Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with France

Eating well in Europe -- England, France, and Italy edition

Concolora — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:33:33 -0800

It's happening!! Mr. Concolora and I are flying out to London tomorrow to start our three week tenth wedding anniversary European extravanganza and I'm about to pop with excitement. We're going to be in London, Paris, Dijon, Verona, Vicenza, Venice, and Rome and we'd love some recommendations on where to eat. Snowflakes inside! We have two 'event' dinners planned, one in London and one in Paris. For those we're looking to spend somewhere in the thirty Euro per person range.

For everything else, we'd like to stay reasonably inexpensive while staying away from American style fast food. We love street food, we are incredibly adventurous eaters (offal is totally cool with us), and we actively want to eat local food. We have a small amount of French and Italian in our travelling party, and we're confident that we can pull off ordering , etc in restaurants where little or no English is spoken.

Help us eat well in Europe, AskMeFi!

International Smart Phone?

bodgy — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:13:18 -0800

I am an AT&T Customer with an iPhone 5. I am traveling to London, Paris, and Dusseldorf this summer and don't want to get killed with international data and cell charges. Plus I want good apps for translation, maps, etc. What's the best way to do this, and would I be better or worse off with an Android phone (Galaxy S4 or HTC One)? Any first-hand experience would be awesome. In a few years I have come to rely heavily on my iPhone for travel. Texting friends we're meeting, using the maps, taking photos and video on trips, plus just keeping up on eMails etc. while gone is vital to me personally and professionally.

But I rarely travel internationally. This summer, though, I'm going to England, France, and Germany. I've been trying to research pre-paid international SIM cards and such to keep costs down on the trip.

But then I read recently that Android, specifically on the Galaxy S4, has great translation apps where if I'm in Paris I can hold it up and it will tell me in text what someone is saying, and I can speak English into it and it will then say it in French, etc. That would be awesome in a pinch (though annoying for regular use).

I also really love the S4 having interchangeable batteries (I'm a battery hog when traveling and the iPhone 5 juice packs are not as inexpensive as they were for previous generations of iPhone)

Given that I'm under contract to AT&T that is my current limitation, but what phone would be the most helpful as a personal travel companion?

Best options for using an unlocked iPhone 4 in France & Italy?

saltykmurks — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:12:25 -0800

I'm going to France & Italy for about 3 weeks with my freshly-unlocked iPhone 4. I'm looking to pick up a SIM while I'm there and use it on a pre-paid plan, but the French carrier websites aren't being super helpful; none of them indicate whether their pre-paid SIMs will work on iPhone. Any advice, including best carrier/plan?

Where should we go this summer?

violinflu — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:34:21 -0800

Girlfriend and I are looking to get away this August, and we're looking for destinations. We want to spend ~10 days relaxing, experiencing some natural beauty, being warm, eating delicious food (both of the restaurant variety and the pick-up-bread-and-cheese-from-the-local-vendor variety) and generally unplugging from day-to-day life. Not big partiers, but we'd frequent the local cafe/pub. Something like a little cottage in the south of France would be our dream, but we're working with a budget of ~$4000 all-inclusive, so France may have to wait. We're 30ish and live in Boston. Idea us please!

Please help me get to Chaudes-Aigues in July. Thanks!

iamkimiam — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:14:58 -0800

I'm going to Chaudes-Aigues (France) in early July and I currently live in England (York). What are my (best) options for getting there? Would like to fly out of Manchester if at all possible, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what airlines and airports I should be looking into at the France end and how feasible train/bus travel is to/from places there. Thanks! Also, besides being a spa town, what kind of place is Chaudes-Aiges? It appears to me to be very small and possibly expensive...could I stay somewhere nearby that's bigger, cheaper and travel-accessible?

Tips and advice for a trip to London and Paris

xtine — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:16:05 -0800

I finally saved up enough flyer miles for a flight to Europe and I am super excited since I've never been. I'm planning on a week in London and then a week in Paris, advice for things to do while I'm there would be much appreciated. So I'm probably going to stay at an airbnb or hostel in London, and then take the Chunnel to meet my friend in the suburbs of Paris. I LOVE walking and wandering cities and taking various modes of public transport everywhere.

I have no idea what there is in London other than like... Big Ben? Buckingham Palace? (I am totally ignorant about England and would like to fix that.) I love cities but I also don't mind a day trip to the seaside or countryside if that is doable. But I'm pretty sure there may be well more than enough to fill my week stay in London with city stuff. Open to suggestions and things I should not miss in a week. Don't mind being a little bit of a tourist but I am most interested in local type things. I'll probably nom on all sorts of meat pies and street foods but will probably save most of my food coin for Paris.

