The Truth about Living in France | Moving and Travel France
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2023
- The TRUTH about Living in France | Moving and Travel France Whether you are moving to France or planning to travel to France, these truths about France may be helpful for you to know and prepare you for what you will encounter in France.
Follow our journey moving from the USA to France. We share our experience relocating to France and what we're learning along the way,
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Follow our journey moving from the USA to France. We share our experience relocating to France and what we're learning along the way, Subscribe to this channel by clicking this link👉 bit.ly/KTfrance
If I can't travel physically, I can mentally travel through both of you. Thank you and looking forward to more travels with you.❤
Thank you. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos 🥰
Vicariously if you will.
One more tip, french people usually socialize in what we call "associations" or clubs, it can be anything from specific hobbies to sports etc... very important to know that. I think a nice place would be a place where you can socialize and have local groceries nearby, a bakery, a local butcher, barber and public transportations (unless you have a car). just my 2 cents.
Thank you, David.
I adore you two! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. When I was young and foolish (now I'm just foolish) and lived in London, you could fly to Paris for four days for 11 pounds. This included hotel. With the exchange rate in 1969/70 that was about $30.00 Canadian. Needless to say, I knew Paris quite well at that time. Such an incredible city. "The City of Light". Enjoy your travels. Looking forward to what is yet to come. 😘
Thank you, Donna 🥰
I've been hoping, fantasizing, and planning to move to France for 20 years. Finally got done with work and have found a few lovely properties in the SW of the country where the climate is similar to where I am from. I've spend years learning French and every summer for the past 7 years, except during COVID, staying in tiny villages to see if the lifestyle 'fits'. Every place has been wonderful. Each has a special feature or charm. The people have been warm and welcoming in every tiny town. I hope I find my forever home this summer.
Everything you shared is pretty dead on. I call my clothes drying rack the Euro2020 and I've used it exclusively since my dryer broke. I learned about how they try to address their homeless issues in Nantes. Not to go into detail but they really have outreach and social security systems that try to solve the problem.
You're pretty dead on with your observations. Thanks for your time, good work.
Thank you, Carolyn. Are you living there now?
I lived ten years in LA after 10 years in Paris and the situation is way worse in the US in that regard, at least visually... LA syndrome? It seems the situation has somehow improved in Paris recently. The city appears a lot cleaner with far fewer homeless people.
Agree!
Next time you are talking about restaurants and prices you should mention that the price you see on the carte is the price you pay sales tax or TVA it is already included in the price along with the service.
Thanks, David. We will keep that in mind and mention it next time.
Bonjour vous deux, Merci pour tous ces commentaires. Je crois que Tony a vécu une vie antérieure à Paris….lol. c’est pourquoi il a une si belle connection avec ce pays et surtout Paris.💕
Merci pour vos gentils commentaires. Je pense que nous vivions tous les deux à Paris auparavant. J'y pense depuis que je suis enfant. Je suis tellement fier de moi que j'ai compris la plupart de ce que vous avez écrit.. lol
❤
Hello , I 'm french , living near St Germain en Laye , west suburb of Paris , and I watch your vlogs with pleasure . Welcome in France
Merci. Heureux que vous les appréciiez
I hope for you all things good & enjoyable in the months coming up. I will enjoy tagging along on your travels & moves to come. Blessings! 💜
Good to know, since I've already made this etiquette mistake a few times over...lol
Hi KJ and Tony, I so agree with everything you said regarding France and Paris. I LOVE Paris. Just walking around in Paris is a perfect experience. I tell my friend when they travel to slow down and experience the little things. Don't be afraid to "get lost". I concur with your special memories of Paris. One of my special memories is drinking hot mulled spiced wine on Christmas Eve in Montmartre and visiting all the quaint shops. Congratulations on your new home in Vero Beach. I live in the Sarasota area and considered Vero Beach before deciding to buy in Sarasota. Thanks for your videos.
We're so glad to know that you're enjoying the videos and can relate to our love for and experience of Paris. Have never been to Sarasota, but hear it's beautiful!
Thank you KJ & Tony ! Very informative & so helpful ! I am excited for you both as you plan to head back to France !We are planning to go also! However, it's all in the timing for us! Thank you so much again!
Glad you enjoyed it Rosalind. Timing is also key for us as well!
this is so hecking wholesome to watch stay safe and hafe fun opa and oma ( german for grandpa and grandma ) 🥰❤
Glad you enjoyed!
HI KJ and Tony, we just booked trip on Cunard transatlantic to Europe, and decided to slowly go there since we are like you wanting to test the waters. We have been a lot to France, and already have family in Spain who will be at the port when we get there. We did that to give ourselves a little feeling of home seeing family. . Plus Spain really is so easy for us to get around and feels a lot liike Miami in some ways. Glad KJ has seeing her comfort level is to find that home base first. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in discovery that later turns into stress! Enjoy your trip plans and look forward to your new videos.
