MonicaRichards

I also think there's an East Coast/ West Coast difference in times. Because we on the West Coast have to work with people on the East Coast and Europe, we'll typically start work earlier, like 8:00 or 8:30 and then end earlier too, so that our days overlap more. And anyone with kids likely has an earlier shift to their schedule, my 4th grader goes to bed at 8:00pm so I would not be going out to eat at that time! Here dinner is served at 6:00 and we all get hungry even on the weekends when we could eat later if we wanted.

apersuader65

Very good point Monica. 8:00 P.M. in NYC is only 5:00 p.m. on the West Coast.

Here in the midwest, we watch the 10 o'clock news, not the 11 o'clock news.

Guenmai

Monica I agree that there's a difference in times. I, for one, have no problem here in L.A. eating early at restaurants. If they have a time when they close after lunch and then reopen for dinner, it's not unusual that they reopen at either 5PM or 6PM. I seldom start eating at 8:00PM, although I'm a real night person. One can see from many of the times that I post on Fodors, that I can easily still be up at 2:00AM. But, that doesn't mean that I want to eat at 8PM. I get hungry early and thus eat early.

For over 30 years, I arrived to work around 7:15AM-7:30AM, up until a few months ago when I retired early, although I still work. Even on vacation I like to eat early which is why I rent apartments and have a kitchen. When I go out to eat in Paris, with Parisian friends, then we arrive at 7:30PM. But, a lot of times, I've already had my meal and then at the restaurant I will eat something very light to be social. I don't like a lot of food on my stomach late at night as I don't sleep well.

Happy Travels!

LSky

"I assume this is normal for those of you who love Paris?"

It seems these days I cannot pick up a book, see the television or even speak to someone without Paris coming up. It's been following me around and when it started I tried to avoid it but it's unavoidable, I must return to Paris.

janisj

tarquin: Big Issue vendors are not begging. They are selling an actual magazine and making legitimate ££.

They are working their way out of homelessness

http://www.bigissue.com/
http://www.bigissue.org.uk/

kerouac

The same exists in France. The magazine is called "L'Itinérant."

tarquin

OK, I was wrong. Because I do not actually want the Big Issue, I only buy it as a "donation."

larrya

egwright, thanks for the list. It contained many of the things I learned on my first Paris trip over 20 years ago. One thing you may have learned posting here is not everyone will take what you write in the spirit it which it was written. Take out the words Paris and French and you'll find the list could be about most places in Europe.

MickMouse

Getting around Paris Question: How about the VELIB bikes that many use in Paris? 30 minutes free. Exchange bikes after you visit a museum, monument, or have a lunch or dinner.
Has anyone done this?
MickMouse

janisj

Mick: You might want to start a new thread w/ your specific question instead of tacking on to a long thread about different things.

luvtotravel

Thank you for explaining why young people approached me to sign a paper while I was in Paris this past summer. The sheet was on a clipboard and I thought once they put the clipboard under my nose someone would try to get into my purse or pockets. I said "no" and kept walking. Two days later, as I was near Sacre Coeur, I saw a policeman with some of these young ladies. He was frisking them, taking away their clipboards and pencils. What I found really strange was the way he frisked them. As he had them turn their backs to him he patted down their backs and make a "poke" in the center of each back with his knuckles (not hard, just a soft poke) before letting them go. The "poke" was a bit weird.

For the first time someone picked up a ring and walked over to me with it. I laughed and kept walking.

I was traveling alone and kept with my normal routine of going to dinner around 7pm. Sometimes I was the first person in the restaurant. That didn't bother me. Only once did I have a reservation for a very busy restaurant.

Something that bothered me was seeing so many young people smoking. One day there was a big music festival held throughout the city. Bands were set up every block or two. It was great fun. The weather in the evening was perfect and many, many people were out. It was clear to me that the majority of people were dining outdoors. I ate indoors most of the time as they could not smoke indoors. Where the outdoor tables were full, there were empty tables inside. As I walked around the city on the music festival evening I could barely breathe because of all the heavy smoke. Other nights it wasn't as bad, but it appeared that every young person had a lit cigarette. I don't remember noticing that during previous visits to Paris.

On the same trip, I found fewer young people smoking in Belgium and Holland, but people still were eating/smoking at outdoor restaurants while I ate inside where there were empty tables. Granted, it would have been nicer to dine outdoors. In all things, there are trade-offs.

SamanthaCanyon

Enjoyed reading this thread - thank you for sharing your experience - I think for new travellers there it will be very helpful.

330east

Ah, egwright10. You've learned a valuable lesson today. God forbid, you should, in good will, post a list of helpful suggestions re travel. Every travel snob within miles will come out of the woodwork and either try to "one-up" you or just criticize or tear down your input. Good for you to keep responding . See ya.

SandyBrit

egwright10:

Thanks for sharing your list of things that you learned while traveling in Paris.

I do hope you will post a trip report.

Sandy

annhig

egwright - I've travelled quite a lot in Europe [I live here, after all] and I thought that your list was helpful and informative, and you made it clear that it was just your thoughts, not universal truths.

ironically, some of those who have criticised you for generalising from your own experience, have fallen into the very same trap themselves.

I too would like to read your trip report.

emilyrichards

Nytraveler sounds argumentative. He is trying to pass him/herself off as an experienced world traveler and is trying to act superior. Anyone who has travel experience realizes that cultures are different - and I think dining customs is a huge part of that. I am a young, married woman living in a capital city, and the idea of eating dinner at 8 is astonishing to me. I wake up at 5:45 am to go to the gym, work at 8:00am (not everyone works in a “store” – maybe I’m confused by this weird reference to store openings?), home by 5:00 and dinner at 6. If we are going out to socialize at a later time, it will be for appys and a drink. Everyone we know has a similar schedule, and it is very common in North America. When we have travelled to New York, we have noticed much of the same. Early risers getting to work, restaurants are busier around 6pm, etc... We have traveled all through Canada, US, Mexico and the Caribbean, and dining time has never been so different from our norm that it has stuck out.

it always surprises me when people have critical or negative things to say about a post. Just don't read it!!

We are planning our first trip to Paris and any advise or insight is welcome, in my opinion. I will be doing my research and every little bit counts. Even if it is repeat. Sometimes certain things sound questionable, but having multiple sources confirm it helps a person figure out the good advice from the bad.

Thanks for this post!

janisj

Welcome to Fodors emilyrichards. Not quite sure how you found this year old thread - But if you want advice/info you will do better to start a thread of your own.

And if you aren't looking for advice - guess you just topped this old thread to criticize another member.

bramsole

I'm reading this old thread as well and I think it still is relevant today. What surprises me is how quickly some are with criticism . Sometimes it seems to be for spelling, sometimes for a simple report such as this,

If one is older eating early is a good thing. If my DH eats late, indigestion sets in. He's thin, and when younger never had problems with eating anytime. But when we eat latter, such as at Ruth Chris last week, indigestion set in. I'm not happy with the rattling of the Tums bottles around 1:00am.

It was interesting to read this list and if I didn't agree with everything, I don't feel the need to say anything. This was egwright10's experience.

Being from the south, we generally are polite group of people and I would never think to criticize a "Newbie". Posting here can be intimidating for some people, myself included, because sometimes the comments seem to be a bit snarky.
I have always loved Fodor's and tend to be a lurker. Maybe more people would be posting new threads
If they didn't feel attacked or made to feel foolish with their questions.
This is just my opinion. Peace!