Navigation article:
Daily Existence and Little Requirements
Some people have requested for many information about how to handle fundamental tasks, for example visiting the publish office, checking your email, and using the inconveniences that inevitably accompany residing in or going to a big city. Here is a start. Tell me what some other type of information may be helpful.
Emergency Phone Figures
| European SOS (free: all emergencies) | 112 |
| Police | 17 |
| Fire | 18 |
| Ambulance | 15 |
| SOS Doctors | .820.332.424 |
| Night Pharmacy | 01.42.25.49.95 |
| Call collect worldwide | 098 |
| Lost products | 01.55.76.20.00 |
| Préfecture de police | 01.45.31.14.80 |
| American Express | 01.47.77.70.00 |
| Mastercard | 01.45.67.84.84 |
| Visa | 01.42.77.11.90 |
| British language crisis line | 01.46.21.46.46 |
If calling from the cell phone, the overall SOS number is 112.
La Politesse
I have been perplexed by the amount of Americans who state that in france they are rude. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that individuals who repeat the French are rude happen to be (possibly unintentionally) rude first. There are a variety of products you should know to keep the wheels of polite and efficient social interaction well greased.
First, when you initiate a transaction associated with a sort—be it commercial or social—always, always start with "Bonjour" (or "bonsoir" whether it’s evening). Including restaurants, and in addition it includes the cashier in the supermarket. Even though you don’t speak a thing of French, you have to a minimum of eek out that much. Failure to do this could make you seem like a rude, unmannerly person, and you ought to ‘t be surprized, then, to become treated that means by turn. Upon departure, always, always say "au revoir" or "bonne soirée" (but you will notice that not everyone observes this rule). You’ll observe that people at each degree of society observe these rules—including children as well as unmanageable teenagers.
Second, should you come across someone, board a feet, jostle a passer-by, or whatever, always say "Pardon" (that is pronounced using the two syllables equally stressed, and also the second syllable pronounced nasally: simply do your very best). Should you choose some thing serious, then say "Excusez-moi."
Third, whenever you meet someone, shake hands, so when you encounter that individual again—no matter how frequently the thing is that individual again later on, even when it’s every day—shake hands again. A French handshake is different from a united states one out of that it’s quick, light, and frequently supported with a try looking in the attention. Don’t shake someone’s hands up and lower frequently: that doesn’t convey enthusiasm or warmth a lot as lunacy.
Pharmacies
The eco-friendly mix the thing is this is actually the sign for pharmacies in France (and Belgium, too, I believe), even though you should not expect all of them to appear just such as this one here. Frequently they are very stylized, but you’ll always recognize a eco-friendly mix, whatever the particular form it requires. Pharmacies in France carry virtually what you’d expect—but don’t visit for fundamental toiletries and such things as that. Individuals are things you will get inside a mall for example Monoprix, or perhaps a large part bodega. For those who have a particular condition, visit the pharmacy and tell the pharmacist wrong. She or he will recommend a suitable medication for you personally (and frequently they are stuff you normally wouldn’t learn about as typical over-the-counter medications in america). Pharmacists in France are usually very useful, for items like minor injuries, mild to moderate illness, and chronic conditions.
Internet Cafés
Paris is a nice well-connected city, and when you take the laptop along with you you’ll most likely be capable of getting online, particularly if your hotel is even marginally not creepy. There’s also free Wi-fi through the city, with something similar to 400 hotspots, therefore it is pretty simple to connect. Browse the Town of Paris’ site for instructions (in French). Do
However, lots of people choose to travel with no extra burden of the computer. Here are some internet cafés where one can go check email or do other things you do when you are online. Their list applies by June 2009. These places have a tendency to shoot up and fold pretty rapidly, though, but I’ll bare this as current when i can.
There is a chain of internet cafés known as "Milk," and they are all easily recognizable (they often come with an orangeish and white-colored front). You will find them within the following locations:
31 blvd de Sébastopol, first arrondissement (metro Châtelet or Rambuteau additionally there is a KFC here when you get homesick.
28 rue du 4 septembre, second arrondissement (metro Opéra or Quatre-Septembre)
17 rue Soufflot, fifth arrondissement (RER Luxembourg or metro Cluny-La Sorbonne)
53 r en Harpe, fifth arrondissement (metro Cluny-La Sorbonne or Saint Michel)
20 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, twelfth arrondissement (metro Bastille)
Other, one-off internet cafés are interspersed through the city. Here are the type I have noted (and, again, these open and shut pretty rapidly, so you may be disappointed [or surprized!]).
