It's not France that's gone hill, it's the type of traveller. Some good examples of the bad ones here.

The think the best way to describe that change in France and many European countries is:<BR>They have been Americanized!<BR>No so in the smaller villages, thank God.

Several people have now expressed their feeling on this thread that the French are rude. It's only that they differ from the American rules... and... the Americans differ from the French rule. Both have the same grounds to say that the other is rude, and both do.<BR>Folks, unless the UN or the people of the world are prepared to agree to identify one nationality as having THE correct culture, then we can't declare any other culture impolite if it's obeying it's own cultures rules.<BR>Loud, boorish Americans with poorly disciplined brats (by French standards) or blunt, outspoken French (by American standards)... just a culture thing.

Ditto, Alby's comment just above. What happen according to the rules in our culture can be an abomination in another. Just think about Islam and the differences there.

So this is where the cell phone thread started with the poster Mimi. All countries are going down hill with these loud mouth cell phone users. I keep mine in the car in case of an emergency, other than a child of mine is sick there is no need.

There's a new C&W song out (at least I think it's new. The title is "That SOB In His SUV". Soooo right!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the words talk about the SOB driving with his knees while he talks on his cellphone. It's a stitch!

Ally, when is Rt. D. jr. com...ing<BR>back?

Oh-h-h Ally, I loved that Robert I hope<BR>I hope he comes back before I fall for that wonderful Bon Jovi with his great abs....and oh...weee<BR>

We welcome all good Americans with their je ne sais quoi.

genise said what?

genise am I going to have problems with you.