As for Paris... I will be in the suburbs for a bit but then I plan on hitting up the Louvre for a few days and obviously see the Eiffel Tower. Other than that I don't know other things I should do. I love food, where are good places to eat that is not outrageously expensive and good for a potentially solo traveler? Not totally sure if my French friend will be joining me in Paris or not yet. I am also not picky in food and would like to try something authentic/local to the area. Oh and will probably go to the catacombs, so neat things like that too. I like museums but I like more of a balance of all things rather than spending most of my times indoors.

Oh and last question... I have an unlocked iPhone 4... what is the best SIM card I can get for a weeks data plan in England and France?

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.... et quoi encore?

DoubleLune — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:27:46 -0800

I am traveling to France this summer and going to spend a few days in Marseille. What literature is based around Marseille that I should read between now and then? I'd like to read the stories and then see the places while I'm there. (Publications in French or English are ok.) Bonus question: Other things to do/see in Marseille or Aix-en-Provence that don't have a literary reference.

Can you help me plan my trip to Germany, France and Italy?

BitterYouth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:29:22 -0800

I will be in Berlin, Prague, Venice, Florence, Rome, Marseilles and Paris this summer. I've never been to any of these places before. I will be spending about 2 days per city apart from Prague which is only 1 day. I realize it is a hectic trip and hard to see so much in such a short time, but that's the way the budget and time worked out. I will be traveling with two other students.

Advice I could use: where to stay (good hostels that you've stayed at?), tips/tricks to make things cheaper or easier to see (for example in Rome, I'm told that getting the bus tour package allows me to skip lines at the main tourist spots). We’re students and on a small budget and limited time in each city, so any ideas for making things efficient/cheaper would be awesome. Also things to see that I definitely don’t wanna miss in any of these places?

I have been using lonelyisland, ricksteves and seat61 but I was looking for more personalized advice.

THANK YOU!

Transportation - I'm traveling by train between most cities (already booked). So EuroRail pass is a nonissue at this point.

I have read some previous relevant threads, particularly this one about staying in Rome.

PS - I've never asked a Q before so I might be doing this all wrong....have mercy.

Difficile a trouver...

Calicatt — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:43:43 -0800

Heya French people! What small, US-made items are difficult to find in France that might make a nice gift? I'm staying with some folks in Agen and then in Paris and want to bring a little something in thanks for the hospitality.

Alternatively, any ideas for little items that I could bring back that are easy to find there but hard in the US would also be welcome.

Merci!

Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland Travel Ideas

murrey — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:26:16 -0800

The Murrey family is heading to Germany this July and staying in Stuttgart with friends. They have a car. We need your guidance on what to see and where to go. I will be there with Toddler Murrey for the whole month and Mr. Murrey will be there for the last 2 weeks. Our friends are game for whatever we want to do (they have a toddler too). However, they suggested renting a home on the French coast (Eze/Nice/Cannes/Villefranche-sur-mer/Monte Carlo) for 4 or 5 days. This sounds lovely but it is a bit of a haul and am wondering if it would be worth doing all of that traveling on top of the long flight from Texas. But I love the beach!

Basically, we are looking for suggestions as to what we should do/see. Our lodging is free in Stuttgart and would like to keep costs down a bit but we are willing to stay somewhere if there is a must see place to go. In other words, if there are day trips around Stuttgart, great. But we are also willing to go to France, Austria, and Switzerland if there is something great to do and see.

Here is what we have on our paltry itinerary so far:

One night, 2 days in Paris for me and Mr. Murrey (our friends will watch our son while we bullet train it over there).

Last 2 or three nights in Amsterdam.

That's it!

Also, bonus points if you can give information about whether to rent a car to get to Amsterdam from Stuttgart or take a train -- are great things to see along the way there where a car would be better?

Where to shop for bras in Paris, France

matildaben — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:05:50 -0800

What are some of the best stores for bra shopping in Paris, France? They must have awesome bras for ladies with DD+ cup sizes. Où sont les meilleurs magasins et boutiques à Paris pour acheter des soutiens-gorge pour une femme de grande taille?

How to order a specific coffee-based experience in Paris

dorgla — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:30:12 -0800

When in Paris in 2009, my sister and I saw the people at a table near us being served a delightful assortment of small pastries to accompany a coffee - and at the time, we learned the name for this. Apparently it is a "thing." But those brain cells have long since been killed off. We may be re-visiting Paris in 2014, and if we want to replicate this experience...what does one call it? I think there were three small bits of heaven on the side of the coffee.

