AMAA - Top 10 Places to Visit in France - Travel Guide - Reaction by Average Middle Aged American
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video, I react and comment on the Top 10 Places to Visit in France - Travel Guide. France really is quite beautiful and full of history.
Original Video: • Top 10 Places To Visit...
@RyanShirley
@Guillaume Rugolo
"France is easily one of the most incredible countries in the world! Enjoy this travel guide across France's most beautiful places. From the towering French Alps, to the mediterranean coast of the French Riviera, France truly has it all. Where is your favorite place to visit in France?"
This video will give insight on: Annecy, Lake Annecy, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, French Alps, Mont Blanc, Aiguille Du Midi, Cable Car, Tour de Mont Blanc, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Alsace, Alsace Wine Route, Paris, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Louvre Art Museum, Versailles, Palace of Versailles, Etretat, Falaise D'Aval, Mont Saint Michel, Mont Saint Michel, Brittany, Le Conquet, Kermorvan Lighthouse, Carcassonne, Carcassonne Fort, Uzes, Pont Du Gard, Avignon, French Riviera, Monaco, and Eze.
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French guy here, living not far away from the Eze village at 15:12. I liked your reaction. I’ll try my best to answer a few of your questions.
- The people on top of the mountain are the bold ones, the ones who climbed their way up or started their hiking from the top; some of them are skiing their way downhill, you’re right.
- The island of Mont-Saint-Michel has never been a private owned territory: Brittany and Normandy feudal lords had a lot of disputes over it, the monks playing their own part, and the kings of France later took over with great zeal. I laughed when you said it was a very American point of view.
- Old cities and villages have packed houses for protection, you guessed right; most used to have defensive walls (from medieval times or even late Roman empire), some of whick are still there, some were destroyed (like in Paris, but we still remind the old gates, which mark subway stations now).
- People used to build strong, especially for public, religious of military purposes, as these buildings were meant to resist time or war, but don’t get fooled : what is left today is only the small part that was continuously maintained, not destroyed to make space for more modern work, or rebuilt (Carcassonne, Notre-Dame de Paris, Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg... were in bad shape at the start of the 19th century).
-As many tourist-packed countries, France can be a mixed experience for foreign visitors as French people may sometimes be rude, but the average people are friendly and even warm; this is mostly a matter of communication: French people aren’t good English speakers, and tourists often forget the mandatory (and magical) words: « bonjour », « s’il vous plaît », « merci ». We know well what we owe to the American people: the beaches and military graveyards of Normandy are the strongest reminder of it.
Have fun and a good life!
THANK YOU for the detailed reply answering my questions. You have a beautiful country and I hope the French we encounter will be as nice as you are! PS - those skiers are nuts! LOL.
We abolished border controls within the Schengen area of the EU. There's no checkpoints or any control, just a sign letting you know that you've entered X country. It's no different than crossing state lines in the US. I can also just go and live and work in France or Norway or any of the other countries as easily as I could in my own.
In 2022 I spent 2 months in north east France. I stayed in Strasbourg (expensive), Metz (lovely city) and in a quiet village outside Arras. Whilst there I visited many of the battlefield sites of World War 1, the 1870 Franco-Prussian War and some of the Maginot Line fortifications. Verdun, Vimy Ridge, Notre Dame de Lorette and the Battle Of The Somme sites were absolutely shocking and fascinating. The River Somme is now a tranquil river for fishing and canoeing. It has multiple channels with wooded islands in between the channels.
WOW! So much to see and learn about!
Thank you for sharing and checking out my channel!
Switzerland, Italy and France are all members of the Schengen Area, there is no functional borders for people amongst them. You can freely walk, bike or drive across their borders without any issues. Same for Germany, Belgium, Spain, etc..
FYI, being Franco-American, I can say that the French don't dislike American people or treat them adversely, but they typically do dislike the American government (as well as the French one). They also don't like the Ra-Ra 'Murican crowd.
Great Info; Thanks!
I learn something new everyday thanks to people like you. Thank you for checking out my videos!
Hi there. About your question on why are houses so closed to each others, maybe a key to understand is to remember that in most of european countries you won't find lots of villages of cities that less than maybe 500 years, and somes are way older. Here, Riquewihr existed during the Roman Empire, so maybe this city is around 1800 years old. From the perspective of humbles peoples of these times, why whould they build bigger cities than that? There were no cars or trucks to roads, only peoples walking and cart pulled by donkeys. And for most of these cities the overall design of city centers remains. Thinks that, there still remain in France some houses that are 700 years old, and most of the time, houses in city centers are build on top of previous houses footprints. That's why you have so thin streets in Europe: that because theses streets are centuries old.