Thank you, Gio! When are you heading to Europe. Very exciting!!
@@kjandtonylovefrance We arrive in Sept! Booked the Airbnb in Bordeaux , a lot different than Paris.
The same is here in the United Kingdom. People who lives outside London have not so positive opinion about London, but to me is really interesting to be in an international envoronment. Amazing videos, thanks for sharing with us. I am learning so much from them.
Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the videos 📹
Thank you for your shows. As someone who was born in Europe and moved to the US several decades ago, I feel that any new place one travels to, particularly in a foreign country, would naturally present different customs and ways of living. It is in travelers' best interests to educate themselves about this before visiting. Any European might say that in the US there are huge built-in closets and that, for some strange reason, Americans like hugging and drying their laundry. It is all about perspective and there is no right or wrong way of living. A traveler should either respect and accept the differences, or leave, without being too judgmental.
Thank you. Couldn't agree more!
Agreed! Unfortunately, as you may have noticed, Americans tend to live in our own bubble and assume everything is the same everywhere. After a couple of years of living in Europe, I’ve hopefully had a few American edges sanded off, so I am more open and curious.
I live half the year in Nice and the other half in Southern California. I occasionally see homeless people in Nice, and, as you said about the homeless in Paris, they are not aggressive. They usually sit quietly and sometimes will politely greet you, but that’s all - I never feel threatened at all. This is completely unlike my experiences in the US, where many of the homeless suffer from severe mental illness and are often aggressive, threatening, and very dangerous.
Thank you both for your videos - I enjoy them very much and wish you the best of luck with your future adventures!
That sounds like a nice mix between Nice and Southern California. Agree about the homeless people. Our son goes to graduate school in San Francisco and is coming home to finish his final semester because he doesn't feel safe where he is living. He has talked about his encounters with people there with mental illness. He grew up in somewhat of a bubble here in Boca Raton, so I think that is why it is especially hard for him. Glad you are enjoying the videos and thank you for you well wishes.
Thank you so much for responding to my question, very helpful. I am rethinking a little bit and maybe leaning more to 6 months in or around Paris, then 6 months further south, before fully committing. You guys are great, pay no attention to crappy comments, there are just some very unhappy people out there. Cheers!
Thank you, Terry. That's also what we're thinking. Part of the year in Paris and then part of the year in the South.
Paris is our favorite place, we love Paris!! We have been to Paris and other parts of France 10 times and each time we fly into Paris we always feel like we are coming home. We were fortunate enough to travel with the French teacher and students at the high school where I worked and would go as chaperones, every two years. There is something just magical about Paris. The last time we went was in 2018 with just myself, my husband and the lady that used to teach French. It was so enjoyable to go with just the three of us and explore things we hadn’t been able to see with a group of 50 to keep track of. ❤️
Hi Norma! Yes, Paris is truly magical. So glad you were able to go and explore without the group. Hopefully you'll be able to visit again soon ❤️
Ah, the kiss at the end 🤗
🥰
The homeless are all over France including Nice and Cannes. Unfortunately along with that comes mental health issues. I experienced it first hand in Cannes last summer.
I figured as much relative to Nice and the South of France.
Bonjour Merci for explaining it in details.
You are welcome! Hope it was helpful 🙂
As a child growing up in South Africa, I was obsessed with Paris. I leant French and had a superb map of Paris from BNC which I used to pour over and memorized the arrondissements and streets and Metros. When I was 18 I went to Pari by myself. Unbelievable experience and I had the map and streets in my head. Been back MANY times since, and now I'm a Texan so I can afford to travel (unlike with South African currency) HOWEVER, I would give my back teeth to live in Vero beach!!!!
Hi Nicolette - Vero Beach is beautiful and we're looking forward to having our home base there for this next year.
Love your videos!
Best of luck on your move!
Thank you!!
Congrats on finding your new home! Glad all is going smoothly!
Thanks, Liza!
Great news about your move. I hope it all goes smoothly! With you all the way on Paris - that city has had my heart for over 40 years! Do you watch any walking videos in the city? I do to get my regular fix lol.
Hi Andy. Yes, I LOVE the walking tours!!
Thank you so much, really appreciate your time and effort in sharing this info.
Glad it was helpful!
Great informative video and congratulations on your new home away from home. Going to watch your next video.
Thank you, Diane. We're glad you enjoyed it!
I just Love the simple way you describe Paris! I appreciate that so much. I am happy for you all🌷💖
Thank you, Laura 🥰
How exciting! Only 3-4 more weeks! Debby in Kansas
I know! We are counting the days!!
Ah, Paris is mine too. On the Champs a favorite place is the cafe Deauville, getting a table right in front, buying an astronomically high price of pitcher of beer and just watching the world of Paris go by.
Sound wonderful! Glad you can relate.
