Things I've Learned About France

Traveling outside the U.S. is a fascinating experience.  Many things are different so I decided to start a list of my observations.  I'm sure that there will be many more added before our trip ends.

• Public toilets in cafes are either upstairs or downstairs - never on the ground floor
• Kitchen appliances such as a dishwasher, clothes washer, oven are about 1/2 the size
• Most people have a clothes washer but very few have a clothes drier
• Toilets flush in about a thousand different ways (maybe I'm exaggerating a little)
• A cafe serves only drinks, glace and a limited number of pastries
• A brasserie serves drinks and food
• Breakfast is an espresso and croissant - maybe a crepe if you go to an upscale place
• Lunch is from about 2 to 4 p.m. - Dinner is from 8:00 to midnight
• Bedtime is about 1 to 3 p.m.
• When you buy groceries you must bring your own bag.  Otherwise you are charged $1 euro for a plastic bag
• If you want to use a grocery cart - $1 euro, please...............
• Tipping is frowned upon (only stupid Americans give big tips)
• Showers are very complicated.  You can adjust the spray from top, to sideways or to a handheld shower head.  If you turn the wrong knob you get an unpleasant surprise because the first water to erupt is ice cold.
• A "supermarket" is about the size of a U.S. 7-Eleven (some are a little bigger, but not much)
• Museums, other than the Louvre, have free admission
• The Metro costs only $1.70 euros and trains come every minute during rush hour
•  Freeways in Belgium are fully lit.  There are light stanchions the entire length of all freeways and on or off ramps have extra lights.  It's very beautiful to see as you drive.
• In Belgium there are huge rest stops every 100 miles with full service fresh food cafeterias, shops with souvenirs and snacks and bathroom facilities.  There is also a gasoline station and small budget hotel (Ibis).
• Most vehicles are European (not Japanese or American) and they operate on diesel.
• Only crazy people drive in Paris (or maybe driving in Paris makes one crazy).  No matter what, it's like driving bumper cars in a carnival - lots of horns, arm and hand gestures with an occasional exchange of "words".
• When walking in a residential neighborhood you'll find a minimum of two bakeries, two butcher shops and two cheese shops on each side of the street of one block.  Then add a couple of cafes and brasseries.
• Gasoline stations are on the sidewalk.  Just pull the car into a parking space and the attendant will fill your tank.  Make sure that your gas tank faces the pump.
• Dogs of any size are welcome inside elegant restaurants as long as they behave.  (Bella would love this)
• When downtown, English is tolerated - in the neighborhood you are either ignored or scorned if you don't ask for what you want in French (good I brought a translation book).
• There are lots of street people (almost as bad as Portland)