Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with france

What is this lead ring?

tellurian — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:17:20 -0800

In this excerpt from Beloved Son Felix, there is a description of a body that they have disinterred for an autopsy. They find a lead ring which causes disgust. What would the lead ring be? The relevant part:

On opening the winding sheet in which the body was sewn, we found a woman with a congenital deformity of the legs, the two feet turned inward. We did an autopsy and found, among other curiosities, various veins vasorum spermaticorum, which were not deformed, but followed the curve of the legs toward the buttocks. She had a lead ring, and as I detest these, it added to my disgust.

Surely not a lead ring on her finger, that wouldn't cause such detestation, would it? Could it be that it was some sort of device she wore because she had deformed legs?

2 weeks driving around Europe at Christmas - what not to miss?

allkindsoftime — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:12:48 -0800

European road-trip for the holidays (filter). Meeting up with a friend in Paris on the evening of the 19th - both of us traveling there from different continents and wrapping up on Jan 2nd back in Paris. Here's the current plan:

Week 1 (Road Trip!):
12/19 - Arrive Paris, stay overnight.
12/20 - Drive to Munich, staying with friends.
12/21 - Explore Munich, Christmas markets, etc.
12/22 - Drive to Vienna with a stop in Steyr, Austria*.
12/23 - Explore Vienna, Christmass markets, etc.
12/24 - More Vienna, Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stephansdom*.
12/25 - Drive to Venice.
12/26 - Explore Venice.

Week 2 (based out of Geneva, where we have a free apartment):
12/27 - Drive to Geneva.
12/28 - Ski Chamonix, stay in Geneva
12/29 - More skiing, still in Geneva.
12/30 - More skiing, last night in Geneva.
12/31 - Drive to Paris for New Years.
1/1 - Explore Paris
1/2 - Friend flies out, I'm off to London for a day then flying out myself on the 3rd.

*Both of these were "local recommendations" given by friends - cool things to see and do. I am particularly interested on these around our route.

My questions:

1. Cheap / decent hotel near the airport in Paris - any suggestions?

2. Driving - we're both pretty set on it because a) we both love driving / road trips, and b) we crave the flexibility of being able to stop off in this or that place along the way, stay at a B&B outside the city rather than a hotel in it, etc.. We realize trains are good around here but would really need a strong argument against driving to sway us at this point. Any tips on tolls / etc. appreciated, as well as things along our routes not to miss.

3. Hotel in Vienna - same as above, we are looking for something more local / small, preferably on the city outskirts. From what I understand most of Europe will shut down on the 25/26th, so I figure on spending Christmas day on the road.

4. Hotel in Venice - see above.

5. Best skiing recommendations within reasonable driving distance of Geneva? I'm pretty set on Chamonix as I've been reading about skiing there my entire life, and extreme skiing is my "thing," although not my friend's, so I'm only pushing for one day there - the other 2 days we're looking for something more enjoyable to ride together.

6. New Years Eve in Paris - where to go? What to do? Where to stay?

Any input on the above or anything I'm not thinking of is appreciated in advance. I've only been to the UK and Greece before so if parts of (hopefully not all!) my plans are idiotic, please hope me. We're pretty much going off of the Lonely Planet guide and the AskMe tags (i.e. Vienna, Venice, etc.) for things to do in the cities we are at, but any other suggestions on stops along the way that are don't-miss are appreciated.

Warmish places to go in Europe?

walla — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:37 -0800

Where in Southern Europe should we go for a few winter months? We work remotely and are considering spending January through March in Europe. We've done this before in Northern Europe (Germany, northern France & Italy), but because of the season we're thinking about going south. Ideally we'd rent an apartment for a month in each of 2 or 3 places.

We love smallish, walkable, affordable cities - Freiburg, Germany was one of our favorites - but we're flexible. It's great if there are day trips nearby, as we won't have to start working until 3 PM.

Thanks for any ideas!