Congrats on all the great news!!!
Thanks, Mary!
I was grateful for your comments on moving around or staying in one place. We went from city to city and I found that unsettling too. On our next trip we will have a home base and then take the occasional trip to another city once in a while. Very helpful post. TY.
Glad it was helpful. Definitely the better approach 👌
very informative. especially closets! I haven't thought about that in years. I didn't have one closet when I lived in Nice.
Yes, the closet situation is very challengin to us...lol.
Thanks for sharing more insights about France, and congrats on your upcoming move! I've decided to spend a few weeks each in Lyon and Nice at the end of this year to decide which I like best. I've been to Lyon and know it well, but haven't been to Nice so I want to check it out. I'm also considering dividing time between cities until I have a firm preference. Looking forward to KJ's thoughts after visiting Nice...
I'm drawn to Lyon in TH-cam videos. I actually like the newer modern area. I hope that I can go sometime.
Sounds like a great plan, Linda. We're considering going to Lyon early next year since we've heard so many wonderful things about it.
I hope you can go too, Debby!! We are considering scouting Lyon too.
@@dls300 I like the central area Presqu'ile (2nd) and east of that Brotteaux (6th). Other popular districts are Croix Rousse (1st) and Vieux/Old Lyon (5th) but they are too hilly for me. Watching walking tours on TH-cam is a great way to see each area. Try to go in early December 12/7-10 to see the Festival of Lights (Fetes des Lumieres).
In France, in restaurants, service is included in the check. Having said that, French people still give few cents or few euros depending on the service or the final check.
Thank you 😊
So glad that you are planning a home base close to KJ's parents. I'm sure the cat is happy too😻 (we're a bit over the top at the mo with 4 cats 🫠).
Hope your trip to Nice goes swimmingly well. Enjoy! ❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much! We are huge cat lovers too. Appreciate the well wishes regarding our trip to Nice. Can't wait!!
@@kjandtonylovefrance 👍👍
Very nice video. Great information. I was out this afternoon looking for a Greek sandwich and walked down Rue de la Harpe and passed by your apartment. I can understand why you enjoyed your stay. It was a delightful Sunday afternoon for a stroll from Jardin du Luxembourg 🇱🇺 -Daniel
Oh my, I think my heart just skipped a beat. We so loved living on Rue de la Harpe. Trust you are enjoying every minute, especially the stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg 🥰
The electricity rates are way to high in Europe for casual consumption They are so high in NH right now many people are drying on dryer racks here too. Congrats on new house. Cannot wait to see KJs take on southern France.
Thanks, Judi. I can't wait too! Counting the days!!
Good video. You should also talk about Medical insurance when traveling out of the U.S. We were in Venice, Italy and my husband got Covid (104 degree temp, chills, sore throat, etc.) and had to go emergency in Venice. Our insurance is excellent and covers us anywhere we are. Our medical insurance covered all the expenses but people should be aware of their medical coverage in case they get sick.
My mother was raised in Paris and Prague and spoke French, English, German and Czech and I would love to live in France but I don't like the language barrier. We currently live 6 months in Malta because English is a primary language, the location (easy access to other countries), the friendly people, and the mediterranean weather.
Thank you, Cynthia. Sorry to hear that you had such a positive experience with the insurance. We've heard Malta is beautiful and have considered it, but we have also heard it is very expensive. Have you found this to be the case?
I remember seeing Tony in the video (along the Seine, by Notre Dame) just taking it all in. You just feel his love for the place. Or maybe I was just imagining that! Debby in Kansas😄
You are totally not imagining it, Debby!
Yes all my friends in France hate Parisian and Paris but my cousin who is an intellectual loves New York and will only come to NYC when he comes to the states. Found out about dryer racks there and use one noe here in Florida. We could never figure how to use the washer dryer combo in Europe. We did have a problem at the gas station and tollbooth s with our card. No problem shopping or at hotels or restaurants. Used my Florida driving license without a problem but my husband did get his international license. As I am over 70 I might not be able to get a rental. I have noticed in Europe they do not hold their pizza or hamburgers or even some fruits. I too liked not being interrupted by the waiter. We met a man in Bolzano, Italy who had retired just recently to Ortisei from Colorado. He had had it with gun violence in the US. When you go back to Nice make sure to visit Menton, Eze, and then go to Provence which is charming and much more laid back than Paris. We are only back two weeks and traveling was more difficult than in years past but I have already looked up flights from Miami to Nice for next spring. Well I haven’t run into you yet in Boca but maybe next year in Nice. Bon chance!
