France top tips

[EuroTrotters]

Learn A few Phrases in French

 

[Pete5996]

Now, let me explain. A licence to me and to French people, is a paper, allowing you to do this or that, as in driving licence, or chasing licence or fishing licence. If you don't t show it when asked you can t do whatever you wanted to, chasing fishing...etc.... But TV redevance is a tax, as in road tax English seem to have, we don't.
I don t need a paper to buy my TV set. I buy one, put it in my house and watch the programs. Now, when I receive my papers to declare income tax and it can be a year later, I must leave the box unticked if I have a TV set, or tick it if I haven t got one. This is part of my income tax, and we never use the word licence for that, otherwise you should also have a licence to work. It might be a matter of word for you, but to me it is not, it's totally different. I can buy a TV, keep it for 6 months and sell it, won t have to both declare it and pay for it. Does it make sense?

Thank you, Frankie, I've learned something today!

 

[yodeli]

If a vehicle approaching flashes their headlights they are not admiring your Motorhome but warning of a speed trap further down the road.

Do not argue with the Gendarmes or Municipal Police - they don't carry a pistol for fun.

It might also mean, if you re in the center of a town...at night time...."Are you looking for some sexual game/fun?"
In Toulouse, next to the Point Neuf and the Prairie Des Filtres, Cars flashing are for gay men only. While the Rue Bayard is devoted to prostitution. ?

 

[Pete5996]

It might also mean, if you re in the center of a town...at night time...."Are you looking for some sexual game/fun?"
In Toulouse, next to the Point Neuf and the Prairie Des Filtres, Cars flashing are for gay men only. While the Rue Bayard is devoted to prostitution. ?

I've learned something else, as well!

 

[TCG]

It might also mean, if you re in the center of a town...at night time...."Are you looking for some sexual game/fun?"
In Toulouse, next to the Point Neuf and the Prairie Des Filtres, Cars flashing are for gay men only. While the Rue Bayard is devoted to prostitution. ?

can someone give me some directions please ? ? ? but only for the top one....

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[Onemanandhisdog]

Has noone mentioned wearing a gas mask when you go to bed?

 

[suavecarve]

I've learned something else, as well!

And there are other codes involved in this as well.
Windows being half opened, fully opened, interior lights on or door opened mean different levels of participation for spectators.

In answer to everybodys next question .....

.....We caught a couple one night with half a dozen "spectators" and the couple told us what all the signals meant and how they go about arranging meetings. (honest)

 

[klaatu]

Correction. Part fund the BBC - other funds come from HM Govenment, i.e. out of all my tax I pay in the UK, but BBC will not allow me to watch many things outside the UK.

Geoff

That came as a surprise to me, so I tried to find out how much came from the government. All I can find, from several sources, is that 76% comes from the licence fee, and the rest from commercial activity. Can you help me find the information which corroborates your statement, please?

 

[moulin 87]

That came as a surprise to me, so I tried to find out how much came from the government. All I can find, from several sources, is that 76% comes from the licence fee, and the rest from commercial activity. Can you help me find the information which corroborates your statement, please?

Up until recently didn't the govt. pay/subsidise the World Service to pump the UK's view of the world to them foreigner types!!

 

[klaatu]

Up until recently didn't the govt. pay/subsidise the World Service to pump the UK's view of the world to them foreigner types!!

I believe that may have been the case, yes, up until a few years ago.

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[nicholsong]

Up until recently didn't the govt. pay/subsidise the World Service to pump the UK's view of the world to them foreigner types!!

I think they still do, paid for by the Foreign Office, but do not broadcast to Europe anymore.

 

[klaatu]

I think they still do, paid for by the Foreign Office, but do not broadcast to Europe anymore.

It’s been funded from the licence fee since 2014. Which leaves me still wondering where the government funding applies?

 

[nicholsong]

It’s been funded from the licence fee since 2014. Which leaves me still wondering where the government funding applies?

Maybe I am out of date as I left UK 8 years ago but had not read of any change.

 

[Lenny HB]

Unless you have an arm and a leg to spare don't eat out in the evening.
However lunchtime menu's are very good value.

 

[Chris]

If you have to speak to the locals then keep it simple.

Like - “Which way is Spain?”

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[klaatu]

Unless you have an arm and a leg to spare don't eat out in the evening.
However lunchtime menu's are very good value.

