Anybody use points in Paris?

[bavaria]

Go to www.flyertalk.com and the womens' forum (sorry, I don't like that normally, however....)

We have a long thread about cute comfortable shoes to wear in Europe. I own about a dozen pair of Geox for instance, but there are pages of suggestions. I know that Eurochique fashions is the height of mockery here on this site, but we wear athletic shoes and clothes for athletic endeavours. The German firm Puma does for instance make some slim dark coloured shoes which are comfortable and quite popular.

I wouldn't force anyone to change their style (I believe that I told Pakey to wear her crocs if that made her comfortable) But just understand that it is almost a game to identify nationalities by clothing - even the DLRP CMs do that with me all the time, although my mixed outfits really confuse them (Some of them have even guessed Spanish or Italian!)

Moreso than clothing however if you wander around looking lost and clueless, you will be a target. In Paris there are many scams, including the Arab women calling out in Englishfor help (which seems to always rope in the helpful, friendly Americans) , and they do target the obvious tourists. So avoid the backpack, don't wear the camera around your neck, and look confident.

 

[bavaria]

I may regret this but as the topic was raised, I will say something. I avoid being the one to bring it up out of respect for the fact that this website is still essentially an American website.

What is polite in one culture does not always translate. Take the American 'small talk', which is considered polite to make one feel at ease. I cannot stand it. It drives me wild to go to the bank and have the teller ask my profession, or my next country of travel. So when an American comes to Germany and doesn't take the time to understand the differences, and engages me in small talk, my first instinct is to turn away and ignore them, or to ask 'do I know you?'. Usually I do try and be 'polite' back, even though they have just been 'very rude' to me because I know American customs.

As to the subject of clothing, visit the Theme Parks board. Every week there are threads mocking 'foreigners' and how they behave and dress. Yet when one gently points out cultural differences, often the response is 'they are in America, they should behave in our fashion'.

So while I did not initially bring up the subject, I understand why someone else did. It wasn't I don't think to insult anyone, but in an attempt to make people feel more comfortable in their travels. A poster who I consider a friend here told me that she was very disappointed in a recent trip she took overseas because she felt like an outsider the entire time, and didn't fit in. This was to an English speaking country, but the differences were so vast that it negatively impacted her holiday. I really felt bad for her.

 

[bavaria]

Meanwhile, I am starting to think that a taxi might be worth the investment to solve our luggage dilemas?! If the distance is not too great between CDG and DLP and between DLP and the train station how much could it be?????? Would it be scary outrageous??

Take the VEA Navette shuttle bus, or the private RS Transport/BS Transport which runs over 100 Euros for the combined fare.

 

[Anal Annie]

As to the subject of clothing, visit the Theme Parks board. Every week there are threads mocking 'foreigners' and how they behave and dress. Yet when one gently points out cultural differences, often the response is 'they are in America, they should behave in our fashion'.

You know, there are always going to be differences. There are differences here within the states. And so Oh Well. That's the way it goes. The only thing I ever notice about the Europeans when they are in FL are the ones in Speedos & the occasional untended armpit hair. But again. Oh Well. I am not going to go start a thread about either of them. As the saying goes "deal with it". The only time the non-use of English bothers me HERE is when I KNOW the person LIVES here and has for a long time. That can be rude sometimes depending on the situation. Back in the day I had a roommate from Iran & she insisted upon using Farsi when it was convenient for her - and she had lived here for 16 years already. She liked to pretend she didn't know what was going on.

(Oh and I would drive you NUTs as I talk to strangers ALL the time. Elevators. In lines at the store. When shopping. I call it friendly. Others may call it whacky and I'm OK with that. To know me is to love me. )

MEANWHILE, our whole trip is changing as we speak. Just found out that DCL is cancelling all of the 2011 Med cruises that were scheduled beginning with the July 30 one. SOOO we will likely be switching to the July 20 one. NOT when we wanted to go (August is a better vacation month for us) but not much choice in it. This means we will now likely go into Barcelona first on Mon. or something (cruise still leaves on Wed.) and do DLP AFTER the cruise if we do it. I don't know. But DS swims in the summer & I'd like to stick around for his season as long as possible (it runs thru the end of July). So by switching to July he will miss the last meet or two & the end of year team photos & awards banquet etc. But like I said, not much choice in the matter now...

