Paying For Goods In France

[RedHerring2]

You would go to France and eat McDonalds???

Mon dieu. C'est terrible!

You may mock, but, the local McDonalds, to here, (about 15k away) is far better quality, cleaner and the clientel are more polite than those in the UK.

And a lot of the staff speak English and are pleased to do so, being young and/or students, I assume.
Mind you a burger is a burger in any language.

 

[expertgasman]

[quote="RedHerring2";p="2081963"]

I once asked for a coca cola in a French shop but the shop assistant decided to not understand. I then asked for un coca cola followed by une coca cola followed by le coca cola followed by la coca cola followed by un coke, une coke etc etc ... in the end I just walked out.

Next time, try un coca

Or just point!

And un de cela[/quote]

and DON'T shout

 

[expertgasman]

I havent been to france for a few years, so it may have changed. The most annoying aspect was that in most places (although we were mainly in rural France) you had to have your pasport as well as the cared.

We found most frenchfolk perfectly pleasant, even in Paris.Tthere are rude people everwhere.

We are going back next year to the Cognac Blues festival - it's epic.

 

[cantaloup63]

We are going back next year to the Cognac Blues festival - it's epic.

Now there's a thing to have a google at. Thanks

 

[RedHerring2]

I once asked for a coca cola in a French shop but the shop assistant decided to not understand. I then asked for un coca cola followed by une coca cola followed by le coca cola followed by la coca cola followed by un coke, une coke etc etc ... in the end I just walked out.

Next time, try un coca

Or just point!

And un de cela

and DON'T shout

Sorry, no comprendo. Italics are used to show that's it not English, that's standard practice. Capitals are used for shouting, as you've indicated.

Over the last five years of spending half the year in france and the other half in UK, I show my passport at the ferry terminals and that's it. It's never needed again. In fact, sometimes it's not even needed entering France. Sometimes the border at the terminal is unmanned!

I've never been required to show my licence, insurance etc.

I suppose if you're staying in hotels, then it's normal to show your passport, but that's standard practice the world over.

 

[longdogs]

I once asked for a coca cola in a French shop but the shop assistant decided to not understand. I then asked for un coca cola followed by une coca cola followed by le coca cola followed by la coca cola followed by un coke, une coke etc etc ... in the end I just walked out.

Next time, try un coca

Or just point!

D' you know, I think I actually tried that and the old 'truite' still couldn't understand me. The following year we went to Italy - no problems there.

 

[RedHerring2]

[D' you know, I think I actually tried that and the old 'truite' still couldn't understand me. The following year we went to Italy - no problems there.

Well if you prefer Italy, what can one say. It is a lovely country.
Just be aware that when you want something in an Italian service station you are expecteded to order what you want at the cashier and then to procede withyour ordered ticket to be served.

Please excuse any typos, it's been a very hot day, I've been working all day and just come in having spent all evening on the terrasse, "Chiling out"

 

[kevindgas]

went to the vendee (le sables d'olonne) for our honeymoon in june, used my cards (nationwide, barclaycard and santander) no problem with any of them never had to show passports except at ferry terminals. don't speak french except merci! never had any problems. been going to the vendee and the charente for years lovely people, lovely food & wine and without doubt a lovely area.

 

[gas112]

Dozen drunk guys in a vietnamese restaurant in france and they understood everything we asked for .
Pointed at menu and bent our elbows job done.

 

[cantaloup63]

went to the vendee (le sables d'olonne) for our honeymoon in june,

Many congratulations on your wedding. We know the area quite well as we stayed a couple of years on the run at La Garangeoire (although I've forgotten how to spell it) which is about 15 or so miles from the coast.

 

[Mickymoody]

I once asked for a coca cola in a French shop but the shop assistant decided to not understand. I then asked for un coca cola followed by une coca cola followed by le coca cola followed by la coca cola followed by un coke, une coke etc etc ... in the end I just walked out.

I did the same, in whatever country, the country that had the slamon course on the Gadget Show, well, I stayed at the top of that road..not Monaco.

Un cola, co-la, ze coke, we were treated like aliens had landed, in fact the lady serving ran off, to fetch her husband, it would have been far easier to point at a pump, and show two fingers, ie two required. As squeaky says, either an International brand isn't recognised, or foreign people don't like foreigners to their country.

 

[kevindgas]

went to the vendee (le sables d'olonne) for our honeymoon in june,

Many congratulations on your wedding. We know the area quite well as we stayed a couple of years on the run at La Garangeoire (although I've forgotten how to spell it) which is about 15 or so miles from the coast.

thanks, we love the area almost brought a barn in De Sevre region a few years ago, but couldn't proceed as the ground was unsuitable for septic tank drainage.

find the smaller places better than places like La Rochelle which are more commercial, le sables is a good mix of sea, port and nice pubs and restaurants further inland we like St Maxient L' Ecole, easy to get to on the motorway or by D roads

 

[RedHerring2]

Visited Saint Jean de Monts, just north of Les Sables d'Olonne, about mid 70's on a touring/camping holiday.
It was a superb liitle spot, camping in the forest, eating pizza at the little bars at the edge of the forest.
About tea-time each evening, young people would hire the 2, 4, 6 or 8 seat cycles and literally race around the little resort, ignoring any traffic rules, for about an hour.
If you weren't lucky enough to participate, the next best thing was to have a few beers at a corner bar and watch the fun.

We returned there, about four years ago for a brief visit. It was like Blackpool, completely commercialised, grid locked with traffic. One road in and one road out, 'cos you wouldn't have wanted to stay long and the prices had gone through the roof.

We did carry on down to St Giles de la croix? or something like that and it reminded me of what St Jean de Monts used to be like 20 odd years ago.