Paris has changed drastically over the past 10 years. I went there the last time, my 4th 2016 and that’s the only time I saw homeless people, glad you mentioned refugees because that’s what I saw. The first three times were 1992, 1996 and 2003. Paris was very different and glamorous and clean. The last time is was very dirty, also didn’t feel safe. It was very sad. There were parts we found were better. We had small children with us and on foot mostly. The area around Eiffel Tower after the sunset view on top of the Eiffel Tower, magnificent! The strange men trying to sell things outside the secure barricade weren’t Parisian’s. We literally grabbed the kids and ran to the Trocadero. Military walking around the Musee d’Orsay after closing. Very large men walking shoulder to shoulder. A few different things I saw on my last visit. Also didn’t realize The Louvre doesn’t have air conditioning. Wow! During a heat wave in August it was odd to experience. So use to American museums having air conditioning. Glad to see you both again! You both are looking well!
Thank you for sharing this information. Our first time in France was in 2010 and it was St. Tropez, we then visited Marseilles a few years later and then our first trip to Paris wasn't until May of last year, so we don't have much of a perspective relative to how it has changed. The info about the A/C at the Louvre (or lack of) is very important to know, as we had no idea. We were there in winter so we didn't notice. Thanks again and appreciate your kind comments🥰
The men you noticed near the Eiffel Tower are refugees. Selling trinkets to tourists is how they scrabble to make a living after fleeing war and danger in their home countries. You can walk by them normally, you don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to support them, but there’s no need to run from them. The military presence in Paris, while hard to get used to, personally I find reassuring, after what happened here in 2015. But, it’s very different to live in a place than it is to visit it as a tourist.
Very good video
Thanks, Bridget. Glad you enjoyed!
Funny...Tony's so excited to get back to Paris...KJ's zooming in on your new Florida home. This setup will be perfect for you both. Hope your mri went well, KJ. 😊😊😊
Yes, true!! My MRI came back with a torn ACL so we'll see what Dr. Garcia has to say about that.
HI. I enjoy watching your videos. As I mentioned earlier, I'm have lived in France for 45 years and in Paris for almost 25 years now. And yes my wife (American) and I will be leaving Paris for Alsace in the future. I don't need to be in Paris anymore as I am self employed and only work through distance and it has gotten filthy and dangerous over the years. As a major traveler I don't get overwhelmed by where I live . For me Paris is just another city as was Washington DC when I lived there or Madrid, Valencia or Jerusalem..
But I would like to clarify up some things about the Paris syndrome. This was a term coined in the 80's by Hiroaki Ota, a Japanese psychiatrist working at the Sainte-Anne Hospital Center in France, He published a book about it in 1991. In fact Ota san noticed a high level of Japanese women who came to Paris either as tourists or accompanying their husbands who came to work for a few years in Japanese subsidiaries literally short circuited mentally because what they had read about France and Paris in Japanese magazines and journals did not correspond to the reality. I have worked with the Japanese for almost 20 years both in France and in Japan so I've got a handle on this. In Japan you cannot print and article or a book which is critical about Paris, the French or France. Publishers just won't do it. You have to write about the finer things in life found in France to be published. In other words when they arrive in France they expect to find what they have read and it is often the exact opposite of what they expect. Stepping in dog exrement, dirty streets, homeless on the streets, smelly metros, often rude people and theft. It's often too much for the japanese women to handle and several of my female clients have returned to Japan precipitously to save their sanity. In Japan you only see homeless people in some designated parks in large cities but never on the streets as it is considered shameful.In Tokyo you can find them in Ueno Park. There is no garbage on the streets in Japan and the Metros do not smell and forget about theft. I once left my video camera near the aquarium in a aquatic and botanical park in Okinawa and when I arrived at the botanical gardens a bit further on I realized I had forgotten it. And I wasn't even upset that I would never get it back. because after a quick ride back down to the aquarium and a phone call from the little train driver a woman was waiting for me at the door, took us upstairs and asked only to identify the make of the camera and handed it to us wrapped for protection....That is Japan!. Another time in Yokohama after a dinner with friends in a type of mall walking back through the mall...a security guard notices a small piece of dust on the floor. Picks it up and puts it in a small sack. No cigarette butts on the pavement in Japan Japanese people carry a small sack for their cigarette butts, but in France they do as the Parisians do and just flick the butt into the street because the place is such a mess anyway. I have pictures here of cigarette disposal units on the street and on the ground right next to them are dozens of cigarette butts because people are filthy and are too lazy to walk 2 feet to throw away their butts..
But the truth of the Paris syndrome is that it is really not a Western paranoia but an Eastern one because people for Western countries know , that in many cities of their country there is filth, theft, rude salespeople etc so they are not caught off guard as are Japanese women where these things mentioned above don't exist.
PS. Move to Nice not Paris.! And get A/C because once the Wow effect wears off you'll be sizzling inside your apartment. You'll also be right next to Italy and great Italian food!
One would encounter the "Paris Syndrome", if all that you read about (as a Japanese) were the finer things in life.