 

[bavaria]

ok, what? Did you say DCL is CANCELLING all the Med cruises??!! REALLY?

I am going to back out of the thread, but if anyone (as always) wishes to have travel information from a local please do feel free to contact me via PM. (I believe that these cruises also go to
Villefranche-sur-Mer and am happy to assist with any information about that area, Nice, or la Cote d'Azur as I am there quite often)

To the OP, I certainly meant no offense, but only intended to show how differences can lead to misunderstanding (as we seem to have on this thread). In much of the rest of the world we don't speak 'American' English, and find it often a challenge to understand. Until I was in my late 20's I didn't realise that the American football reference was spelled the same as a famous cathedral; if crashbb or I were to pronounce it it would sound very different to most readers here and could lead to confusion and injury on both sides of the glass, as in my example.

While we may share a somewhat universal language, my intent was only to point out the differences and continue a conversation already begun by another poster. I suspect that tink,too would be as bemused as I was a few weeks ago when I turned on the television in America and found David Tennant being subtitled! What may sound normal and comfortable to us apparently may sound like a foreign language to someone else, even if most of the words are the same. (And just last night over dinner we had a lengthy discussion over the term 'cutlery' and its use or lack of use in English speaking nations around the world, as another example)

OP, whatever you end up doing, have a good trip.

 

[Anal Annie]

ok, what? Did you say DCL is CANCELLING all the Med cruises??!! REALLY?

Not ALL of them. They are cancelling the 2011 ones AFTER the July 20 one. So from July 30 to the Sept. one. Since they alternate 10 & 11 nights I think it's about 4 or 5 cruises. They haven't made a public announcement yet on what their plans are for the Magic but assume at this point that they're taking her back to Port Canaveral early. But that's just a guess. Right now the TA's are just contacting everyone individually to let them know.

I am going to back out of the thread, but if anyone (as always) wishes to have travel information from a local please do feel free to contact me via PM. (I believe that these cruises also go to
Villefranche-sur-Mer and am happy to assist with any information about that area, Nice, or la Cote d'Azur as I am there quite often)

No intent to run you off...appreciate advice on getting around & navigating around Paris & Barcelona - that's what I was looking for. I was also looking for others who'd used points at DLP before but those people are few & far between. Now I find that they've changed how it works there too so I guess that's a "nevermind" since the rules are different. While it may not be the BEST use of points if we go to Paris we will likely use points to save cash. Good value or not. If we're not using them at WDW that year we may as well use them to help with our budget.

To the OP, I certainly meant no offense, but only intended to show how differences can lead to misunderstanding (as we seem to have on this thread). In much of the rest of the world we don't speak 'American' English, and find it often a challenge to understand. Until I was in my late 20's I didn't realise that the American football reference was spelled the same as a famous cathedral; if crashbb or I were to pronounce it it would sound very different to most readers here and could lead to confusion and injury on both sides of the glass, as in my example.

Somehow the thread turned into something out of the blue that sounded like my European naivety would cause me to dress and behave in a completely uncouth manner and embarrass all of America in the process. I AM going to be a tourist and I know I will look like one to a degree. There is simply no way I am going to blend in 100%. We're going to be sightseeing, taking pictures of famous landmarks. There's NO WAY to look like we're Parisian and that's OK with me. My questions weren't about how to blend in. I wanted to learn more about getting around. Pros, cons, options, train schedules etc. If we visit 2 different countries we need to go between. If we do Paris AFTER the cruise now then we will probably just fly and forget the train adventure. Before, I was trying to avoid paying for a day of park tix that we don't need plus time our arrival in Barcelona for the cruise. Now the timing won't be as critical & it won't matter so much.

While we may share a somewhat universal language, my intent was only to point out the differences and continue a conversation already begun by another poster. I suspect that tink,too would be as bemused as I was a few weeks ago when I turned on the television in America and found David Tennant being subtitled! What may sound normal and comfortable to us apparently may sound like a foreign language to someone else, even if most of the words are the same. (And just last night over dinner we had a lengthy discussion over the term 'cutlery' and its use or lack of use in English speaking nations around the world, as another example)

Differences indeed. Don't know David Tennant and never use the work cutlery. This just means we have different interests.

OP, whatever you end up doing, have a good trip.

Thanks for your help & all the links you provided. We will try to have a good time. Lot's of time to go yet. Will likely start more threads as the time goes on.