Degas

gb, here's a true story that will make you feel better.

Many years ago in a far away land, I had way too much to drink and had to stay in a local home due to the military curfew.

I woke up with a blinding headache, it was snowing cats and dogs outside and some sleeky boy had stole my size eleven boots from the porch (the custom was to take them off at the door). I tried to put on some boots from the locals but all of them were way too small. The whole housing compound got a good laugh at me trying to make them fit.

I stumbled out to the street and demanded that a taxi driver take me to back the base. He laughed and refused. I got mad and insisted so we eventually hopped in drove away. The driver stopped at the end of the block and pointed to the base about ten yards away. Duh!

Still, I walked with head held high through the gate, the guards saluted smartly and I was feeling pretty relieved until overhearing one of them hiss to the other: "Another dumb second Lt - must have been some newbie party in the village."

When I got to the bus stop, two other young officers were hopping up and down on the icy pavement without benefit of any boots.

cigalechanta

We were meandering around the Camargue and thought we were stuck in traffic.
The next thing we knew, we were on a ferry. We laughted at our faux pas but didn't mind as we had no destination that day.

lyb

>>Secondly, it's called Mensa, not menza, so we all make mistakes...even you.<<

Typos are a terrible thing...and I'm glad to hear GB is not a troll... but maybe I'm just obsessed with research before going somewhere that it was hard for me to believe such a thing would happen. Sorry, GB...

dln

Sometimes even the best-laid plans lead you to a village where a hotel is not a hotel.

ChatNoir

We covertly merged with a large spanish tour group going in to St. Paul's in London to beat the long line. We tried to drift away once inside, but a perky little assistant tour guide kept urging us to hurry and catch up to the group. When we stopped for a short lecture, the tour guide pointed to me and asked a question. I don't speak spanish and had no idea what she was talking about. All I could do was shrugg my shoulders and turn beet red.

capo

*LOL*

You know what they say: the Hotel de Ville you know is better than the Hotel de Ville you don't.

gb

LOL -I feel much better. (By the way, this was an unplanned stop. We were in Cinque Terre, and needed to drive to Dordogne. But didn't want to make the decision about staying longer in Cinque Terre until we got there. Depended on the weather, whether or not we saw all,etc. Our family decided to make an unplanned stop at Palavas les Flots where we heard there was a good beach and cheap lodging. I had a back up plan of a Star hotel in the area, but when we got there, we found it was way too far from the beach, so we went exploring, and found that we wanted to stay right near the beach. Hence, the first "Hotel" we saw in the center of the little town near the beach was the "de Ville". )So, in part, things were sort of planned, but we wanted to change them. Also, to please the hubby who doesn't like to get involved in the hotel planning until he is there, I always try to leave a day or two to "chance". He is happier, and we have a "memory". Someday, I'll tell you about our unplanned adventure to Juarez!

roma0019

gb,

dont worry about, life is full of Faux Pas. Just think of how many times you have made people laugh, and thus how many good deeds you have made during this period!
I salut You,
Take Care

gb

Thanks, you don't know how much I needed that (aside from the board)

hike

I don't think gb is a troll but still wonder how small was the village she/he went. Hotel de ville is a city hall and normally for a village it should rather be called "la mairie". Maybe it used be an important "ville" in older time and that's why they still call it the same?

babette

Correct me if I'm wrong (like I had to ask for that around here!) but I believe a hotel de ville refers to old city mansions where the wealthy folks once lived. Many are now converted into use as offices or, as in this case, the "mairie".

ira

Hi babette,

I think that you are partly right. An hotel is a city mansion. The Hotel de Ville, however, is the place where the Mayor resides.

Travelnut

This 'faux pas' happened in a country where English is the primary language: yes, England! We were on the 2-hour city tour provided by our package, and my husband saw a small sign over the driver's seat that read "NIL STANDING". After having a friendly conversation with the driver, it dawned on my husband that the sign was not reflecting the driver's name, it was instructing passengers not to stand. We still laugh about that one...

hike

A bit of clarification for those who may be wondering, "un hôtel" means :
1.a mansion
2.a public office building
3.a hotel
(From my old dictionary)

1.may be the original meaning of "hôtel" but at least today when you hear HOTEL-DE-VILLE, it is usually referred to city hall as IRA already said.

My question still stands : gb, did you really find "hôtel de ville" in a small village?

cigalechanta

And a Hotel particulier isa private home.

jason888

"hotel" from the OF (Old French) "hostel"

"hostel" from the ML (Middle Latin) "hospitale"

"hospital" fr. L (Latin) "hospitare = to receive as a guest". Derived from "hospes = guest"

So, there! gb, you are absolutely right in your assumption that a place sporting "hotel" as a name is a place meant for "guests"!

Have a nice day!

gb

The place was Palavas les Flots (south of Montpelier. I couldn't tell you how many people live there year round. I might say it was larger than a "village",but certainly not a city. You could probably walk end to end in a half hour. Maybe a large town. And the lettering did read Hotel de Ville. And it honestly, did look a bit like an older styled Holiday Inn from the street front.You couldn't see the back. I thought maybe it was a real hotel/motel at one time in its life.

KathyO

gb, I can't help but respond. We were in France for the first time this year, and in Paris I saw the "Hotel de Ville." My comment was, "Look at that place! That looks really nice... I wonder what they charge for a room."

Then we went to Provence and while touring the hilltop towns I noticed another "Hotel de Ville" and I said... "You know, I think I've seen a couple of "Hotel de Ville's" and we saw one in Paris. It must be a chain." While I shy away from chains, I thought this must be a very upscale chain, perhaps an exclusive bed and breakfast because the buildings are all smallish and so well preserved and impressive looking from the outside.

I saw another in our travels, but this time the "Hotel de Ville" had a sign on the door that said "tourist information." Maybe that was in Digne, I can't remember. Well, we walked in and picked up some brochures and that was that, and I realized that "Hotel de Ville's" must be tourist information centers, not hotels.

Then in Castellane when we bopped into town looking for lodging (we just showed up)we saw the "Hotel de Ville." It seemed to be right there in the square with the other hotel choices, only with a nicer looking facade....and we joked, "well, if we can't find a room we can always try the HOTEL de Ville!"

Calamari

I think I once stayed at a hotel in Rome called Hotel de Ville near the Spanish Steps. Possible?

gb

LOL! Thanks