Decode This German Shorthand Mystery Letter From 1939!

The Whelk — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:56:03 -0800

This envelope with a letter inside was found inside a large decaying bound edition of Shakespeare auf Deutsch in a junk shop in Bushwick that was only apparently open for a few months before disappearing. The letter, postmarked 15 March, 1939 - was sent to Paris by a Mr. Henri Wolf. The contents of the letter appear to be German shorthand. Included was small piece of what looks like code, there's nothing else on the back.The letter, envelope, postcard, etc in question are at this imgur album. Hivemind: What the hell is this?

Help me navigate the world of planning a trip abroad.

DoubleLune — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:19:35 -0800

I'm going abroad this summer. What advice would you give to someone who hasn't been abroad in a decade? What resources exist for traveling? Specific areas: Sardinia, Italy (mainland), France, possibly London. I'll be in Sardinia for a month on an academic trip -- this is organized by others and I have to do no planning. Afterwards, I plan to spend a week or two in Europe. I'd like to do something like fly to London, and then work my way back to Rome (it seems to be cheapest to ultimately fly in and out of Rome). How long is reasonable to allow for this? I'd like to spend 2 weeks, but may be limited to 1 week due to the expense. How can I keep my costs down and maximize my time in Europe? I don't have a budget yet, but how much should I be planning for (excluding plane fare)?

And the places I'd like to see most are southern France and Italy. Is it a bad idea to try to get to Paris and London as well? Or if I fly to London, will I be able to do it all in 2 weeks? I'd like to spend a few days in each place, but don't want to burn myself out from traveling. Should I spend more time in fewer places? I've been to Paris before, but would love to go back (it was on a school trip 10 years ago).

Are hostels the best option for lodging? How safe are they? I am female, late 20s, will probably be traveling alone for part of this (I do know some people also going this summer and may meet up with them, but they're backpacking and don't have their itinerary well-planned yet).

And my general travel preference is to feel relaxed, not obligated to be somewhere at a certain time, see a lot, and really soak up the culture. Also I know French well, but would love to improve it well enough to consider myself fluent while I'm there. Other than just not speaking English while I'm in France, what's the best way to do this? I know about 5 words of Italian, good resources to learn some basics in the next couple months?

Postcard to Japan

Evstar — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:33:31 -0800

I want to send a postcard from France to this restaurant in Japan where my friend is a cook. There appears to be an address on the front page of the website, but I'll be damned if I can make out what it says, much less recreate it on a postcard in a way that the French post can parse. I'm sure I could ask him myself, but I would prefer to surprise him. Can anyone help me with this?

Finding summer accommodation in Paris

pikeandshield — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:47:04 -0800

I'm going to Paris in July and August this summer to take a language course at the Sorbonne. Yay! However, my original plan to stay at a friend's flat has fallen through, and I'm going to have to search for my own accommodation. I don't know where to start... and my French isn't great. Help! My priority is location (near a metro station and safe), access to a kitchen, cost (cheap as possible, absolute maximum €1000/month) and security. Size/comfort/decour is unimportant. I've never flathunted before, not even in my own country, and it all seems overwhelming. From searching there seems to be a few options:

a) Go to Paris and look for an apartment on foot. I've heard that this is the fastest and easiest method, but I'd feel very uncomfortable turning up to a new place without a guarantee of a roof over my head unless this is the only way.

b) Rent a short-term apartment on sites like Parisstay. I've never done this before though, and I don't know how trustworthy such agencies/websites are?

c) Find a hostel/dormitory-style arrangement - however these seem to be geared for actual French college students who rent it out long-term (6 months~1 year), or for short-term tourists (~2 weeks).

d) Find a homestay. I've never done this and have no idea how to go about finding one.

Other info: I'm female, 20s, from the UK, could find a French guarantor if needed, and can theoretically go to Paris to flat-hunt later this month or in June if necessary.

Do you have any advice on how to look for a short-term place in Paris? Would it be better value for money if I rent an apartment, or is 2 months too short? Many websites I come across are solely in French and with my only rudimentary grasp of the language it's proving to be a bit of a headache.

Many thanks.

Are there other French TV shows I can watch via Roku?

lxs — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:56:34 -0800

Are there other French TV shows I can watch via Roku? I've gotten really, REALLY into watching Spiral (or 'Engrenages'), which is apparently the first French-language TV show that Netflix has made available for viewers in the US.

Are there other French-language TV shows (with English subtitles) that I can watch now that I've finished? The catch is that I'm hoping to specifically be able to watch via my Roku box, rather than on a computer. This means that Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are at my disposal, as well as whatever other channels are available on Roku. I looked (both on the device and by googling) and haven't found anything yet. But, most sites don't have the option to search for French-language TV so it seemed very possible that I'd missed something.