Nice tip. Even the most expensive restaurants will often offer a very reasonable menu du jour at lunchtime. Exactly the same food.

 

[Jane And Rog]

If a café doesn’t sell its own food, then they won’t mind if you buy your croissants at the local boulangerie and eat them with their coffee.

If you want a large coffee with milk, ask for a “grand crème” rather than a “cafe au lait”. A waiter told me years ago that that marks you out as a foreigner.

 

[jongood]

My number one tip is 'Be very careful on roundabouts' dont assume anything! especially if an approaching vehicle is in the left hand lane with its left indicator flashing, it probably isnt going to turn left as we know it.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Bloody Hell!

Its all about TV licences and SEX!

I'm off to watch sex on the TV ( I have a licence.)

 

[Camping Gaza]

If you want a large coffee with milk, ask for a “grand crème” rather than a “cafe au lait”. A waiter told me years ago that that marks you out as a foreigner.

What about turning up in Crocs, socks and khaki shorts wearing a Tilly hat?

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[nicholsong]

What about turning up in Crocs, socks and khaki shorts wearing a Tilly hat?

They would think you were Australian not British

 

[yodeli]

If a café doesn’t sell its own food, then they won’t mind if you buy your croissants at the local boulangerie and eat them with their coffee.

If you want a large coffee with milk, ask for a “grand crème” rather than a “cafe au lait”. A waiter told me years ago that that marks you out as a foreigner.

I will try to remember this if I happen to go to a cafe in the morning, I m not really aware of this kind of difference. I would have asked for a cafe au lait, but then I am French and can explain what I want. I knew the "grand crème" but never thought that not saying that would put me in the foreign basket.?

 

[yodeli]

They would think you were Australian not British

Not sure of that. Most French people would associate socks sandals or crocks to English people.

 

[Pete5996]

If you have to speak to the locals then keep it simple.

Like - “Which way is Spain?”

Damn, I gave that a funny - must stop encouraging him...

 

[Hollyberry]

And there are other codes involved in this as well.
Windows being half opened, fully opened, interior lights on or door opened mean different levels of participation for spectators.

In answer to everybodys next question .....

.....We caught a couple one night with half a dozen "spectators" and the couple told us what all the signals meant and how they go about arranging meetings. (honest)

I led a very sheltered life in France. Never knew any of this went on......

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[yodeli]

Damn, I gave that a funny - must stop encouraging him...

You beat me to it

 

[suavecarve]

I led a very sheltered life in France. Never knew any of this went on......

It probably goes on in France.
I know it (unfortunately) goes in on in the car parks within the leafy area of Surrey.

How i found out

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[denisejoe]

If a café doesn’t sell its own food, then they won’t mind if you buy your croissants at the local boulangerie and eat them with their coffee.

If you want a large coffee with milk, ask for a “grand crème” rather than a “cafe au lait”. A waiter told me years ago that that marks you out as a foreigner.

We're OK we just order cafe!

 

[Jane And Rog]

I will try to remember this if I happen to go to a cafe in the morning, I m not really aware of this kind of difference. I would have asked for a cafe au lait, but then I am French and can explain what I want. I knew the "grand crème" but never thought that not saying that would put me in the foreign basket.?

So my waiter was just being cruel to us Unless it’s a regional thing? This was in Vence when we lived there 2003 ish.

 

[yodeli]

So my waiter was just being cruel to us Unless it’s a regional thing? This was in Vence when we lived there 2003 ish.

No, honestly, I wasn t aware of this, but this is probably, no , surely true. The main difference stands in the fact that me being French no one would have corrected me, as it can be ( but I doubt it) a local thing. And as I said yesterday I can still explain what I want. Also, I usually have my breakky at home so I will hardly go to a cafe and order one and I only have black coffee later in the day. So I really don't t know what to ask for.
I think the waiter wanted to please you more than anything else, giving you some good tip. Take it as so, it was nice!
Some bakery sellers would do the same with pains au chocolat as they call it, when we, southern people are asking for chocolatines instead. Once you have gone through center of France going up North, these sort of croissant but rectangular with chocolate in the middle are called pains au chocolat. And quite regularly I m being told off if I use the word chocolatine. Grrr I was brought with that word so there, either they sell one to me or.... F....o...Sorry!

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