Paris - (Rate It)

[Prologue]

I'm giving it a 7/10, since it was pretty solid. But to be honest, comparing it to the other European cities I've been to, it's probably on the bottom half. I enjoyed Barcelona, Rome, and Amsterdam quite a bit more.

 

[Contempt]

It's just really new here I guess. Rome, walked down a side alley and spotted a beautiful little chapel. Went in and there was an original Caravaggio on the wall. No bells and whistles "like come inside", just a "please don't touch".

But Italy feels like home way more than France, never had a bad trip. And I like France.

Same. Giant Roman history nerd so a big fan of Italy obviously but also have some great memories of France, like first thing in the morning when no-one was around, climbing down the really steep back entrance at Carcasone, heaps of warning signs plus Dani but no-one there to stop me at that hour. Great fun.

Then again, same thing at plenty of other amazing little fortress cities like Assisi and Toledo in Spain.

...god I miss travel

 

[fingercuffs]

Same. Giant Roman history nerd so a big fan of Italy obviously but also have some great memories of France, like first thing in the morning when no-one was around, climbing down the really steep back entrance at Carcasone, heaps of warning signs plus Dani but no-one there to stop me at that hour. Great fun.

Then again, same thing at plenty of other amazing little fortress cities like Assisi and Toledo in Spain.

...god I miss travel

So travel again then! But yeah me as well, didn't during Covid out of the country but most of my travel is obligatory UK visits. Which really I could do without.
Husband's been on about Italy again recently.

 

[oldshadow]

I loved it when I was there for 2 weeks. However it was a very long time ago ( early 80s I think) so it might have changed. Saw a lot of sight and most of the people were nice except for a few ass holes. We were polite and nice to everyone but a couple of place acted like we were beneath them, being Americans. They were more then made up by the nice people and the great sights to see.

 

[Contempt]

So travel again then! But yeah me as well, didn't during Covid out of the country but most of my travel is obligatory UK visits. Which really I could do without.
Husband's been on about Italy again recently.

I can't. Kitchen in the middle of being built downstairs, have new french doors out to the deck going in on Tuesday, waiting on a bunch of double glazed windows, all three bathrooms are being redone next month plus downstairs tiling being redone... also painting, under floor insulation next week and about 20 other things.

...not to mention that I appear to be spending money like it's going out of style so I should probably keep on working currently LOL

You should go after you have recovered from the surgeries. It can be a celebratory trip.

 

[boingyman]

Only went to Paris once, but at the time we also went all over Italy. Paris was probably my least favorite and wish we cut out a day or two, but it was still a nice place to visit. The people there in general were less friendly then most of Italy. We of course went to all the tourist spots and I think we followed Rick Steve's travel guidebook, but modified it to our liking. I was also able to go to a Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit which was a treat since he was one of the pioneers of street photography and I was obsessed with street photography at the time.

Also on the first day I loss my wallet for a brief moment. We were sitting on a bench and I guess it came out of my pocket. When were were about 2 blocks down I felt my pants and notice my wallet was gone. I bolted back to the bench area, but nothing to be found. I saw 3 guys looking very excited and laughing so I ran up to them and boom my wallet was in their hands. Got it back in the biggest sign of relief. If I were even 30 seconds too slow it would have probably been gone.

Anyway we went right before we had kids, but we'll probably go again when the kids get older. Maybe in 4-5 years.

 

[fingercuffs]

I can't. Kitchen in the middle of being built downstairs, have new french doors out to the deck going in on Tuesday, waiting on a bunch of double glazed windows, all three bathrooms are being redone next month plus downstairs tiling being redone... also painting, under floor insulation next week and about 20 other things.

...not to mention that I appear to be spending money like it's going out of style so I should probably keep on working currently LOL

You should go after you have recovered from the surgeries. It can be a celebratory trip.

As should you after the remodel. I like the idea of laying on a tropical beach in Grand Cayman again being waited on hand and foot but cooking in Tuscany's way more on my raar in terms of relaxation. Same place as last hopefully.

 

[fingercuffs]

I loved it when I was there for 2 weeks. However it was a very long time ago ( early 80s I think) so it might have changed. Saw a lot of sight and most of the people were nice except for a few ass holes. We were polite and nice to everyone but a couple of place acted like we were beneath them, being Americans. They were more then made up by the nice people and the great sights to see.

I had a similar problem in Madrid with restaurant people looking down their noses. We always bought a phrase book to at least know how to be polite. Hated everything about it apart from going to see Real Madrid being I was a big Beckham fan. Didn't like it at all.

 

[oldshadow]

I had a similar problem in Madrid with restaurant people looking down their noses. We always bought a phrase book to at least know how to be polite. Hated everything about it apart from going to see Real Madrid being I was a big Beckham fan. Didn't like it at all.

Yea I tried to speak a little but I was told by a very friendly lady there they couldn't understand me because I was speaking bad French with an American southern accent.