How much notice do I need to give? (France, fixed term contract)

handee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:43:10 -0800

How much notice do I have to give at work? I'm in France, and my contract lasts 1 year. I'm employed in France on a fixed term contract (a CDD - Contrat duree determinee). I'm half way through so I've started applying for other jobs. The job application form I'm currently working on wants to know my notice period. I have no idea, and it's not in my contract. (Just in case my boss reads this: I have every intention of staying to the end of the contract, I just need this for the form.) I think the law covering my contract is this one: article 86-83, but my French is not quite up to the job of finding the information in that page...

Looking for cheap DVD shops in Paris (Left Bank)

lahersedor — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:37:49 -0800

While I'm in Paris (for a short stop) I plan to buy DVDs (movies) by french new wave directors like truffaut. I have heard that there are cheap DVD shops in Paris. Do you know of any good ones in the Left Bank ? I will be staying in Montparnasse.

Living in or near Honfleur, France

whatzit — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:44:31 -0800

I'm moving to France (not to paint houses)! Two big questions: Where to live while working in Honfleur? What should I buy in Japan or the US before moving, to take advantage of better prices? LIVING in Honfleur should be different than being a tourist. It was great as a tourist! But will I be bored silly living there? Should I stay in Le Havre or even Rouen? For work I should be out of the office ~50% of the time anyway. I am in my 20s, single, prefer an international, urban environment, and like access to food, sports, universities, public transport. I reckon a car is unavoidable.

DESPITE your and my own advice to move with as little as possible, the employer will pay shipping, and I have an advantage on prices on some things in Japan and the US. Should I ship my bicycle (mountain bike)? Go on a clothes spree? Am I forgetting anything?? Electronics are not an option (110-220 issue).

(This is as sudden, but more definite and more exciting than the previous Qatar option...)

Vegetarian seeks tasty food in Western Europe

embrangled — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:57:04 -0800

What tasty foods should an adventurous vegetarian eat in the UK and Western Europe? I eat eggs and dairy, but not meat and only rarely fish. I'm not overly uptight about trace animal products or stock. I'll be travelling through England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. These countries aren't generally known as hotbeds of vegetarianism, but I'd still like to try as many interesting local foods as I can.

A meat-eating friend has been joking that I'll starve - I'm more optimistic, so help me prove him wrong. I'm not worried about what I'll eat, but I'd like to expand my culinary horizons beyond "That one vegan cafe in the hippy district". Which quintessential European meals and snacks just happen to be meat-free?

Leather-free fashion in Paris?

nicoleincanada — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:21:59 -0800

Where can I find leather-free clothing in Paris? Specifically, I'm looking for boots and shoes, but bonus points for jackets, belts and the like. I'll soon be spending a week in Paris, and it seems reasonable to expect that one should be able to buy stylish, leather-free footwear in one of the world's fashion capitals. But so far I've had zero luck on Google in finding any Parisian store that sells leather-free or vegetarian clothing (granted, I'm Googling in English due to minimal French language skills.)

I'm willing to spend some money - though not crazy amounts - for reasonably well-made non-leather footwear, casual or dressy. Stores that advertise as vegan/vegetarian would be awesome, but not necessary. Ideally I'd love to go to a store that specializes in this sort of thing, but I know of only Stella McCartney, and I suspect her flagship store will be trop cher for me.

As a runner-up, I'd be interested in any stores that typically sell some non-leather footwear. (Runner up b/c in my experience, the token synthetic pair of boots in any given place is usually frumpier and more cheaply made than the leather stuff. And then there's the offgassing...)

To narrow things down further, I'm aware that there are good options available for online ordering - I've resisted because I have wide and weirdly shaped feet, and don't feel like dealing with the hassle of shipping shoes. But if you've had great experiences at any given online store, I'd love to hear about it.

And finally, I've found a lot of thorough lists of vegetarian restaurants in Paris online. No concerns there. This is just about fashion.

