French supermarkets

[JimF]

A point Ive just remembered, for all the first timers in France. Many supermarkets do not supply plastic bags (sac plastique) so its a good idea to stick a few of the reusable supermarket bags in the boot of the car!

Bon voyage a tout

JimF

 

[RayS]

Hi Jim, i knew LeClerc don't supply bags - has this habit spread to the others.

Oh, and add to the plastic bags a couple of empty clean 5l. minealwater bottles so you can buy wine from bulk (en vrac) French supermarket cheap wine is now pretty poor stuff, so best find a cave or wholesaler - you can usually taste first.

 

[CaptainKangaroo]

They may not have placky bags but they do have ingnorant french people who as soon as they hear you speak and realise you are a pommy they promptly push in front of you! Bloody French! nice country though

 

[jon_5062082]

Never come across that in France apart from Calais and the ignorant ones pushing in were from good old blighty.

always found French polite and courteous.

 

[Dusty1]

I'm not surprised they want to hop in front of an English speaking kangaroo. They are more likely to be more civil if you tried to speak a little french to them. I am amazed at how tolerant the French sometimes are when someone speaks to them in English. Would you expect a Frenchman to speak to you in French in this country?

I have rarely come across queue jumping, or should that be hopping, in France, certainly nothing like I have come across in London!

We have had holidays in France where we have had aperitifs with French campers and shared English beer with them. All it takes is a friendly 'bonjour' to break the ice.

 

[chris_5068897]

Dusty, I agree entirely with you on this. My experience is that the French are responsive if you at least have a go at the language. Away from tourist areas, they are more polite than in England - on occasions its like stepping back to an earlier more respectful time

 

[robannabid]

Totally agree about at least attempting to speak French! We booked one night at a camp site near Calais last summer (having 'phoned ahead the previous day) & duly arrived and booked in (using my best school French, but it worked ok....). As we were waiting to be shown to our pitch, two English 'vans arrived. They had not booked and did not even attempt a 'bonjour' but conducted their whole discussion in English, without the courtesy of checking whether the reception staff understood English. The reception staff looked at each other and then replied, 'we only have a couple of free pitches, next to the road; there will be some noise'. The pitches were accepted. Odd then that adjacent to our pitch, nowhere near the road, were several free pitches - I don't blame the French at all for that response! Determined English speakers beware - at least TRY your French!

 

[mikeE]

Anna -oh dear oh dear. Near Calais was it - La Bien Assise perhaps? We were there booking in when someone rolled in, threw a bit of paper onto the reception desk and barked "Caravan Club Booking" The receptionist responded with a "Bonjour" and got a barked "I don't speak French" back. There were we hacking away in school French, given a bicycle escort to the pitch, encouraged to use the restaurant, the pool and so on. Heaven knows where the barker was put. As has been said, all it takes is a smile and at least a try at the language.

 

[Dusty1]

They may not have placky bags but they do have ingnorant french people who as soon as they hear you speak and realise you are a pommy they promptly push in front of you! Bloody French! nice country though

That's why we don't go to Australia, it's full of bl**dy kangaroos!!!!

 

[robannabid]

Anna -oh dear oh dear. Near Calais was it - La Bien Assise perhaps? We were there booking in when someone rolled in, threw a bit of paper onto the reception desk and barked "Caravan Club Booking" The receptionist responded with a "Bonjour" and got a barked "I don't speak French" back. There were we hacking away in school French, given a bicycle escort to the pitch, encouraged to use the restaurant, the pool and so on. Heaven knows where the barker was put. As has been said, all it takes is a smile and at least a try at the language.

Mike, yes it was La Bien Assise....... they must be pretty hacked off by the ignorant Brits - but I don't blame them in the slightest. I don't imagine the sites near the Channel ports this side would handle Europeans coming in who refused to attempt any English!

 

[Theo_5041685]

And remember to have a euro coin with you for the trolley. In these big supermarkets it can take 10 minutes to find somewhere to change a note.

Theo

 

[petercoachman]

And remember to have a euro coin with you for the trolley. In these big supermarkets it can take 10 minutes to find somewhere to change a note.

Theo

if you go to the info desk they will give you a plastic disk for the trolly then you keep the disk for futre times just come back after 10 week hols