>Any lurkers in France? Anyone know what's going on there?
Just got a message from my daughter, who is in Europe on holiday. That was one of my questions, but she seems uninterested in that sort of thing.
>Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 11:16:40 +1100
>To: "Wendy Bartlett" <alb_8397 at hotmail.com>
>From: Bill Bartlett <billbartlett at dodo.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Update
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>You expected Parisians to be polite? This is a well-known FEATURE of
>Paris for God's sake, why not just enjoy it? Just enter into the
>spirit of the local culture and just experience and enjoy the French
>people doing what they love to do - let their dogs shit on the
>streets and abusing people who don't speak French! Its very quaint
>in a way.
>
>Incidentally, I watched an SBS documentary last night, filmed
>excerpts of the French equivalent of a Magistrates Court.
>Interesting how relatively informal it was, with the charged parties
>all rudely interrupting the magistrate, people talking over the top
>of each other. Basically, people charged with offenses are forced to
>answer directly to the magistrate, rather than being allowed to let
>their lawyer speak for them if they want, as happens here.
>
>The really odd thing, to me, was that officials like cops and
>parking inspectors were encouraged to make civil claims against
>anyone who gave them cheek. Or even called the cop a liar, which you
>would think was sometimes necessary if you wanted to deny what the
>cop was accusing you of. The Magistrate would award civil damages
>against defendants at the drop of a hat, meaning that they would be
>ordered to pay the cops damages. As well as any fines to the court.
>One poor bastard who called a parking cop a "bitch" was ordered to
>pay her 200 Euros damages, even though he had immediately apologised.
>
>200 Euros damages! For that! If one little word did a parking
>inspector that much of an injury, how very fragile must the French
>be? So even if they like to dish it out, remember they might be
>awfully sensitive when it comes to taking it themselves! Be careful
>what you say to them, any run-of-the-mill Australian insult would
>probably result in permanent injury or even death! You wouldn't want
>that on your conscience. ;-)
>
>But maybe that's why the French are so rude to foreigners - they're
>taking it out their frustration on those who won't know how to use
>what passes for a legal system in their country?
>
>Oh, and when you are in Disneyland, you aren't really in France
>anymore. Frankly, it is quite insensitive to go visit such a place
>when you have all the attractions of France to choose from. I can
>see why they might be a bit touchy.
>
>Anyhow, you haven't mentioned the riots going on in Paris for the
>last few days. I suppose you didn't go to this local attraction?
>Come on now, a traditional Parisian civil disorder event, how could
>you miss that and go to Disneyland instead! That's like going to
>Melbourne in November and not going to the Melbourne Cup.
>
>BTW: Your mother wants to me to ask you what she's supposed to do
>with the cords on that PSP she sent off for repairs?
>
>Oh, and she says hello, or bonjour.
>
>Bill
>
>At 6:18 AM +1100 3/11/05, Wendy Bartlett wrote:
>
>>Hello hello,
>>
>>just arrived and checked into London hostel and everything looks
>>good so far!!! I really liked Paris ... but there were a few things
>>unpleasant about it!!! The first thing of course was that it
>>absolutely stunk, especially but not only the train stations. I was
>>surprised that even in the really wealthy parts of Paris it smelt
>>bad aswell, outside the Ritz and Cartier builings. And of course
>>the rude french people was a bit of a turn off too. Very rarely did
>>we meet anyone with the slightest hint of manors and after a while
>>it gets very off putting. But it really is all worth it when you
>>take a trip to the Eiffel tower ... especially at night, or just
>>generally drive around and look at the amazing buildings. We went
>>to Disneyland yesterday and it was great, and I'm really glad I did
>>it (sorry dad), although I would forget I was in France half the
>>time .. until someone spoke to me that is.
>>
>>The hotel we were in was good, nothing flash but it was clean and
>>really close the the train stations which was great.
>>
>>The da Vinci tour was good, it didn't focus on the book much but
>>took you walking to the sights that were mentioned in it.
>>
>>We went to the Catacombs this morning. They were very eery and I
>>couldn't believe there were people there taking pictures of the
>>lines of bones .. continuously even though there were signs to say
>>not too. And really who wants pictures like that from a holiday.
>>
>>I've been really surprised about the security in Paris, you go to
>>somewhere like the Louvre or the Eiffel tower, and check your bags.
>>But they don't check them properly and they don't search you or
>>make you go through a metal detector so you could be carrying
>>anything.
>>
>>Sorry mum I haven't been able to call yet, hopefully should do that
>>in the morning so I'll probably end up telling you all this before
>>you read it!!!!!
>>
>>Katrina and I are getting along good but she didn't enjoy Paris so
>>much for all the reasons I said it sucked ... but times ten!
>>
>>Ok I have more emails to send so will talk to you later!!!#
>>
>>
>>Love,
>>
>>Wendy