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

Hello.
First : excuse me for my english, but I'm french

Very good article.It reflect well Paris
Let me give you some precisions from a Parisian.

Part 1 : Driving in Paris.
I think you never drive in an Italian town???
If you have done it, I think you do not say that for driving in Paris.
The situation is worst in all the points you suggested...
And I think that the Arc de Triomphe is not as bad as you say it's just a question of pratice.

Part 2. Driving on two wheels in Paris.
Nothing to say but the policeman are not like that, peharps we have not the best police, but it don't shoot at people every times.

Part 3 : Surviving Disneyland Paris Without Kids
Totally in accordance in what you say : Disneyland is the worst place in Paris.
A funny thing about it : some tourists (almost all americans) ask where is Notre Dame in disneyland
So if you don't know where is Notre Dame it's on the "ile de la citée", at the center of Paris not at Disneyland.

Part 4 : Metro.
Yes the Parisian metro is a very good thing.
Tourist are welcome in the metro, (in all Paris in facts), the only thing to do is to say two words before asking some explanations in english :
"Bonjour, excusez moi, parlez vous anglais?".
With this two words (yes in facts six), Paris Doors are open for you.

Part 7 : Walking in Paris.
Yes Paris in a big city, but I think that London or NY is as big (peharps more in fact .
And walking in Paris is the best way to discover this beautiful city ( No I'm not "chauvin").
There is a dicton that say : "Paris wasn't build in one day", so it can't be in one day at foot that you can see everythings.

>Still, walking in Paris is always fun as long as you make enough brasserie stops.
Yes I think so, but it's the same in all cities

In facts, Napoleon III do it for this reasons, this part of Paris history is full of town conflicts (Barricades like you say it).
The architect was Haussmann and he gives his name to a major street in Paris (This and other form "Les grands boulevards).

Part 8 : Eating in Paris.
>: this stuff is perfectly drinkable
In fact it is very good...
>if you make an attempt to speak French and are not being obnoxious
You say it.
French people didn't like when you abbord them and say (in english) : "Can you..... ", like I've say up, try to speak a little french,
and don't try to look Superior....
One day I meet two americans who ask me if we have Highways or if we haveTap water in France.....
Don't be like this and all everything will happen very well.
And one last thing : french food is the best in the world, so don't miss it when you go to Paris.
Ok, ok i'm a little too Chauvinist, excuse me, don't flamme me

Part 9 : Views over Paris.
Nothing to ad, very good description.

Part 10 : The Sights of Paris
Nothing to say, the list is too short, but I'm living in Paris for 27 years and I don't see all.
(In fact I have never climb the Eiffel Tower (Too much tourists

Peharps you forget the "Brande Bibliotheque" but it's not near "Notre Dame".
And a little trip in the quartier latin, boulevard St michel, Bld St Germain, and the Pantheon were lies great french people.
This district was the ancien heart of Paris (it exist since the roman domination of france, and it was deja a student district).
You could also take a look at ther ancient Hall of Paris ("Les halles de Paris").
And many many more...

Part 11 : Trivia
> Parisian butcher's shops traditionally have amazingly decorative tiled walls and ceilings.
Yes that's right I remenber my childhood when I was very impresive by this.
But :
>Paris, apparently, has nice onions. This is more important than you might suppose.
I don't understand this???


So that's all, thanks to read my horrible english.
This article is very good and reflete well Paris.

I encourage you to make a trip to this beautiful city.
I think a good day to do this is saturday or sunday (6 or 7 november), when the french rugbymen will return with the
Rugby Wolrd Cup in their suitcases
Big fiesta I think (Peharps even if they don't get it, we like make party).

So long and thanks for the reading.
Waiting you in Paris (and in France in general).

Philippe

Bonjour Phillipe!

Your city is one of my favourites, I just like to walk around and attempt to ask for things (food, wine, etc.) in my horrible French, and visit museums, etc, in between more serious meetings. Like everywhere else, I think it is only polite for a foreigner to try to speak the language. English speaking people seem to think that everyone speaks English - which is not really a problem in France - but at least they should go and buy a small book or tape on "teach yourself French" and be polite! I do not understand people who think that Parisien are rude - it is a big busy city, yes, and that's how you live - imagine someone insisting on something in loud French waving a wad of francs in the middle of New York?

I don't know about the onions, but one stereotype is of the rural Frenchman travelling over to England on his bicycle (usually, using a boat to get over the water!) and bringing over strings of onions to sell - hence the "familiar" call "oignon, oignon". I think those times have past - like the rural world popularised by the Jacques Tati movies (I admit I am a M. Hulot fan!).

Hello Dudemeister

I find about the onions.
Since the XIX century, people from Roscoff (In small britain) go in england to sell onions.
English people named them johnnies.
They travel the land to sell onions doors to doors and in open markets.

I find an URL about this :
http://www.bretagne.com/english/doc/histoire/johnnies.htm
And the same in french if you want to train you french
http://www.bretagne.com/doc/histoire/johnnies.htm

You are right about those times, there almost past (Now there are only a few Johnnies left),
and no rural world of Jacques Tati movies (Or very very few).
It reminds me that I've not see his movies for 10 or 20 years
I think I've to go to the video store....

>imagine someone insisting on something in loud French waving a wad of francs in the middle of New York?
No I can't even imagine it
I try it (after saying hello in english well on) in Canada (Ontario) it works when you are near the Quebec limits (and only because you are french) but not when you enter in deep english territories.

Bye.
Philippe

Hello Dudemeister

I find about the onions.
Since the XIX century, people from Roscoff (In small britain) go in england to sell onions.
English people named them johnnies.
They travel the land to sell onions doors to doors and in open markets.

I find an URL about this :
http://www.bretagne.com/english/doc/histoire/johnnies.htm
And the same in french if you want to train you french
http://www.bretagne.com/doc/histoire/johnnies.htm

You are right about those times, there almost past (Now there are only a few Johnnies left),
and no rural world of Jacques Tati movies (Or very very few).
It reminds me that I've not see his movies for 10 or 20 years
I think I've to go to the video store....

>imagine someone insisting on something in loud French waving a wad of francs in the middle of New York?
No I can't even imagine it
I try it (after saying hello in english well on) in Canada (Ontario) it works when you are near the Quebec limits (and only because you are french) but not when you enter in deep english territories.

Bye.
Philippe

What I meant by the Frenchman in New York is trying to point out what, say an American (by stereotype) may do - Ask loudly for things in English in Paris waving dollars around.

Here in Ottawa, the capital, half of the city area is in Quebec, I can see it out my window, and spend my time cycling there, eating at restaurants etc. The funny thing is, across the river in Quebec it is truly bilingual, on the Ontario side many speak no French!

Thanks for the info on onion johnnies. My grandparents can relate to this.