WOW - thank you for all that information. It makes sense to me. It is so hard for to wrap my head around 700 year old homes. Mine is 60 years old and it feels ancient. lol.
Thanks again for commenting and checking out my channel. Can't wait to see it all!
@@Average_Middle_Aged_American You're welcome. At 700 years old, we're in a rich man's stone building, but some private homes, are over 500 years old, and some can even be visited. Try to google "Jeanne's house" in the city of Sévérac-le-chateau for example.
European towns and cities were built before the motor car and therefore the streets are narrower and the towns more compact.There is a town in ireland built in the 60s you really can see the difference to every other town because so spread out as it was made for the motor car whereas every other irish town was built for horse and cart.
Makes total sense, just odd for me seeing a tiny road with land all around and a crazy speed limit. I totally get narrow roads in the cities since the building have been there forever. All part of the charm!
Indeed, all cities and villages ware all within fortified walls. And it was narrow as you say for protection, to avoid easy moves of enemies, and to ease the inhabitants moves since it was all close to each other without cars, bikes...
Makes sense!
Thanks for clarifying and checking out my channel!
There are no checkpoints to cross the borders between France, Italy and Switzerland, because the three countries belong to the Schengen Zone which grants full freedom of movement within its 27 member countries. As for visitors from other countries, once you're admitted in any one of the 27 countries you're admitted to all 27 countries.
As for the houses being built shoulder to shoulder in our old town centers, you guessed it right. This was a protection against attacks from invaders in the past when people lived within the limited space of city walls.
As for the quality of old buildings... in many French towns and cities for the last few years we've had to destroy buildings built 50 or 60 years ago as they were in danger of collapse, when medieval buildings built 700 or 800 years ago still stand straight and strong.
Very Cool! Thanks for the information and checking out my channel!
Mont St michel is a village with people living there and monks living in the monastery
Could someone start buying all the property or is government protected? I will check it out more.
Thanks!
I confirm dude, you're a middle aged American 😉
YEP! But at least I am willing to learn.
Aiguille du midi : have been renovated a few times since built. It is very controlled. The cable car is quite vertical at the end but okay. I've been there 2 tiles. It is quite cold up there. Some alpinists are beginning there to ski down. But you have to be skilled.
I imagine so!
Thanks for replying and checking out my videos.
You won't see me dangling from that cable , hell no 😮 but amazing country .
Right? Are they skiing???
@@Average_Middle_Aged_American Not as showed there, just treking with the right equipment ("raquettes" in french). You can skiing elsewhere in the Alps.
@@Pakal77 - maybe YOU can. LOL!
@@Average_Middle_Aged_American Believe mister Obama for that 😁
French speaking here, just saying we French sometimes have reservations about Washington's policy, so it can sometime feel like we're hostile, but poll after poll have shown that French have actually a rather positive opinion on Americans.Just remember the following:
- 1 France is the most visited country in the world so tourist traps are legion
- 2 Paris if you go there isn't representative of France and is by it's nature as a major city about as welcoming as any other big city (London, New- York and the like) people don't hate you but they're doing their business and if you're in the way they will move you out.
as for the cable car in the alps, you can rest easy it has been reliably serving people since it early days and is only a nightmare for the people taking care of it, though I must stress problem have happened with tourist taking it without the proper equipment, as you see it's pretty high and even in the high summer it remains pretty cold there so if you go plan and dress for the weather if you don't want to freeze up there, otherwise you're in good hands :)
regarding borders on that hiking tour. Both France Italy and Switzerland are part of an European agreement on border, intra European border are because of it pretty lax. Since France, Italy and Switzerland have bilateral agreements on travels you don't need a visa to come here, so worst case scenario a border officer will ask to see your passport as you enter the country and then you're pretty much free, as you tour the mt. blanc however they will probably just be a sign or a mark on the road telling you you've just crossed the border and not much else.
Great Information!
Thank you for commenting and checking out my videos!
France and italy are in the EU ,you only have checkpoints in switzerland which is not in the EU.
