Neal Bashor

I'm heading for Paris (first time)with my wife and my 8 year old son on May 16 for 8 nights. I reserved a suite at Hotel de la Bretonnerie. I'm wondering if anyone else has stayed there and what was their experiance? Also we can't stomach the idea of Disneyland so we are considering Parc Astrix as a special day for our son (who has been studying his french on the computer and is achieving a surpising level of competence without an American accent. <BR> <BR>Any comments/suggestions appreciated. <BR> <BR>Neal

Rex

Congrats on your son's achievements. But what makes you think he doesn't have an American accent? <BR> <BR>I don't know Hotel de la Bretonnerie, but I can tell you that Asterix is a big thumbs up for any kid of this age. Very little English or Americanization in evidence (and yet, still user friendly). and where else can you get a wild boar sandwich at an amusement park?

Neal Bashor

OK "without an American accent" may be overly biased but, my high school French teacher (who was probably Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS during the war--she claimed to be Swiss)used to scream at us about our "lazy mouths"--my son seems unaffected by this American problem and has been complemented by very surprised French ex-pats while on previous trips to St. Martin. <BR> <BR>Thanks for your comments <BR> <BR>Neal

Rex

Lazy mouths, huh? That does sound like a "Germanic" comment. If anything, I think most Americans cannot get the "NOT forceful" aspect of French enunciation. <BR> <BR>French is spoken from "the throat" much more than most American English speakers ever achieve. It's one of the hardest things to get a fix on - - the "non-explosive" _p_, for example (and I don't claim to have it down perfect). If you hold your hand in front of your mouth and don't feel any "puff" of air when you say the word Papa - - you're on your way to being able to "sound" French!

ann

Neal...Hotel Bretonnerie is a superb choice. Nice staff and good value. I also like the location. Have fun.