h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I should apreciate suggestions, helpful or humourous (preferably in that order).

We are going to a(n) Eurocamp thingy near Royan, Gironde Region or thereabouts on 20th July.
(We = two old fogeys and two teenage girls)
Obviously we should:
a) try to avoid French people,
b) not mention football,
c) try not to smile if anyone mentions the Prost Formula 1 Team,
d) speak very loudly if we encounter any natives.

What have I forgotten?

Have you been there?
Did you survive? If so, how?
Is there anything worth seeing or doing?

As I have previously picked up Test Match Special around Nantes I hope to remain in contact with civilisation.

Thank you in advance for your postings, I expect that there will be far too many to acknowledge individually.

Learn some basic French....
BCNU - Crescent

Pourquoi faire, mon brave?
Je n'ai pas besoin de parler français,
je sais bien crier en anglais.

Then you have everything you need
BCNU - Crescent

ROFL

H'mm ...

Yeah, I've known that for years.
The trouble is convincing the two teenage girls that they couldn't possibly be enjoying themselves more.

Make sure they try all the local delicacies like tripe and frogs legs and snails. Tell them not to bother taking soap,deodorant etc so that they fit in better with the natives. You will, of course, be taking your own tea-making equipment with you

Better solution: Come to Holland instead. Good weed.

Jynx

Good idea It is what I would do Think it is a lovely country, hoping to eventually move out there Within the next year (touch wood) Ah well - back to reality. Grey old Aberdeen *sigh*
BCNU - Crescent

My limited experience from a few weeks in France some years ago:

If you want to meet some nice French people, avoid the tourist areas where they have become jaded and rude from having to deal with all those English tourists speaking loudly at them

Instead, visit the small out-of-the way towns, stop by a pup or cafe.

If you want some good French food, and you ARE in a tourist area, avoid the restaurants on the main streets, particularly if they advertise serving steak and chips. Instead, go down the side streets, find a small restaurant that looks busy with locals only, and eat there. (actually a fairly good tip for just about any tourist area in the world)

Go to the beaches.

Hi, Jynx,
(High jinks - English pun, won't work with Dutch pronunciation)
(Don't know why I mentioned it really.)

Thanks for the invitation.
Last time I was there it rained harder than in England, but the weed wasn't available to take my mind off it.
Times have changed, but has the weather?
Does anyone care?

If you're going on the 20th of July, try to catch some of the Tour de France on the TV in a bar. It finishes in Paris on the 23rd. Friday 21st is the big time trial (i.e. each cyclist on their own against the clock), which is a bit more accessible to the outsider than the normal racing days. TV coverage will be on France 2 TV from about lunchtime to about 5pm, with highlights in the evening.

It's unlikely that you'll understand much of what's going on unless you're already interested in cycle racing, but it's *the* big event in France in July. Don't expect the live coverage to be a thrill-a-minute though; it's a bit like cricket in that most of the day's action appears pretty uneventful to the outsider.

Sadly, it's another sport that the French are much better at than the British, but that's true of most sports.

Try again.
(Strange thing: I just replied to you and Jynx - the most recent replies. The Jynx reply worked, yours didn't but there had appeared two more replies timed 12 and 8 hours previously. H'mm.)

Thanks for the tips which I passed on ...
"Bit of racial stereotyping there, Dad."
(Sometimes I wonder whether my sense of humour has not been inherited or whether it has been refined to a point which is beyond my ability to appreciate. )

I shall follow your Tea Advice and take along my trusty widdershins tea spoon.

Hi, Crescent,

Spent a few days in Aberdeen some years ago. Stayed in a small private hotel. Straight off the train I called at the hotel as I was passing about 7.15 a.m. to ask if I could drop off my luggage. I was dragged in, tied to a chair and force fed a large breakfast. Then I was made to freshen up before going to my meeting.
No extra charge.
Nice folk, verrry bad for the image.

Thanks Redbeard,

The "beaches" will probably work OK. but with a couple of veggies we might struggle with anything other than "starters", especially as they're not too keen on "salade" and "frisée". And you get funny looks when trying to buy spuds to make a chip butty.

I think we'll pretend to be German.

Thanks for the reminder, Lux.

We went close to Paris last year on the final day of the T de F. I was expecting mammoth disruption and dislocation of the motorways like when Man U plays at home (Ptui! Oops, broke Rule 3) but it was OK. This time we're a day earlier, Saturday, so we'll probably cop for it. Hey ho.

I've been watching some of the Channel 4 coverage - must try to remember some names to drop into conversations. Reg Harris, Eddie Merckx and Tommy Simpson won't cut much ice without contemporary comparisons.