Côté Cyber Jardin
5 rue La Sourdière, first arrondissement (metro Pyramides or Tuileries)
Cybersquare
1 Place en République, 3rd arrondissement (metro République)
Web 46
46 rue Return on investment de Sicile, fourth arrondissement (metro Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville)
(I’m not sure the name)
8 rue de Jouy, fourth arrondissement (metro Saint Paul)
Luxembourg Micro
81 Boulevard St Michel, fifth arrondissement (RER Luxembourg or metro Cluny-La Sorbonne)
ZNet
14 rue Descartes, fifth arrondissement (metro Cardinal Lemoine or Maubert-Mutualité)
Mondialnet
80 rue de Rome, eighth arrondissement (metro Rome)
(I’m not sure the name)
49 blvd rochechouart, ninth arrondissement (metro Anvers or Pigalle)
Mahe Services
42 Rue Raymond Losserand, 14th arrondissement (metro Pernety)
Cyberbase
215 rue Vaugirard, 15th arrondissement (metro Volontaires or Pasteur)
Change Crises
I have made mention of the this unusual and, In my opinion, ideosyncratically Parisian phenomenon in several spots throughout Tom’s Guide. A big change crisis takes place when the amount your debt isn’t a whole quantity of euros, but something with change, for example 4 euros and 55 centimes. Performs this happen a great deal? Obviously! Will it create a crisis? Frequently.
Most of the people you coping will need and/or require that you make the centimes (within the above example, 55 of these, though it will make a lot more sense for you personally only to give 5 euros). Sometimes it seems sensible other occasions it’s crazy. Don’t let yourself be surprized if your line involves a dead stop just because a customer does not have or won’t make the odd mixture of centimes the clerk demands. It could affect you. You are by yourself about this one.
Having to pay with Charge Cards
People purchase everything with charge cards, so much in fact that you would think cash was obsolete. (However, there always appears to become somone while using ATM that I wish to use, so go figure.) Your American cards works here, consider many American charge cards still not have the nick embedded within that European cards do, you will need to sign an invoice (virtually exactly how you do in america). (So that as an aside meditation: what is wrong using the cheap, stupid American banks who won’t bring their US customers to the standards all of those other world enjoys? These chips aren’t the future—they’re the current!) You will see Europeans swipe their cards via a machine after which enter a PIN (it’s known as a ‘puce’ [flea] in French), however your card will be visible on the cashier’s or waiter’s terminal as requiring a signature (and often they will not even charge a fee it, but be ready). Once in a while great while they’ll request ID. Sometimes you will want to make use of your card in automated devices, for example in the airport terminal in order to buy metro tickets. Newer machines will normally (but weirdly not necessarily) work the older ones will not. You’ll learn how to recognize that is which pretty rapidly (those that have roller balls that you should select on the watch’s screen which option you would like would be the original copies). One more thing, when you are utilizing an automated payment system (for example buying an RER ticket in the airport terminal), do as instructed on screen. Typically you need to leave your card within the readers for a longer period than you may expect. It will explain when it is Alright to remove your card ("retirez votre carte") do not do it before that or it will not work.
Breakfast
You will find Amerian-style breakfasts at better (i.e., more costly) hotels, and they’ll, actually, be more costly. An average French breakfast might contain coffee and/or juice, a croissant or perhaps a tartine (bread with jam and/or butter), yogurt, and/or fruit.
Lunch
Typically larger than what you are able have in america, but it’s not necessary to gorge out if you are not hungry. You will see menus featuring two and three courses, and you will see people eating them, too (after which you’ll question the way the French stay so slim). Order what you would like and do not feel pressured to obtain some huge meal, because nobody will care your food intake at lunch (but dinner, well, that could be different). Obtain a croque monsieur, that is a great invention: a toasted pork and cheese sandwich which will really amaze you.
Weird Assorted items
Don’t put on athletic shoes with jeans, unless of course they are stylish do not enable your suitcase block a seat around the metro always say "bonjour" when you start any kind of personal or business transaction whatoever say "au revoir" whenever you conclude a transaction, but express it inside a nonchalant fashion yes, you are able to, actually, put on shorts in Paris, whatever your sex might be (and you will view it constantly within the summer time), but steer clear of the sneaker phenomenon legally, you ought to have your passport along with you a all occasions, and you may by stopped by police and requested to create ID (however, you most likely will not be) more stuff when i consider it.
More in the future…
Resourse: http://tomsguidetoparis.com/