Thank you so much for all of this helpful information and the clarification about Paris Syndrome. We are hoping to spend time in both Paris and Nice, but will most likely have to pick one or the other for our home-base. Best of luck to you in Alsace. I think, if I'm remembering correctly, you recently purchased an apartment in Paris and offered to meet us for coffee when we were there. Although, I may be mistaken. Either way, thank you again for the great info!
@@kjandtonylovefrance HI. It wasn't me. I don't own property in France but I will gladly meet you in Paris for a coffee if we both have time. I'm the guy whose parents lived in Delray
It is very common in other countries other than USA to use a dresser or big armoire to hold your clothes.
Yes, we are now very familiar with this 😊
also I recommend having a home base in France and travel around to the different regions like Brittany and Normandy. France has lots to offer outside of Paris. And you can visit Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK very easily too
And Portugal! I lived in France for 14 years and it is beautiful, but not 'home'!! Paris is great to visit, but there's so much more!!
Yes, that is the plan. We will have a home base somewhere in France and then travel. Our scouting trips at this point will be to determine where that will be, since renting an apartment will be a lot cheaper committing to a one year lease than month to month.
I have to say after watching this that it seems to me the "French" have the "syndrome" about Paris.😅 I say this because I think anyone who travels to "anyplace" that they have wanted to go probably have many feelings about it. Some wonderful and maybe some not so much. I fell in love with Ireland when I was blessed to go a few years ago. I knew Nothing and I want to go again because I learned SO much the first time. And THAT'S the thing; you dont know what you dont know until you experience it. So, THANK you for sharing all you've learned with us. I would love to see Paris with me own 2 eyes one day! 😊❤
I pray you make it there one day, Maxine 🥰🙏❣️
Beautiful . Thanks for sharing your Joy . The term 'Paris Syndrome' is not about Paris but a condition some people experience when adapting to a new Culture . Thankfully though it is rare .
Thank you.
Its very important to get settled in a place as a home and only after feeling comfortable there, to start travelling (weekends only). Thats how my husband and I are planning to do it next year when we move to Paris. Another couple who I saw on toutube who have been travelling around France with all their stuff and not finding a place - are obviously having a hard time. I would never in a million years do that. One needs a base to feel comfortable. Especially at our age. I would also recommend spending the money to get a nice place at the right location. We are not backpackers anymore.
Yes, I agree with all your suggestions. So happy to hear to you moving to Paris.
I will be back in our apartment in Nice for 3.5 weeks in June --- then again 3 weeks in August --- would love to grab a coffee or a nibble (yes -- our apartment is one of those which has a combo washer dryer!)
That sounds great if we are able to meet for coffee. We'll be there from June 28 - July 11.
If you are thinking of going to Nice again, I would suggest checking out Menton to stay in:) I also love Ponte Neuf and the Luxembourg Gardens, I luv Sainte Germaine in general.
Yes, that's what we have been told... must see Menton!!
Hello, indeed Paris is not France or at least only represents a small part of it. France is also Brittany, Normandy, the banks of the Loire, Auvergne, Alsace, the north (Lille for example...)... France is also these small towns with a pretty square where the market and the cafes surrounding it take place and where people chat. I love my country but don't think Paris is the quintessence of it. Lots of contrasts and a great quality of life in all these regions. Thank you for your videos which in a way make me rediscover my country. If you need advice or ideas for discoveries, don't hesitate to ask me. I live in Alsace.
Thank you so much for this feedback. We do plan to explore the countryside and have heard great things about Alsace.
KJ, curious, I feel that you're a woman of faith..I have a French friend who now lives in Nice and he says that in France everybody is Catholic but hardly anybody goes to church. I have been to protestant church in Paris and it was great and I also found a charismatic catholic church service in Paris in French where it was very evangelical and it was a great experience..have you found a house of worship? Have you heard of Taize in the Burgundy region? Looks amazing..check out on TH-cam.
Hi David - No, we have not found a house of worship yet because we have not found where we will be settling just yet. However, I do plan to find one since there are so many beautiful churches in France.
Dead on about the comparison between Paris and NY. You could have added London to the opposition between the largest city and the reste of the country.
Refinement VOILA✨👌🍸
Exactly ❤️
I didn't knew about the "Paris syndrome", it's hilarious. I don't know what the article from the NYT was saying, but it's not about expectations not being met. It's about particularly stressed tourists feeling lost and delirious when confronted with some culture shock. It's not specific to Paris, it can happen in any unfamiliar places.
There was around 3000 homeless people (for 2 million residents) in the city from the last count. I've helped homeless people, most of them are not beggars. But there's professional beggars (most of them are not homeless) and all kind of marginal people like in any other large city. For comparison, Los Angeles has an estimated 46000 homeless people for almost 4 million residents, so that's 7 times more than Paris per capita...
You are right about provincials disliking Paris and Parisians. But it's not a mutual feeling, that's why I was shocked by some very idiotic comments when I mentioned coming from Paris after moving in the south of France.
