subject: What To Know When Travelling In France [print this page] Traveling to a new place is exciting. There are many unknown and new opportunities to explore and fantastic things to learn.
Traveling can also be worrisome. There are many times that it is possible for a traveler to become thoroughly lost in place where he or she does not know the language or how to get back on track.
One of the most popular places to travel is Paris, France. There are many historical edifices, culinary delights, and superb musicians to experience and see.
France is also an ideal place to travel because most of the population has been taught at least a little English through school. This makes it much easier to get directions to unknown destinations and help along your travels.
Although travelers are welcome to try to learn French before they go, the French taught in most American schools is mostly focused on written abilities. The spoken and written French are completely different.
If a traveler simply tries to read the French surrounding them with no training in French speaking it is very likely that the native French speakers around them will have no idea what they are talking about. It is much easier for travelers to simply speak English.
Native French speakers have developed the ability to speak very quickly and lose a few of the letters so that the language sounds very beautiful and is very pleasant on the ears. If you try to say something in French and they do not understand, you may want to consider writing down what you are trying to communicate instead of repeating yourself over and over.
If you do know some French, and can understand French in movies without subtitles, then you will likely be able to understand and communicate with the French population. It is a large part of French culture to be very polite.
Americans already have a reputation of being very loud and rude, so be careful to not offend anyone you are asking for help from by being impolite. If you need to ask for directions, try to talk to someone who does not look like they are late for something.
Younger people usually speak more English than the older generations due to new schooling. Start by saying "hello" or the French equivalent of "bonjour."
Be patient and speak slowly and clearly. If you can, ask if they speak English before asking for directions.
Remember to smile frequently throughout the conversation, as this will make them friendlier to you. If you have a map, which is a very good thing to have with the complexity of the streets, it can make it much easier for you to communicate where you are trying to get to and what kind of question you are asking.
It is also a good idea to review the layout of Paris before you go. Central Paris alone is split into 20 different districts that are called "arrondissements." These arrondissements are numbered in a clockwise spiral starting in the center of Paris.
If someone refers to a place as the 5th, or 12th, they are probably referring to these different divisions. Every division is known for its specific tourist attractions.
For example, the Louvre is found in the 1st division. Meanwhile, large parks are found in the 12th and 16th divisions. Pocket maps are ideal for finding your way around Paris.
These maps can be found at a variety of newsstands located on the streets. In addition, there is a card that you can purchase that will allow you to visit all of the main tourist attractions and monuments for one price.
This card will cover your entry into more than 70 museums and monuments in a variety of packages. The cards are priced at 30 EUR for a two-day trip, 45 EUR to cover four days, and 60 EUR for six days.
Seventy museums and monuments are much more than any tourist will be able to visit and enjoy in a typical vacation period. In addition, this card can allow you to bypass long lines for the museums, tourist offices, and the Metro and RER train stations.
Traveling in Paris does not need to be scary, it is very fun and there is much for tourists to learn and explore.
by: Terry Daniels
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