Living abroad and can't access Gmail or Facebook - help!

nicoleincanada — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:01:16 -0800

I can search Google, read the news and view most websites, but specific sites like Facebook and Gmail won't load on my Mac Powerbook - I just get page load errors. Any idea what the problem is? I'm a Canadian living in France temporarily, and I've taken my laptop from home with me. While here I'm using a shared internet connection at a school, and although I can do web-searching and such, Gmail and Facebook won't load, in Firefox or Safari (or even the crappy discontinued version of Internet Exporer I just downloaded in the hope that it might work). I suspect the problem is with my computer, since other people using the same network connection are able to access these sites with no problems.

The page load error message suggests I might have a firewall in place, but I've checked the settings and nothing seems to be enabled. That said, I'm not terribly well-versed in this stuff. As well, the local tech support guy gave my computer a thorough once-over and can't figure out the problem.

Any ideas? For what it's worth, I've used both Gmail and Facebook in Canada and elsewhere on this computer with no problems.

Awesomeness in Haute-Alpes this weekend?

swhitt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:07:15 -0800

We're looking for activities/places/things not to miss in the northern French Alps this weekend. We'll be spending Friday->Sunday in Evian-les-Bains and Sunday->Tuesday in Grenoble. What should we not miss? We have a car, if that makes a difference, and are willing to drive several hours to see the best things. What made you go 'WOW!'?

How else to endure all those rituals?

The Whelk — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:12:22 -0800

You live at Versailles in 1658. You're nobility of the blood. You know the King. What drugs, drinks, or other ways of getting totally fucked up are available to you? How often could you partake before people started to Have A Problem with it? Aside from alcohol, of course, which would be in abundance, but what kind? Wine? Beer? What kind of spirits? I know laudanum was available, and cocoa leaves mixed with tobacco enjoyed a fad but smoking was looked down on. I think. What other ways did the French Court get totally ripped? Would coffee be around? Would it be spiked? Marijuana? Hashish? More powerful concentrations of opiates? Coca Leaves processed into cocaine? Exotically dangerous substances?

Life in the Loire Valley

nicoleincanada — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:53:08 -0800

What should I do to prepare for expat life in France's Loire Valley? I'm a Canadian woman in her mid 20s, moving to France to work as an English language assistant for seven months. I leave in just under 2 weeks. I'll be living in an unbelievably picturesque town in the Loire, which is awesome, but I have very little knowledge of what to expect of life in France, or what I can do to prepare while still in Canada, besides the usual paperwork misery.

Some specific areas of curiosity include:
- How much my limited language skills will hinder me. My knowledge of French is fairly basic, and although I can make myself understood and throw around a few verb tenses, my oral comprehension is pretty weak. However, I'll be teaching solely in English, and I'm very keen to improve in French
- Whether a lacto-ovo vegetarian has any hope of subsisting on much more than pasta, salad and eggs
- Whether there are any good ex-pat groups in the region (though I'd love to make French friends, I suspect language skills might hold me back on that front)
- Whether the locals will shun/welcome me

Beyond all that, I'm curious about any experiences in the Loire, whether as a tourist or expat resident. Recommendations, dos/don't, Canada-specific culture shocks, I'd love any firsthand knowledge.

FYI, I have a healthy savings account and will earn a modest salary, so I don't expect money will be an issue. Also, I know there have been similar questions about living in France, but none specific to this region that I could find.

Swiss passport holder trying to do seasonal work in france

Raff — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:39:50 -0800

Australian holding a swiss passport and looking to do some seasonal work (less than 2 weeks) in france while travelling. I know france and switzerland have an agreement to streamline work permits but have not been able to find where to get the permit and how long it will take as my french is rusty. Also how easy the process is and if it is worth it for a 2 week stint. I have the job lined up just need the permit!