Thanks so much for the additional info 😊
Going to Strasbourg in November. Any idea if they have designer shopping? Thank you.
We have not been to Stasbourg yet, so we don't know.
@@kjandtonylovefrance Ok, thank you.
The biggest problem with American credit cards outside the US is that many US cards still do not use PIN numbers. You need a PIN number in most countries unless the amount qualifiefor just tapping (smaller amounts). Go to your bank and sort it out before you go. I just witnessed this yesterday at Heathrow Airport in London. The customer was indignant but it wasn’t the store’s fault. I live in Canada and we’ve had PIN numbers for years. I’m surprised when I visit the US that PIN use is still minimal. It’s far more secure then signing.
Ah yes, makes sense. We didn't have problems because all the cards we use have pins.
Thank you for giving us these tips. Congratulations on your new home close to your parents. It sounds perfect for all of you, including your cat. (I’m a cat person too.). I do have a question for you. How easy is it for a senior citizen over 70 to visit Paris? My sister and I are of that age and want to visit soon. We have no disabilities but can’t do a lot of long walking or climbing lots of stairs like we used to when we were younger. Is there Uber there where we can book rides to the sights and neighborhoods? I want to plan enough time so we are not rushing around. I want to enjoy just being there. Also, should we book an AirBnB or hotel for our stay? We want to see more of France than just Paris mostly by rail. Love all your videos!
Glad you enjoyed the video, Mary. I think it is easy for you to visit Paris. There are boats and buses that give tours which limits the walking. For short-term stays I would recommend a hotel. Longer stays it might be better to book an Airbnb. Uber is also very available in Paris.
Thank you!
It's true: the French don't like Paris and the Parisians very much. They'll visit the city to see some of the sights but nobody I know wants to live there. I realize that from an American point of view, things are very different and it takes time to really get to know the place.
Yes, true.
Be careful of N° 9. The French eat burgers and pizza also with their hands. The young generation is not the older generation.
Haven't read all of the comments in case someone already said this.. In regards to tipping, the service /tip is normally included in the bill, it will say, service compris' on the bottom of the bill.. The tip that is taken out is 15 per cent.. If the service is really good, if you are going to come back to the same place again or frequently, it's nice to leave a few years.. Cheers.
Thanks, Leesa. Very helpful!
I had New Orleans syndrome when we traveled there about 13 years ago. There were of course several beautiful areas but a lot of crass and crappy souvenir stores EVERYWHERE.
Ah, the New Orleans of the imagination. It's more than the French Quarter; and, as you learned, in the Quarter, there are some streets or some blocks on some streets that are better than others. Some New Orleanians never go to the Quarter and leave it to the tourists.
Check out the comment by rivierarocket about Paris Syndrome. Very interesting. I've never been to New Orleans, but Tony says he would describe it exactly the same way.
@@kjandtonylovefrance just read that comment. Very interesting! My Mother called while we were walking in the French Quarter and asked…”are there Jazz bands on every corner?” 😂 My answer was “No, but you can buy a T-Shirt that says “F… You” (sorry for the language…) on every corner”. THAT is what really shocked me. And I’m not a prude…but thought it was Trashy. Anyway…wishing you both the best!!
It's always good to have a balanced view. No where is perfect. But France does have a quality of life that is worth not having a dryer to be honest. You can always buy one, there are appliance stores every where, have you ever smelled sun drenched clothes? Thank you for your informative videos. My main complaint in France is dog poop, I should mention. Be aware many dog owners are very annoying when it comes to poop. That's mostly in the cities. No worries in the country side which is much cleaner. Also understand that the countryside can be more boring as people have massively moved to the cities, although there is a trend that might reverse this, but I don't know the stats and I'm sure it depends from départements to départements (french counties).
I agree that it is worth not having a dyer!
vive la différence ! Enjoy France and Paris even if 15% already have left Paris since 2010 to the province like Bordeaux ,Nantes etc . Most visitors and Americans think Paris is France but is not totally different I am in Brittany. Cheers
Thank you. We plan to explore as much of France as we can. This is just the beginning of the adventure for us.
It’s a funny thing, the eating with knife and fork European style. It makes sense at some level but darn if I can figure out how to gracefully eat rice or peas that way. I furtively swap hands, take a big scoop, and revert back to being French. I do eat a burger with knife and fork but picking it up would a lot more efficient! Fries can go either way .. I’ve seen the French do both ways. Fork or hands. I’ve also watched them be pragmatic and switch it around to best suit the task. That’s me .. but I still feel a little self-conscious 🤪🇫🇷
Sometimes we just have to do what makes the most sense in the moment😊
Once, my mother went shopping and, as in the countryside we did not lock our doors, when she came back there was a man in the middle of our kitchen who asked her what she was doing there. My mother thought he was rather bold and asked him back what was HE doing there because SHE was living in THIS house !