Thanks, in advance!

Frameable topo/geo map of France?

sandettie light vessel automatic — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:45:32 -0800

I want to purchase a frameable map of France, done in a similar manner to this one of Oregon. My Google powers are letting me down, even in French. All I'm able to find so far are 3D, molded-plastic relief maps, and then regional, folding topo maps. Any clues welcome.

When was the printer Oliveau & Fils graveur in Bordeaux in operation?

kirsti — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:09:23 -0800

I have an olive oil label printed in France by A. Oliveau & Fils graveur in Bordeaux for a grocery store or outfit in Mexico City, Cia. Abarrotera. The label looks like it is from the very early 1900s. I would like to know when Cia. Abbarrotera and/or A. Oliveau & Fils graveur was in operation.

Where can I run Paris?

rybreadmed — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:51:18 -0800

We're staying near the Hotel Le Littre from next Thursday through Sunday. Where I can I go for a nice run? The wifey and I are heading out for some excitement across the Atlantic in Paris, and then in London. We are going to be in Paris from next Thursday through Sunday (after which, we're continuing on to London).

We will be staying at Hotel Le Littre, and I want to run--between 5 and 8 miles would be ideal. All I know about the area is what I see on Google Maps and in the tour books. It doesn't really tell me where there are good places to run, or if the streets and/or sidewalks are too narrow or crowded. I wouldn't mind crossing a couple of busy streets, but don't want to do this repeatedly. And I don't know French, which I hope won't be too much of a problem. Unless I get lost--in which case I may have difficulty asking for directions (more so from stubbornness than the language barrier).

I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have ideas for multiple routes, or if there's something a short metro ride away. Bonus points for amazing sites and flat stretches. You'll lose points if I trip on cobblestones or get stabbed.

And is there anything major I should know about running in Paris? Any odd laws or rules that I should know? Do they take jaywalking seriously over there? Is it advisable to run at a certain time of day versus another (ie. morning versus evening)?

Magical, quirky Parisian nights?

thesnowyslaps — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:45:22 -0800

Where to go and what to do in Paris this weekend? Good ways to meet people when in town for just a couple of nights? Gonna be in Paris on Saturday and Sunday nights this coming weekend. Would like to get out and have some fun those nights, meet people if possible. Any suggestions? Should note that i am not really a club person or anything like that. Wouldn't mind catching a show someplace low key or finding a bar with friendly people. Have you found any quaint little oaises tucked away somewhere? I have been to paris enough times that I am kinda over the touristy stuff . . .

Help Me Come Up with a Quirky Username for VLogging my exchange!

rhythm_queen — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:55:20 -0800

I'm going on exchange to Lille, France in January til June. I want to record my experiences on YouTube by V-Logging--can you help me think of a cute and quirky YouTube username? My brain is failing me! Also, looking for general advice and suggestions for students going on exchange. Hello! I'm a 20 year old female business student going on exchange to
Lille, France. Please help me come up with a cute and quirky YouTube username for my v-logging adventures. (the only semi decent one i can think of is FilleALille)
Ill be talking to the camera about what's going on and also taking actual videos of my surroundings. I already have a YouTube channel with a small following so I think a few people will be interested in seeing them :) and it's a good way to log my experiences and encourage others to go on exchange!

It will also help me have an external focus and keep me from brooding in my head a lot. I love making vids so I think it will be a good idea.

Also wondering about any other advice you have for me! I'm traveling for the first time on my own. I'm living alone for the first time, also. I know some French. Any advice? Any at all? :)

Thank you!

Le Pop Super-Bon!

Capt. Renault — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:53:32 -0800

Le Pop Super-Bon! Can anyone suggest French bubble-gum pop that's especially au courant? Like Yelle (particularly her first album), only more recent? Stuff good for dancing or for cleaning the house. I've seen these threads, but they're a bit stale. Merci à tous!

Are air quotes international, or localized?

zamboni — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:47:48 -0800

Do Francophones (or other users of non-English quotation marks) use “air quotes”? If so, is it the anglais rabbit ears of forced irony, or a gesture resembling «guillemets»?

Shipping from France to USA

HMSSM — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:44:25 -0800

How can I order from amazon.fr marketplace from a seller who doesnt ship to the USA? I found the perfect gift for my husband and can only find it on amazon.fr. After muddling through the checkout, I realized the seller won't ship it to the USA.
Do you know of a reputable mail forwarder or something who I can ship it to and then they will ship to me?