Moving to France, No Job, Don't Know French, It's Happening Regardless

jellywerker — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:45:19 -0800

Moving to France, No Job, Don't Know French, It's Happening Regardless. How do I find work in the manual labor sector? Can I go over as a "tourist" fall in love with the country and stay without coming back to the States to figure out visas and such? I will be going over there with little money (~$1500) and will need to figure out work fast. I am tired of the US. I don't like the way our systems work, the way our government treats us, and I want to move out. I have looked at several countries but finally settled on France. I like the idea of a country that seems to encourage people to enjoy and appreciate their lives. I am sure my idealized version of France is nothing like the real thing and that I am in for a shock. I am ok with that. Any change is good and I relish the adventure.

A little about me. I am 18, live on my own, and have few ties and responsibilities here in the States, nothing that can't be worked out. I have not yet gone to college, but intend to get a degree eventually. Right now I feel like I would only be doing it because that it what is expected of me, rather than it being the best option for me right now. $80k of debt is not a way to start a life. I want to learn about the world and myself before I do something like that.

The philosophical out of the way, lets get into details. I have about three years experience in the exterior/interior painting industry. I am not exceptionally quick at it, but I work hard and produce extremely fine quality work. I have dabbled in other manual jobs too, and am fairly handy with engines, carpentry, roofing, electrical work, plumbing, and the like. I want to get a job in a similar area when I move to France. I think it will give me an excellent opportunity to work on the language, as well as being the kind of work that doesn't usually require perfect communication. I would eventually like to go to school somewhere in Europe, but for now I just want to work, be productive, live independently, and grow as a person.

How should I start going about this? After I pay for the flight, I'll have somewhere between $1000 and $2000 dollars to start me off. Chump change from what I hear, but I can hobo with the mediocre of them! I plan to take my bicycle and pare my belongings down to a duffel, give/sell my vehicles and stuff away to friends and family, get a prepaid cellphone over there, and swap my desktop for a netbook so I still have connection. I have a passport, but figure I would need a visa, however without a job or school lined up, that really just leaves tourist visas and from what I have read, those don't seem to work for what I want. I also want to head over sometime around October.

You may get the impression that I am deluding myself with my shoestring budget and short schedule. Maybe I am, but I am getting out of here regardless. My living standards can be low, and my will to work is extraordinary. As a side project while I am there, I want to commune with interesting architects and learn more about what it is I think I want to go to school for.

In summation:

My most marketable skill is house painting, how best to go about getting a similar job in France?
~$1500 starting budget (after plane ticket)
Can I head over and work on getting the proper visas and such while I am there?
I am perfectly cool with living in relative squalor for a while if that's what it takes to make this happen.

If you guys really think France is not an option, I like Norway (Pricy!) and Argentina a lot too, and I might consider somewhere like Malaysia but that might be too much of a change right now. Also, I live in Seattle, but can fly out of Pittsburgh too.

Le nom nom nom.

IWoudDie4U — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:02:09 -0800

Where can we make out with French boys, what foodie things can I not miss in Paris, and what is the Kampa Park of Brussels? In two weeks, I will be in Paris for the first time, with
my family. Then Bruges, Brussels and Amsterdam. I will be on vacation with my parents and my sister. We love seafood and wine and meat and salty snacks and cocktail hour. And cheese. I am obsessed with France/ French cuisine/Food and cooking in general. I spent all winter baking macarons in my tiny Chicago apartment. I have Pierre Herme and Laduree already mapped out for macaron gluttony, and Stohler's for éclairs. My parents are graciously picking up the tab, so being thrifty isn't necessary. We're not looking to have dinner at any Michelin star restaurants- but what foods/restaurants/bakeries/shops should we not miss?

We'll probably have a nightcap after dinner with my parents, but my sister and I would like to go out a few nights. We're both in our mid-20s, both single. She's more mainstream sports bar/ beer/ frat boys, and I'm more offbeat hipster bar/ gin martinis/ hipsters. We will both begrudgingly put up with the other's choice for at least a night. We're staying in the city centers at all locations, and are transit-savvy. Any suggestions?