 

[fingercuffs]

Yea I tried to speak a little but I was told by a very friendly lady there they couldn't understand me because I was speaking bad French with an American southern accent.

I've always been okay in France because I learned it at school for 5 years but I know visitors to Paris routinely find them incredibly snooty. I thought I was the mutt's nuts 14 years old on a school trip sat on the steps of Le Sacre Coeur, I don't think I've enjoyed it quite as much since. Eamon hated it before he met me and I've managed to drag him there a couple of times since, don't feel the need to go back.

The whole terrorist attack during Eagles of Death Metal spoiled it a bit too.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

One of the most famous cities in the world. I personally never been there, but I love to check it out sometime. Also looks like very beautiful city.

I'm guessing some of you have been there, what's your thoughts on this legendary place?

I love Paris and France in general. Probably my favorite city and country among the many I've visited. I've been there about two dozen times between 1984 and 2018. So far, the 2020s is the only decade I've been alive that I haven't visited. I'm sure I will at least once this decade, though...

 

[Five Fingered Fresh Fist]

I don’t know Lloyd, the French are assholes.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

I used to love it. Montmatre was heaven to me. Till my husband grew a ZZ Top length beard. Then trying to eat lunch we were interrupted every two minutes by artists wanting to draw him.

Had my favourite meal of all time at Joel Robouchon's. Likely the only reason I would want to go back.

I saw that you gave it a 5/10. However, I also assumed that unlike a lot of the people who rated it that low or lower, you had an educated opinion. Pretty sure most people rating it lower is primarily for political reasons, though.

 

[Fluffernutter]

Not stroller friendly for those with babies

 

[Contempt]

As should you after the remodel. I like the idea of laying on a tropical beach in Grand Cayman again being waited on hand and foot but cooking in Tuscany's way more on my raar in terms of relaxation. Same place as last hopefully.

Yeah, I think my next trip won't be to the states in January next year. Most of the main reno's should be sorted by then.

You should definitely go back to Italy by the way you always talk about it.

Dani and myself have been talking about our Italy/France/Spain food and wine tour for about five years now but the time was never right... oh well, one day.

 

[ferrisjso]

It's a great city with a lot of history but it's overrated because it gets all the attention in France and because of a lot of the reasons it gets the attention which is cultural fluffy nonsense(the city of love, nice paintings etc) as opposed to centuries as the countrys capital and all the history that comes with that.

I'm a maritime historian so I'd prefer your Saint Naizares, Toulouns, Brests etc but that's specific to my personla interests.

I feel a lot of us military minded peeps would love the WW1 battlesites if we could safely traverse them without exploding.

I'll give it 6 or 7 because it deserves more credit than being your average place. But is it one of the most interesting places on earth? That's a no from me.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

It's just really new here I guess. Rome, walked down a side alley and spotted a beautiful little chapel. Went in and there was an original Caravaggio on the wall. No bells and whistles "like come inside", just a "please don't touch".

But Italy feels like home way more than France, never had a bad trip. And I like France.

I should visit Rome more, or at least once again. Haven't been there since 2006, I think. And 1984 before then.

 

[fingercuffs]

I saw that you gave it a 5/10. However, I also assumed that unlike a lot of the people who rated it that low or lower, you had an educated opinion. Pretty sure most people rating it lower is primarily for political reasons, though.

I gave it moderate because I've had wonderful and while not terrible, some unpleasant experiences. You are far more voiced on Paris though. My last meal there was Andouilette which I likened to Andouille. Little did I know it was a pig rectum. t smelled how it smelled. So I didn't touch it. And I'm quite an adventurous eater

 

[Hollywood Jack]

It's a great city with a lot of history but it's overrated because it gets all the attention in France and because of a lot of the reasons it gets the attention which is cultural fluffy nonsense(the city of love, nice paintings etc) as opposed to centuries as the countrys capital and all the history that comes with that.

I'm a maritime historian so I'd prefer your Saint Naizares, Toulouns, Brests etc but that's specific to my personla interests.

I feel a lot of us military minded peeps would love the WW1 battlesites if we could safely traverse them without exploding.

I'll give it 6 or 7 because it deserves more credit than being your average place. But is it one of the most interesting places on earth? That's a no from me.

Don't think I've ever been to any of those cities you mentioned, unfortunately. I would like to, especially Toulon. I've been to Nice many times, but not Toulon. I've been to many cities and regions of France, but there's still much to see...

 

[Hollywood Jack]

I gave it moderate because I've had wonderful and while not terrible, some unpleasant experiences. You are far more voiced on Paris though. My last meal there was Andouilette which I likened to Andouille. Little did I know it was a pig rectum. t smelled how it smelled. So I didn't touch it. And I'm quite an adventurous eater

Pretty sure I've had andouilette at one time or another. Can't say it made much of an impression on me, one way or the other. Your talk of pig rectum reminds me of the old Chris Rock joke "I'll eat a pig's ass if they cook it right."