I wish I could stay in France.

[GoneOffShore]

We're about to return to Philadelphia after a month in France.

Home exchange for 2+ weeks, 5 days travelling and another 6 days staying with friends.

We don't want to go back.

Why?

It's quieter here (generally people don't shout and windows insulate well). The climate is better - even though it was 90 during the day today, it's now 65 (and there is minimal air conditioning and no ceiling fans) . The roads, public transport, infrastructure in general is a 100 times better. Rail stations connect with bus stations connect with airports. Cars have manual transmissions (this is a plus because one is obliged to actually concentrate on driving). It is actually not necessary to own a car unless one lives deep in the country.
Yes, taxes are higher - see above - and more people smoke (yes, but those numbers are going down) and you are more likely to be asked for your ID by the cops. But restaurants will take your personal check (with ID), no one asks if you go to church. 99.9% of the population does not have food issues (though to counter that homeopathy is big here). Foie gras is not considered sinful nor is having an alcoholic drink at lunch a problem.

We're already planning our next trip.

[Major Nikon]

1. I just got back from Quebec

It's very much like France except fewer people speak English.

[clarice]

2. I'm so glad that you had a wonderful time.....

We toured Europe about five years ago. Your experience sounds soooo MUCH different than ours.
We found the people to be so....ummm... what's the word?...FRENCH! I think my Husband said it best.
" They act so superior, but in looking around, I can't imagine why"

Italians? = lovely people
Scotts? = A BLAST !!! I'm still recovering from the hangover
Brits? =ehhhhh

[mnhtnbb]

11. On our last trip to London and Paris

I noticed a big difference in the helpfulness of the Brits vs. the French. I'm a senior citizen--in my 60's--
and my husband is in his 70's--but we still haul our own luggage around and use public transportation systems.

In London, when bumping up/down staircases to the tubes, someone always stepped up to ask to carry my
suitcase for me. Always. It was quite nice. In Paris, my suitcase got stuck in the turnstile going through
the entrance to the Metro from the Gare de Lyon. My husband was trying to push it through from the station
side and I was trying to pull it through from the Metro side. A station attendant was standing nearby--just
watching. Didn't offer to help. I finally looked straight at him and asked for his help--in French. He
immediately came over and managed to get the suitcase unstuck.

I have had the same kind of experience previously in France on other trips. Make the attempt to speak
in French, and people are helpful and quite nice. But if you don't speak the language, you're on your own!

[betsuni]

3. I hate the way booze is seen as some sort of dangerous substance in the U.S.

No enjoying a can of beer in the park or at the beach. At food festivals and events you have to go to special areas and show ID before entering just to sip a little amber ale. I'm often asked for ID when ordering such beverages even though I'm old. Maybe if I understood why they do it I wouldn't get angry, it seems like harassment. I don't have a driver's license -- have to take my passport everywhere in my own country, ridiculous.

When my husband and I visited Europe and discovered that fast food places sold beer, we thought, THIS IS CIVILIZATION. When in Germany we observed people drinking beer at breakfast, we fainted. It is not assumed that having a beer with lunch means you are a dangerous alcoholic deviant who must be separated from polite society and herded into dark smoky gross bars.

[pinboy3niner]

4. I'm going to a baseball game for the first time in decades

Part of the ticket proceeds benefits a veterans' group I'm involved with, and my best friend is throwing out the first pitch.

The theme is Jimmy Buffett Night, and the Parrotheads and our group have a special area that's next to the stadium's beer garden. Plus there's a tailgate party for an hour before the game and a post-game concert.

Alcohol is definitely allowed here at many sporting events, plus opera and theater intermissions. On the street or at the beach, not so much.

But despite the differences between us and Europe, I really don't see a lot of oppression against alcohol drinkers here. It's sold in supermarkets and drug stores and we seem to have liquor stores on practically every corner. Bars and restaurant/bars are everywhere. And on the street you can just do what others do--brownbag it.

[underahedgerow]

8. Wellllll the beach beer is risky. I had a friend who got ticketed for having beer on the beach

in Santa Monica. Of course, she was a person of color, so we know what THAT was all about.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Racial discrimination still persists everywhere

Amazing that anyone can believe that "post-racial" crap.

I'll drink to the day when we finally get past that.

[alarimer]

20. In most state and national parks, alcohol is illegal.

But of course, if you're camping, it's possible to smuggle it in for drinking at night.

[pinboy3niner]

5. At least you can say...

"We'll always have parrots."

[underahedgerow]

7. Wiseass.

Love it.

[GoneOffShore]

17. Perfect!!!

Stealing.

Sitting in Marseille Airport, using the free renewable high speed wifi. Waiting to board our flight to Frankfurt and then to Philadelphia. Temperature is in the mid 70's and it was cool last night after a day in Cassis where it was HOT.

No hassles at security, everyone was polite, and the Lufthansa desk agent actually seemed glad to see us.

[underahedgerow]

6. I moved to France over 10 years ago & spend my time between Paris and Cannes.

Wouldn't have it any other way and agree with all the things you said.