Fortunately people do not carry guns in France, so the man was fed and had a shower and left with some food and a savonnette. That took place in the 90'. Now everybody locks their doors at night... O tempora, O mores...😢
😗That would be scary!
That sounds like it would be very scary, but thank goodness people don't carry guns. Frankly, the fact that people do not carry guns in France is part of the appeal.
Oui. tres effrayant
thank God he wasn't a rapist. That's why you should keep guns in your house.
@@user-qh4dr1vy9d N'importe quoi! 🙄
Homeless in Paris is not at the level as US cities at all. Yes they are much gentle and not aggressive or threatening like some here. At least that’s my experience when visiting in April.
Yes, true!
Welcome to Vero neighbor!!!!
Yes!! Thank you 😊
Tony has to have much patience !
Yes, true. I believe we both have a lot of patience.
I can relate to so many of your comments. Specifically, the wait staff leaving you alone after they bring your meal, as opposed to the US, where they seem to wait to precisely when you put a big mouthful in your mouth to come over and ask, "Is everything all right?" WTF!! It never fails!
As for cutting up everything, oh, lordy, help me here! I HATE that. I cannot imagine (1) eating a pizza with a knife and fork, much less (2) cutting it up into bite-sized pieces!!! Argh! Now, in the US, I can't stand watching someone cut up spaghetti or sunny-side up eggs into small pieces, before switching hands and eating them like soup.
Speaking of, after 65 years of living in the US, I have NEVER gotten used to the American style of switching hands! I mean, talk about little children eating their peas with a soup spoon, that's what it's like! The tines of a fork are turned down so as to prick the morsel; a fork is not a spoon. One does not turn it over to the opposite hand and use it as a spoon. But, hey ... And because of this switcheroo, Americans tend to hold their forks in a fist! They have never learned how to handle a knife and fork correctly, and you see this fisted position everywhere. OK, OK, I'm ranting.
I do love many things about the US.
Putting one hand on your lap is another one. The left hand used to be considered non-sacred, which is probably what got this started. In most European countries, you keep both hands on the table. The reason for this is that the Sun King, Louis XIV, discovered a conspiracy to poison him. Concerned that one of his guests would try to kill him, he ordered that everyone keep their hands visible and placed on the table throughout every meal. The nobility obeyed, and as the common folk wanted to imitate the aristocracy, the rest of the country soon followed suit.
Question: Do you think that sometimes you are wearing rose tinted spectacles?
Yes, perhaps.
I was in Europe in the late 90s and did a day trip to Paris. We rode on a boat up and down the Seine River and I noticed tons of garbage laying along the river. I didn’t care for all the beggars and homeless laying near the tourist sites. I wasn’t there long enough to form an educated opinion but the brief time I was there I picked up bad vibes and a lot of dark forces around.
Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that.
@@kjandtonylovefrance O always wondered if they ever cleaned up the garbage or what was happening with that. Maybe it was trash collection day. It was kinda weird to be on a boat load of tourists sailing past a bunch of garbage. 😂
When you said "dryer culture" I thought you meant "drier culture" as in less alcohol and thought "what"? As a German born Canadian, I totally understand the things you speak of like no closets and cutting up all food with a knife and fork, even a sandwich although in Europe they area usually open faced. Tartine I believe they are called.
I almost hate to say it, but so much of where you want to live has to do with political climate and viewpoints as well as amenities.
Love living your adventures vicariously. You are a lovely American couple.
Thank you, Susanne 😊
Of course, there are homeless and a lot of refugees in France and life for them it's a real tragedy !! I'm very surprised you are surprised !! About Nice, this is a town for old and rich people so no homeless !!
Yes, tragedy. And not surprised at all.
Here's the list of 10 with my commentary as an American in France since 2018.
#1 Paris Syndrome - This is totally, one hundred percent real. I saw it in some of my HEC Paris MBA classmates. Reality most likely won't meet expectations.
#2 There are homeless people in France - Yup. Some are French, many are not. You will find them in almost any city here, unfortunately, especially near train stations.
#3 Many French Don't Like Paris - The real France is not in Paris. Paris is a big city, a kind of Frenchified New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles all rolled into one. It's the center of the French world, and the pace is quick. Moreover, the salaries often don't compensate for the high cost of living in Paris. Many of my MBA classmates and me were shocked by the low offered salaries. There are better places to settle than Paris.
#4 Closets are not like in the US - Europeans generally used armoires instead of closets until relatively recently. Even here in my student room in a relatively new building, the clothes storage is in built-in armoires.
#5 Not a dryer culture. - You *will* find dryers in France, but there's no certainly shortage of clothes lines. Most French buildings also don't have air conditioning.
#6 Your credit card may not work. - Yup. My card gets declined all the time, and I always have to call my bank to sort it out. This is largely going to be a fonction of your bank's security requirements.