When we were in Prague, my mother, sister and I had dinner at Kampa Park. We ate outside on the patio right on the river, overlooking the Charles bridge. The food was exquisite, we watched the sunset, and when it got a little chilly, the waiter draped us with
warm blankets. Blankets! It was perfect. It'll be just the ladies for two nights in Brussels, and we'd like to repeat the experience- breathtaking views, superb service, and delicious food. Where should we go?

Wireless data in france?

aeighty — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:05:04 -0800

Is it possible to buy prepaid wireless data in France? I'm going to be in France for about 2 weeks and I'd love it if I could use my (jailbroken) iPhone for email, skype and GPS. Is it possible to spend a reasonable amount of money for a reasonable amount of data?

Thanks

How do I get from Paris to Innsbruck?

iguanapolitico — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:54:58 -0800

How do I get from Paris to Innsbruck? Traveling to France and Austria later this month. We need to get from Paris to Innsbruck on a Thursday. My traveling companion and I are having trouble finding airfare that even approaches "reasonably priced" ($1100 one-way, $450 round-trip). She has made this trip before and didn't pay those kinds of fares, but the dollar *is* in the toilet.

So we're looking at rail. We're kind of having trouble finding a definitive answer on whether we need to book this now or if we can get a ticket on our day of travel. Some MeFites must be familiar with European rail travel, hopefully specifically from Paris to Innsbruck. Any specific advice you can offer? Thanks.

What is a polite gift for Americans visiting Parisian couple for dinner?

tarthur — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:54:28 -0800

What is a proper gift to bring a same-sex Parisian couple when invited to dinner? My boyfriend and I are visiting Paris next week and were invited to dinner with two Americans who have been living and working Paris for the past few years. Both men are very successful in the business world and live comfortably in the city. We have been invited to dinner at their apartment on our first night in Paris.

How would you show a french girl US culture in a nutshell?

tfinniga — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:32:59 -0800

I'm looking for interesting things to show my french exchange student. What is unique to the US experience? I have a french exchange student living in the US for about a month. We'll be visiting the local tourist attractions, but I'm looking for something more fundamental. What would be good to show her that encapsulates the current culture of the US?

I'm not concerned in trying to show only the good things about the US. I'm more concerned about avoiding showing her stuff that is the same in France. So, we will probably eat at taco bell, but I wouldn't want to make a big deal of introducing her to orangina.

Any suggestions? People who have lived in France and the US, what are the biggest differences you noticed?

In case it's useful, she's 16 and from a suburb of Paris. I live in Utah.

Recommend me some french comics or kids books!

handee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:30:12 -0800

I'm trying to learn French. I'm in France, which is a great start. I find I can just about manage with Tin Tin books so reckon that comics (BDs for the more francophone amongst you) or children's fiction will be a good way to relax whilst getting extra practice. Can you recommend some comics or kids books that are in French and not overly complicated linguistically? (I have tried Asterix, but the puns just fly past my confused brain).

La Belle Fontaine

vernondalhart — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:27:46 -0800

A friend and I are looking at going to boulder in Fontainebleau, France in the early part of August. We don't have a car. What's our best way to get around? We'll be flying from the UK, with the intent of landing in Paris and taking the train to Fontainebleau. We also plan on camping while we're there, which as near as I can tell leaves us near Milly la Forêt.

It seems that our best options are either renting a car (if we rent one from Hertz at Charles de Gaulle, I think it's around 350 Euro for a week), or renting bicycles, or walking around. As I understand the area to be fairly large, that last option seems to be not the best one.

So what's our best bet? Would it be utterly ridiculous to try and get around completely on foot, or to carry a crash pad and whatever other gear we have on a bicycle? Should we just suck it up and rent a car for the week?