I dragged my then 12 year old kid along with me and she got a fantastic education including 'fashion design high school'. The FR alternative to US trade schools. Here, they're not limited to hair cutting and auto mechanics and agriculture. She moved back to LA last year and is very happy for now.

I'm happy here. It's slower, more calm. If I need my big city fix I head to Paris and revel in its glory. Even Paris is quieter and slow, especially in the evenings after 7 and on weekends. The farmers markets in each city and village are a cooks delight, when in the South of France I'm just 40 minutes from Italy, which is heaven, their markets are even better!

The health care rocks. I had varicose vein surgery earlier this year and paid less than 50 euros for all of it, including a day room in the hospital and the surgery, medication & associated stuff.

Dental care is still expensive but that and my optical are subsidized by my personal co-insurance. I have an allowance of 250 euros a year to supplement the state payments. For expensive dental work I can pay my dentist in monthly checks.

Heck even when I bought my doggie 2 years ago, the shop took 3 checks and cashed one each month. The big shops for household gadgets and gear will also allow you to make 3 payments by debit, without any interest charges or penalties.

Life is easier. I rather like it.

Yup, it's pretty awesome.

[GoneOffShore]

18. We drove from St Jean de Luz to Toulouse

And then on to Aix where our Brit friends live.

Both cities are excellent with a slower pace and great restaurants.

We're going to be back as soon as we can.

Just trying to figure a way to live here permanently.

[underahedgerow]

19. Real estate! Holiday rentals can be a highly lucrative business. And if you're good in any kind of

building trades, you can create your own job.

Lots of work in the high tech industries in Sophia Antipolis, near Nice & Cannes, it's the Silicon Valley of France.

Entrepreneurship is the way to go, with a good, well thought out plan. And, you simply must speak fluent French.

[GoneOffShore]

23. Ah, to speak fluent French..

Let us underline the fluent in my case, as <Je triche beaucoup de temps>.

I can get by in the restaurant, the butcher, the market, etc, etc. But put me in a law office or an immoblier and I will quickly get lost.

And Mrs GoS is great with nouns and the occasional adverb and adjective, but she's very much in the David Sedaris 'Me talk pretty one day' mode.

[Arugula Latte]

24. Is it difficult to emigrate there from the US?

Like, do you have to have special skills? Did they try to limit your stay?

Just curious how it all works. This is a dream of mine, but in reality it won't happen while there are elderly parents in the picture.

[mnhtnbb]

10. We honeymooned in France for a month in 1985

Drove all over. Had a fabulous time. We've been back several times--most recently in May last year--
and visited our French "daughter" and her family just outside Paris this last time. She lived with us
for almost a year in the late 80's as a foreign exchange student.

One of her friends she made (while here as an exchange student) moved to Lyon to marry the love of his life two years ago. They met
when he was there on a 6 week summer study course to improve his French for his teaching job
in Kansas City, MO. He now is a teacher for an international school in Lyon.

It's quite possible to figure out a way to make a move to France. He's connected to quite an ex-pat community
in Lyon.

[pinboy3niner]

12. I honeymooned in France and 4 other countries in '72

Kind of a whirlwind tour of Europe, but it was a blast! We'd booked regular rooms but hotels would give us the penthouse when they learned it was our honeymoon. What an experience!

[UTUSN]

14. How come *I* don't remember this?!1 n/t

[Arugula Latte]

25. Because you were very drunk the whole time.

Pinboy really plied you with alcohol, including black market absinthe, as I recall. No wonder you don't remember anything.

[UTUSN]

13. Sigh. My fantasy: Fly to Barcelona; take (whatever wheels) through Lourdes, then

(whatever wheels) to Lyon, then to Paris, that's all.


Is it feasible?

[oldandhappy]

15. I'd say welcome home, but ... smile

Sounds as if you had a wonderful experience. I am glad for you. Have been pondering how to get out of the country until after the Nov. 2016 election. I am already tired of the chaos! Keep some of that peace wrapped up in your heart.

[sir pball]

16. I personally prefer southern Switzerland.

Have very good family friends in Ferney-Voltaire, which is a...6km, I think, bus trip from the center of Geneva. It's a lovely city indeed, one of my favorites, but once you get up into the lakeside mountains, and have the cheese Malakoffs (nothing like the dessert a hyper-local specialty) with some of the lightly sparking, limestone-dry white wine that's unknown outside the region simply because they drink it all...heaven.

And then a midsummer's drive to Mürren, well, it's easy to see why Tolkien modeled Rivendell on a Swiss valley.

[GoneOffShore]

21. We were in Geneva, Lausanne and Gruyeres two summers ago.

Kept driving into France because the food is better and about 30% cheaper.

Don't get me wrong, Switzerland is beautiful, but the Swiss are so....... Swiss.

[trof]

22. I had many Paris layovers in my airline career.

I looked forward to every one.
A bistro owner where the crew kind of hung out took me back into his kitchen and showed me how to make pommes frits.

Another restaurant owner gave me a set of 'specialized dishes'(?) that he served escargot in.

I love Paris...in the springtime...