#7 The French cheek kiss, not hug - This is real. Even guys do it. I still haven't gotten used to it even after five years here.
#8 Can only use your driver's license for one year - Yup. Do NOT wait to exchange your American license if you intend to stay in France! The exchange process will take months! I know an American here who has had to spend thousands on driving courses and getting a new license, because she didn't exchange her license in time.
#9 The French use a knife and fork for foods that Americans eat with their hands. - Yup. Of course, the Americans do the same thing for Indian food. 😅
#10 The French don't tip like the US. - Yup, tip a dollar or two, maybe a bit more if the service was really good and the meal was expensive. Otherwise the tip was already baked into the bill.
Thank you, Garret. We appreciate the confirmation and support from someone else who has practical experience with these truths about France.
Re #8, also, many states do not have a reciprocal license agreement with France and your license cannot be exchanged. In that case you’re allowed to drive with it for one year, but if you are going to need to drive, it’s wise to budget for driving lessons and practice tests to get your French license if you’re staying longer and planning to drive. (Oh and for Tony - the “international driver’s license” is actually just a permit that you can use alongside your US license while you are visiting Europe if you want to drive a rental car. It’s not really intended for people who are living here long term.) Finally if you are going to be staying longer-term or living in or near Paris, try to let go of your American lifestyle assumptions entirely and forego having a car! I live less than an hour from Paris by train and never have to battle traffic (just crowded metro stations). Bonne chance a tout!
These are not homeless pople
🤔
US, as far as I'm aware, is the only country that doesn't use a knife and fork correctly.
I find it so interesting because etiquette is something so important in my family and yet our etiquette is incorrect in mostly every other part of the world...lol.
@KJ and Tony Move to France I'm British/Canadian, but I will admit that when I'm alone at home I eat with the fork in my right hand shhh
New Yorkers don’t like rambling. Get to the point. Time is important in NYC.
I am so tired of the United States. Healthcare expenses....price of rents and housing....it's all too ridiculous anymore.
Yes, it is a common sentiment!
Any industrial city in France - DO NOT MOVE TO! There is paradise in France, move to a place with no industry, a place that attracts retirees and your will find paradise, it must be SOUTH of the Loire or you will be in rain, clouds and cold! There are gems along the Atlantic coast that are 10xs better than the Med!
We are looking forward to finding out!
rain can be nice, I lived 7 years in California, I used to love the sun but now I'm cool with the rainy climate I'm in :) I heard Dordogne is a place where lots of UK retirees go to. Might be worth checking but it's in the country side, certainly hot in the summer (invest in a AC unit for sure)
I just want to note that your delivery is somewhat rambling and repetitive, and I found myself pushing the cursor on the line to skip ahead to the next subject. I got it the first time. I'm amazed that you don't know that all of Europe uses wardrobes for clothes storage. Euros are universal except for Czech Republic. Europeans think dryers are a terrible waste of energy. You should mention that Americans speak very loudly, which the French think is boorish. I used to cringe when I'd see an American family at top volume in a restaurant, and often the children were misbehaving. I lived there six years until I had to move back because my company closed. Biggest mistake I ever made.
Thank you for your feedback, Carol. Yes, we have heard this from a few of the French people we met that the volume at which Americans speak is typically very loud and it is so true.
Wait ..did you say the French eat hamburgers with knife and fork?
Oui
@@kjandtonylovefrance OMG, I need to see that! hah
Will you rename your channel KJ and Tony move to Vero Beach? C’mon, what are you guys up to? A free months floundering around in France and you’re experts giving advice? You really should add a disclaimer about how much time you have actually spent in France.
Are you new to the channel? They returned from 4 months straight of scouting locations in France because KJ was ill AND injured! They did a lot of research beforehand and are still researching, plus sharing with others what they learned. They decided to keep a home in the States as well as having a home in France. Moving to another country, especially where the language is not your first language, is very difficult and they are helping to make it easier for those who want to do that, plus entertaining and educating others who can only live vicariously.
Thank you, Bette 🥰
@@betteurbain7911 I understand about moving to a new country--I've lived and worked in four, including France, and put in the effort to speak four languages. I know it's not easy, and that's the point. Their experiences are very limited and observations sometimes questionable. It seems more like they're trying to keep their channel going, but the diminishing number of comments for each new posting is indicative ... of something. Don't worry, I'll stop following this channel.
Mon Dieu! Monsier Mac is not having a good day in his world!
Exactly, its really annoying to hear this silly information as if k and t were experts. Live here for five years then start spouting. Until then, this is bogus! Also if you did not study french in school as a child, good luck learning the language. Also Parisians are not that excited about you. Yes you get to know your grocer, etc. But you are
buying from these people….duh.😂 almost 3 months in France and you have the audacity to sound like experts? Wait until you try to apply for your first titre de sejour! Stay in Vero!