There are two things to consider here. France and Italy, being both European Union members, there is full freedom of movement for both people (no border checks) and goods (no customs checks). Switzerland is not a EU member, but it's a Schengen Zone member; meaning there are customs checks for goods (as it's not a EU country) but full freedom of movement for people (as it's a Schengen Zone country).
In walking mountain tours, there are not check points between country. The limits are too longs. Eventually, some customs squad could patrol but very rare
Interesting! So much to see!
Thanks for commenting and checking out my videos!
The french don't like america lol...the french are very very okey with america. I dont know where this cliché is from.
And we are very OK with the French!
Thanks for replying!
You are welcome. Try to have a trip here in france if you can. I only know New York in usa.
as i said before if you speak english in france its assumed you are english until you tell them different,just as we can not tell the difference between a belgian ,swiss and french canadian unless they tell us.Unless you are obviously american the french will think you are english as obviously thats the most likely english speaking person they are likely to meet.I am sure there is rivalry between america and france as both are very powerful on the world stage.
I am trying to be abrasive on here.
We are nice to the French in America; the French should be nice to Americas.
As far as power, we are not in the same category.
Oops, there I go again.
@@Average_Middle_Aged_American Yes but the french were and think they are a superpower.They still have huge influence in africa and the second biggest economy in the EU
@@Joseph13163 - I will let them think whatever they as long as they are nice to us. France is below UK in economy and 3 spots above UK in military (and below Japan). There is only one superpower in the world. 😬
@Average_Middle_Aged_American Superpower of what? Military, ok. Superpower of the best Healthcare system in the developed world? Certainly not. Superpower of the education system cost? Yes, these are the most expansive in the world. Superpower about the number of mass shootings every year? Yes definitely. Superpower about persons in jail a'd incarceration rate in all developed countries? Yes without a doubt. Superpower with the biggest gap between the rich and the poor people? Of course. Superpower with one of the worst balance work/personal life (family, friends, parental leaves, etc...)? Etc, etc... Military power is not the main thing to justify a country is powerful.
@@christopheb.6121 - LMAO.
Try looking up the definition of a superpower.
France is ranked 25 countries below the USA in the UN Education Index so I would change the subject if I were you. USA has 21 colleges ranked higher that France's best college.
Yes, we have more shootings. Yes, we have more self defense shootings. Yes, we have more rights to defend ourselves. There are plenty of states that have a lower violent crime rate than France.
I do not care what our incarceration rate is. You do the crime, you do the time. We elect people to make laws that we want. If those laws are broken, then there are consequences. The same people commit crimes over and over again.
You said we have the biggest gap in rich and poor. Maybe, because we have more millionaires and more billionaires than any country in the world. HOWEVER, that does not mean that the median household income is low. We are higher than France and almost twice as high as UK. The median household income in USA is $75,000. It is $61,000 in France (PPP). MEDIAN not average. I hope you know that difference.
Income tax rates:
$40k = 12% USA and 30% France
$80k = 22% USA and 30% France
$120k = 24% USA and 41% France
$200k = 32% USA and 45% France
40% of Americans do not pay income tax. Poor people in America get free or dramatically reduced health insurance.
We pay less in taxes (ALWAYS) and we are responsible for our own health insurance which costs between $0 and $700 per month depending on employer and plan. It does not take a genius to figure out that Americans are not getting screwed in health care. If one makes $100k per year, they are paying $17,000 less in taxes in America. They can then spend $0-10,000 on medical insurance based on their needs.
The average American home is twice the size of a home in France. The average American family has more cars, more disposable income, etc. There are no laws requiring how much a person works. People make their own decisions on how to live their lives. Every state is different. Plenty of people retire early or work part time or whatever. USA unemployment rate is very low. Workers can negotiate whatever terms they want. I know someone that works 4 days per week at 10 hours per day. 3 day weekend, every weekend. Of course, in America, it is very easy to start your own business and do whatever you want whenever you want. To each their own.
I not putting down France or the UK, both look lovely. I am getting a little tired of people slamming America based on propaganda and hearsay. People have biases from their upbringing. Of course, I think America is great. Of course, you think France is great. That is the nature of the beast. We are both lucky to live in top 10 countries. There are billions that are not so lucky.
I expect you to subscribe if you have not already since you are taking up so much of my time. 🙂
Brit here, if you’re American, then you’ll probably be much more welcome in the UK.
LOL! Well that just makes me want to wear my red, white, blue Uncle Sam jumpsuit suit to Paris! Thanks for checking out my videos!