32 replies to this topic

[Willie_T_For_Me]

Finishing up a project here in NYC then im off to Paris... Anyone have any experience living/working in Paris?

[Triple B]

Takes lots of chocolate and nylons ...

[charsibb]

Learn to speak French, don't ask directions in English as you are likely to be sent in the wrong direction intentionally.

[Apis Bull]

I agree with charsibb. Learn the language and customs. Also, travel every chance you get. You'll be basically in the middle of western Europe. Easy trip to several countries.

I was stationed in Sicily for 2 1/2 years. My roommate and I would take a spinner from a board game, place it on a map at our house and spin it. We would take a day trip in the direction it pointed. When we saw a sign for a town that had a cool name, we'd follow it and spend the day there.

[Rizman]

You can rent apartments in Paris. Learn the layout (municipal arrondissements) and the subway system is excellent, however they do go on strike at times so sometimes it is not running (same with the buses). Food is amazing.

Not a cheap city and avoid the areas that are all Muslim because they will occasionally have clashes with the police

[Rizman]

Here is who I rented from.

http://www.parisatti...CFYFT7AodTUcGsQ

[charsibb]

Eat like the locals, don't expect bacon and eggs for breakfast. Get a croissant and an espresso from the street vendor. Sip your wine. Savor it, don't drink it. Get the Lonely Planet guide for cheap stuff and the Fodor for the expensive ideas. Don't remind them of their military record, even as a joke. Especially as a joke. It's a sore spot. Be adventursome in ordering food. Let the waiter surprise you once in a while. Travel, travel, travel. And stay in youth hostels, the people you meet will amaze you. Fall in love. Learn to love unshaved pits and legs. Have fun!

[Rizman]

See some Futbol matches and go to the morning markets (famous one in Paris) to get your cheese and vegetables, even meats at some. Watch Anthony Bordain show No Reservations on France (Paris) specifically. Give up variety of beers that is not their thing.

[Rizman]

Rungis Market

http://robertetlouise.com/

[crambone]

Good luck.

[Willie_T_For_Me]

living in corporate housing near champs... thats not an issue... getting rosetta stone for language...

plan to travel every weekend... what are some good, relatively unknown spots?

[Willie_T_For_Me]

See some Futbol matches and go to the morning markets (famous one in Paris) to get your cheese and vegetables, even meats at some. Watch Anthony Bordain show No Reservations on France (Paris) specifically. Give up variety of beers that is not their thing.

plan on going to a paris saint germaine game... as well at matches in london and somewhere in germany

[Willie_T_For_Me]

You can rent apartments in Paris. Learn the layout (municipal arrondissements) and the subway system is excellent, however they do go on strike at times so sometimes it is not running (same with the buses). Food is amazing.

Not a cheap city and avoid the areas that are all Muslim because they will occasionally have clashes with the police

got a guide book recommendation?

[charsibb]

Get an international driving license from aaa. Some of the outoftheway places you'll need to rent a car.

[Apis Bull]

living in corporate housing near champs... thats not an issue... getting rosetta stone for language...

plan to travel every weekend... what are some good, relatively unknown spots?

Some of the most fun I've had was in small towns in the middle of nowhere.

[charsibb]

Toulouse and Avignon are both worth a trip, as is Chartres

[The_Sheriff]

I scored both in Toulan and Marseille (-2 for spelling) when my sub pulled into port back in the winter of 1995. So, add that to the bucket list of cities if you're single. Food was excellent... although I think they sold a smash sandwich which everyone talked about that I thought was overrated (I was drunk when I bought one). Tell the Frenchies they need to nut up next time we go to war... bunch of 'ginas over there

[Craig]

Toulouse is a nice city, but Lyon was my favorite. The French do prefer you to speak French, but some will try to help you in English. The roads in Paris are like a bowl of spaghetti. You can drive there, but it is a little challenging. Some of the rotundas are 5 and 6 rows of cars wide--it's unbelievable how they make it work. But the drivers are short tempered, and you can get the horn and wonder why you're getting the horn. My favorite place in Paris was up on the hill called Montmartre. You can look out over the city there, and some of the paintings the artist are doing up there are very nice. I loved the bakeries, and my favorite was "Tarte de Fraise". France is about 3% Christian, and like most all of Europe, it is a spiritual wasteland. The movies they show at the movie houses are bizzare. I would also stay out of the Muslim communities. This is an element that has been added since I was there in 1988. But there are lots of chateau's to visit the place has really beautiful scenery. Sorry, but I was only there 3 weeks.

Go to the TCU board and chat with BostonFrog. He recently spent a lot of time there working. He is a writer, and will probably give you more info than you want to know.

http://www.killerfro...howtopic=115111

Edited by Craig, 13 December 2011 - 03:02 AM.

[crambone]

Gotta bring religion into a non-religion thread, eh?

[Craig]

Gotta bring religion into a non-religion thread, eh?

Nothing defines a culture more than its religion.