Also, is this completely dumb to do in August? All of the guidebooks and advice that I've seen suggest that it's best in the winter, that the warm summer temperatures make the rocks there... iffy to climb on, other than morning and evening.

Is there anything else that I should know about before going? Any advice about the area? Rocks I Should Not Miss Climbing On?

less than 24 hours in Paris...

waylaid — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:22:13 -0800

In September I have a one-day layover in Paris (noon on a Saturday until 8am the next morning) on my way back to the US from the Middle East. Looking for suggestions to make the best of less than 24 hours in a city i've never been to! Because I have such limited time (less than 24 hours), I would love AskMeFi suggestions on the best itinerary for someone that's never been to Paris and doesn't speak French. (just Spanish and some Portuguese)

I will be coming in on the RER from Charles deGaulle, but I haven't picked a place to stay that's central and close to the train that will get me back out to the airport in the morning. Any suggestions on a neigborhood (or cheap hotel/hostel to stay at?)

Aside from the obvious (Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame) Any suggestions on things I should try to squeeze in or see in my brief time there? things of interest include cultural events, museums, architecture, and people watching. I'm not too big on nightlife, especially not for one-night with an early morning departure.

Thanks in advance!

Fun in Paris?

disillusioned — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:24:27 -0800

TypicalTravelFilter: What are the must-sees, tips and tricks, and off-the-beaten paths whilst in Paris for 3 days? I'm visiting Paris later this month for three days, down from London.

I know the Museum Pass is supposed to be fantastic, but what other absolutely amazing things are proximate/accessible without a car service (public trans, walking, or bus okay)? (I'm staying at the Arc de Triomphe Hilton.)

I'm very into food, but my typical garb is t-shirts and jeans. What do I need to pack in case I'd like to eat at a very nice restaurant? Moreover, what very nice restaurants would you recommend? I'd also love for feedback all along the economic strata, from dirt cheap (if such a non-McDonalds thing exists) bites to what I might expect to pay for a much nicer restaurant. Also, will I have trouble getting in some place great? Can I make reservations once I'm there, or is it already too late for some of the better places?

I like photography as well, and people watching. I'm not terribly into wine, which itself is a crime in France anyway, or fashion, or shopping, but I do love art, museums, off-the-beaten path demonstrations or activities, and everything else... any other tips and tricks would fantastic as well, including faux pas, etc.

(And of course I'm eating up other threads as well, but please feel free to link to any I absolutely must not miss.)

Merci.

French visa scientifique while abroad

jeffburdges — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:11:03 -0800

Can you get a French visa scientifique in France? Or another European country? Will the visa be essential for the carte de sejour? I'm already traveling around Europe for various conferences. So it isn't convenient to return to the U.S. for the 3 weeks they say they need. How can I get a French visa scientifique without going back to the U.S.? Will I be able to get the carte de sejour without the visa? Will I need the visa anyway to get paid? etc.

It's not even clear which French consulate they'd want me to use, given I've not had a residence in the U.S. for the last 5 years. My last long term residence was in England.

I'd be happy using a visa expediting service, but I've not found any that handle French visas. Do you think this is merely that France doesn't issue the visas immediately for these services? I could manage to stay in one country for the required 3 weeks. I could also ask some family member to do the appointment for me. Or maybe France really wants the applicant in person?

p.s. Yes, I already have the protocol d'accueil.

Gift suggestions for house of acquaintances?

dublin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:44:09 -0800

Invited to spend holiday in France in a gigantic villa with a couple who are only acquaintances and their friends. There will be 15 adults and as many children (age baby to 12). Lodging is gift to all invitees. I can't come empty-handed! What on earth to bring? I thought local chocolate and coffee (Vosges chocolate and intelligentsia coffee from chicago) but friends cringe, as it is FRANCE. anyway, coffee and chocolate is not enough probably. Also thought of the kids but other than age range, i know nothing about them. Please help! I don't think any others are american, but not 100% sure. thank you thank you thank you