I travel to France between 5 and 10 times a year to visit relatives, for
holidays and for work. I have visited this country for over 50 years and
my first serious girlfriend was French.
The people are generally very nice and helpfull (as in any country
really) but often very formal in the beginning and they do appreciate
good manners (who does not) and proper clothing. Waiters in Paris can be
gruff, but it is part of the Paris experience.
Official meetings and conferences with the French generally is a cause
for trouble, but that is equally true with Brits and Germans. They
simply hate compromises and fight to the end to have it their way, so
nothing gets done in the end.
It is the best holiday country in the world I know. You have everything:
second to none touristic information in any town, stunning scenery of
all kinds, perfect beaches, rolling countryside, high mountains,
wintersports, moutaineering, rafting, beautifull cities and villages,
castles, musea (do not miss the Bugatti museum and associated railway
museum in Mulhouse or the car museum in the Imperial Palace in Compiegne
just north of Paris), loads of history everywhere, good weather, perfect
roads for relaxed driving in classics (avoid the motorways, boring as
hell), extremely good medical services for all, good public transport,
perfect wines and food (from $15-20 for a simple 3-course meal), good
small and simple hotels (e.g. Logis de France) everywhere in the country
for very reasonable prices, often with a perfect restaurant, shops for
the missus to go wild, theatre, concerts etc. etc.
That I speak the language reasonably well does help though.
I am lucky as Paris is only a 4 hour drive from where I live.
Kees Oudesluijs
NL
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