the road.
So, keeping in mind the fact that we needed more help than normal, the French people we met were so incredibly nice. Jorge did a simple fix at a hotel we were staying at and they were so grateful they got us reservations at a nice restaurant and paid the bill for us and my parents. On the train to Paris, a young (english speaking) French girl went out of her way to accompany us through the station to make sure we knew how to get tickets and where to go. We were incredibly late for our champagne tour and they shifted things aside and accommodated us. It seemed that at nearly every turn, there was a French man or woman that was able and willing to assist us in some way. Even my Dad came away thinking of France as a beautiful country with beautiful people, instead of the caricature he (me, too maybe a little) had in his mind.
I did watch Amelie, so maybe that helped.
So, after spending two weeks in France, here are 5 things that I think you should know before you go:
1. Not everyone speaks English. Ok, so maybe this is my bad, but I just kind of assumed almost everyone spoke English. Certainly younger populations in cities are more likely to speak English, but it really wasn't common - especially once we got more out into the countryside. My poor dad had to drudge up his school boy French, which I'm sure brought back shudder inducing memories of being taught by nuns in catholic school in the 50's and 60's. I would say that compared to Germany and Italy, for example, we ran into more language barriers in France.
Fully aware this picture is slightly terrifying. You're welcome.
2. It is CHEAP. Caviar wishes and diamond dreams abound, because in France, a block of brie is 2 Euros.
2 EUROS!
This is a double edged sword though, because if you consume enough wine, bread and cheese you will invariably end up looking like Gerard Depardieu.
Something one of our B&B hosts said was "the French love a good bargain" and I have to agree that from what we saw this was true. Prior to coming, my perception of France was that everything was Chanel and beluga caviar, but the reality is that people just do everything so well that you can get anything a tourist needs: accommodations, transportation, food, wine and entertainment for a very reasonable price without sacrificing quality.
3. Gardening is NO JOKE
One of our B&Bs was situated in a prime location, right near the marketplace in Sarlat. The B&B was beautifully run, the hosts were charming and helpful but they let us know they would be leaving that location soon. Their B&B did not have a garden, so they were purchasing one right outside town that did. Now, I'm sure there may have been other reasons for their move but can you really imagine anyone outside of a Jane Austen novel, moving for this reason? We were in France in May, which seems like prime garden season to me, but even so - the abundance of flowers, fresh produce and (to my eye) professionally turned gardens in residential areas seemed above and beyond anything you would find in America. Locally grown produce and farm products seemed to be the norm rather than the exception and even if our lodging or restaurant did not personally produce the food we were served, they sourced it from neighbors or local farmers.
4. You will eat all the bread, drink all the wine and inhale a macaroon or twelve.
We tend to try and avoid all the delicious, life worth living food in our day to day life (bread, pasta, muffins, ambrosiiiiiiiia) and other than grocery stores and the random tucked away bakery, our lack of gluten goodness isn't shoved in our faces. NOT SO IN FRANCE.
Listen, when in Rome, do as the Romans, so when you're in France, you better shove baguettes down your gullet like a goose. They are just so good everywhere you go. Literally every morning in France started with someone asking, "Should we stop at a boulangerie?"
"Oui!"
Yes, you should and you will because they are all over the place. The smells are an intoxicating siren song that will draw you into their yeasty depths and 1 baguette is probably something like 1 Euro because see item 2.
5. The people are incredibly nice.
A big theme during our France vacation seemed to be either getting lost or needing help because while the people might be nice, they don't really believe in signs or thorough instructions. Hence the parking fiasco. We had to return our rental car to the train station in Bordeaux and I kid you not, the sign directing you to rental returns was printed on a piece of standard 8X11 paper and taped to a pole about knee height at the side of the road.
So, keeping in mind the fact that we needed more help than normal, the French people we met were so incredibly nice. Jorge did a simple fix at a hotel we were staying at and they were so grateful they got us reservations at a nice restaurant and paid the bill for us and my parents. On the train to Paris, a young (english speaking) French girl went out of her way to accompany us through the station to make sure we knew how to get tickets and where to go. We were incredibly late for our champagne tour and they shifted things aside and accommodated us. It seemed that at nearly every turn, there was a French man or woman that was able and willing to assist us in some way. Even my Dad came away thinking of France as a beautiful country with beautiful people, instead of the caricature he (me, too maybe a little) had in his mind.
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