I do speak a reasonable amount of French and usually speak it when talking to French people, but I was astounded how rude waiters and the like were whose living depends on tips. Needless to say they were even more rude after I tipped them " appropriate to the service received" I have driven through central Paris, however I was driving an old crate and I think the French drivers instinctively knew I didn't care if I hit them so cars just magically got out of my way. Driving in New York was a similar experience . Back to the French, I find them lovely on the whole, just not in Paris.
The French are great if you remember these two things: 1. Never work with them 2. There is no French word for customer service
Not sure about Godders, but there is an article in the sports section of the newspaper saying that Virgil van Dijk will be signing for Saints soon.
They'll be even more upset when they realise you know what the Parisians do - that is that tips are already built into the prices, so you should NOT leave a tip unless the service is exemplary and in that case you only need leave a couple of euro. They rely on the unknowing tourist automatically leaving 10% or higher which goes into their pocket. The French and Parisians in particular leave nothing!! The little restaurant I go to near the Eiffel Tower is always very pleased when I leave a few euro and I usually get at least a free drink - bonus of being a semi-regular I guess!!
I had a French exchange lad come and stay with me when I was about 12. He was from LeHavre but Parisian originally - my mum tried her hardest to make him feel at home including searching down French mustard for him (difficult in 1970s England) but it still cracks me up that when he saw the jar he gave it a long stare, sniffed, and said "non, ce ne sont pas dijon" My mum promptly picked the jar up, walked to the bin and dropped it in before giving him her opinion in fairly detailed perfect French....he was shocked to say the least and rapidly became more accommodating after that. My mum is one of those weird polyglot people who is fluent in 6 languages so she takes no **** from people from all over europe.
Is this little café a street or two back from the Eiffel Tower and on a corner spot (at the end of the street it is on, furthest from the Seine)? I have been to one around there a coupe of times - always friendly and reasonable prices.
I didn't actually realise at the time Dave, but I always enjoyed the look on their faces when presented with a small pile of centimes in the smallest denominations I could find - probably a bloody nuisance more than anything else
It's directly opposite the metro L'Ecole Militaire about a 10 minute stroll to the tower. They're a small restaurant (Le Septieme Vin) and do good good, wine and company at good prices. I've let out my secret now Probably won't be able to move in there now!! Reminds me - I have a long standing invitation to go over and stay with an old colleague. Given my somewhat tedious personal life at the moment this might be the right time to take them up on it!! Fancy a good meal and some fun
He said Paris, not Stubbington! As in the cafe capital of Europe, in pretty much the most touristic spot. I would have been impressed, though, if it happened to be the same one.
As some on here are aware, I have been taking an enormous interest in the World Athletic Championships in Beijing. Having watched the events unfold this afternoon, the sole story seems to be about qualification for the men's 200m final. Not a single item about the javelin, an event in which we once excelled, nor the women's 3000m steeplechase, or the fantastic ladies pole-vault. I find the same with its football page. It seems to be sensationalist these days with the focus solely on last season's top 6. No wonder most football fans love it when the top 6 falter in cup competitions and in Europe (Manchester City apart)
It has happened to me before.... even walked into a restaurant in Paris and saw someone I knew *Never happened to me in Stubbington*
Those guns go off again. It sounds callous, but it's almost getting difficult to be appalled anymore. The civilised world knows what the USA should do, but they don't do it. Random deaths will continue aplenty.
The rain is now over in Southampton, FLT. For a moment I thought the Summer had decided to pack up and go home.
I was beginning to lose confidence in the weather, I have to admit. That bloody Jetstream** dipped as far south as the English Channel a couple of days ago. Now it's heading back up to Scotland where they like it. **Of course, Rorschach's partner could have flown in unannounced and now returned to Florida.
