not sure about the best places to party but theres nothing like walking around paris with a beer in your hand at 2am.

for cheap meals just do crepes, baguettes, or go to the supermarche get a baguette bread, camembert, maybe some ham or what not.

the french dislike usa government actually

i stayed at the 3ducks and it was nice but kinda shaggy and dirty. for paris look into the 3ducks if you want to party.

quote:

Do most citizens of Paris hate Americans?

Oh God. This question is seriously starting to annoy me, but I don’t blame you, jason. The US media has misportrayed the people of Paris and of all of France over and over again.

Do they hate Americans? No. Are they going to jump to joy to see Americans? No. You’ll be met with indifference. Don’t worry, no one’s going to be mean to you just because you’re American, and there’s a good chance they won’t even be able to detect it. (They’ll know you’re a foreigner, but won’t necessarily know you’re American.) But if they find out, no one will care.

Unfortunately, the US media too often explains opposition to US foreign policy as "anti-Americanism." True, there is some (and it’s actually quite limited) resistence to massive American influence on the local culture. This does not spell "anti-Americanism." Americans too tend to have the same degree of resistence to what they see as foreign influences (yes it’s true.)

If you ask me, there’s far more "anti-Frenchism" in the US than anti-Americanism in France.

Here’s some facts I like to present to people to give them a more accurate picture of what’s going on in France:

Opposition to the Iraq war (Gallup International):

France 65%
Britain 65%
Germany 75%
Italy 88%
Spain 90%
Greece 90%
Switzerland 90%

There were countries where opposition was below 50%, but there was only one country where support for the war was above 50% (Israel). The "support" and "oppose" camps don’t add up to 100%, because the remainder of respondents were indifferent to the war.

In another Gallup International study (September 2002): the majorities of Britons, Argentines, Swiss, South Koreans, Bolivians, Indonesians, Cameroonians, Canadians, Russians, Germans, and Norwegians felt that US foreign policy had a negative impact on their country. Note that 4 of these countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Indonesia, and South Korea) have experienced one or more US-supported dictatorships sometime in the past 40 years. Indonesia and South Korea also bore the brunt of the 1997 Asian financial crisis that was caused by US-supported World Bank/IMF policies. (The crisis then spread outside Asia, to Russia and Brazil.)

Traveling as an American, you carry this burden with you. Most people don’t care that you’re American. It’s only your government that they distrust.

But my point for bringing all of this up is that France isn’t exactly alone in resenting US foreign policy. If you’ve traveled to any other countries, you already know what to expect. France won’t be any different. You’ll either be treated kindly, or with indifference. Occasionally, people may ask you why Bush was re-elected…but not in an angry manner. They’re just very curious, because his re-election is incomprehensible to them. If you dislike Bush, great. If you like him, then remember: people in other countires have different experiences and different perspectives.

quote:

If you ask me, there’s far more "anti-Frenchism" in the US than anti-Americanism in France.

Absolutely.

food:

for 10 euros you can find set meals in the Quartier Latin
i would recommend maybe the 15 euro selections as they are better but this is a good place for food if you are on a budget

for even cheaper food, try a crepe with stuff(meat, cheese…)
i.e. 6 euros

hostels: check this board or check hostel reviews at hostels.com or my fav, bugeurope.com

I agree with "luv_the_beach"! I think that Americans are over paranoid about everything – no one really cares, dont flatter yourself!

I have an American friend who asked me to send her some Canadian patches/pins so she would not be identified as an American in Europe!

The way I look at it, and maybe I’m being a little harsh about it, is that by thinking that because youre American and everyone hates americans is just a way of thinking that you’re more important than other people.

Sorry to sound so harsh..but it bothers me too that anyone would think so negatively.

I have been in a few different countries over the last year or so, and it is pretty clear that non-americans are very, very interested in what America is doing. I am guessing that if you look at any magazine rack in Paris, you will see many covers with Bush’s face on them. You probably won’t see too many covers with Paul Martin on them. The bottom line is, I don’t think it is unjustified to consider how you will be treated as an American in Paris. The good news is that very few, if any, will treat you any differently than they would anyone else. French people, as well as most people around the world, tend to have problems with U.S. government, not U.S. citizens.

Whether you think Bush is the second coming or the anti-christ or a mediocre president elected by misinformed people (that’s my choice), if you don’t bring it up while you are overseas I doubt the issue will come up.

I am not sure about anti-americanism, but I do know that in almost every trip I have been on with my family, any time we are talking to locals and they ask us if we are english, we say no we are Scottish and after that they appear to be a lot warmer. I don’t know if its just a coincedence that everywhere we have visited the day before a roudy english mob have spread havoc through the fair towns of europe, but i doubt it. I believe as luv the beach said its down to media, how many people have heard of England football supporters being called hooligans, trouble makers. Who’s heard that passport are being taken off of these hooligans, we hear about this sort of thing far more than we hear of positive English travellers. Another fact why people may be warmer to Scots is because they think we live in mud huts and dance of roofs while wearing kilts and playing the bagpipes…. not true…. most… of the… time…..

quote:
I have been in a few different countries over the last year or so, and it is pretty clear that non-americans are very, very interested in what America is doing. I am guessing that if you look at any magazine rack in Paris, you will see many covers with Bush’s face on them.

Exactly. And there’s a reason.

Many Americans are surprised by this, but the matter of the fact is that many news stories that Americans consider a "domestic issue" is actually a world issue. Take for example, American presidential elections, especially the most recent one. Because the United States has an impact on every other country in the world, many goings-on from the United States make headlines around the world. Bush’s State-of-the-Union address is discussed by the media around the world. And you can bet anytime any high-ranking US politician or US govt body (like the State Dept) mentions a particular country (whether orally or in print or even on-line), it will be discussed in that country’s media.

Americans may not think of it as such, but their presidential election is not only an American new story, it’s also a French news story, and a Russian news story, and a Canadian one, and a Mexican one, and a Japanese one, and so on. American foreign policy will impact them, thus they’re interested in what’s going on in Washington.

Very true ltb, and most americans really don’t even consider that. Foreign dignitaries visit washington almost everyday and we don’t even bat an eye at it, but this can be a very big event for that country. I remeber being in Prague when president Havel had been invited to washington to meet with Bush. It was on the cover of every paper I saw…every paper.

As for the French I wouldn’t worry, they’ll treat you fine unless your acting like a jerk. That said, Parisians can be real pretentious assholes.

the bottom line is learn to say &quotarlais vouz anglais?" and you will be more than fine. trust me

love_the_beach,
That was a very long and thoughtful response. It was very insightful to how my country is portrayed around the world. The thing that I don’t understand, which you touched in a little, is why Americans may be met with indifference when almost half of the country voted for John Kerry. I try not to blame individuals of another country when the government of their country is to blame. I hope that I may be treated the same. If I meet a German person, I don’t blame them for their mass killings of the Jewish. I may talk to them about their country’s history, but at least try and find out their beliefs before I categorize them.

I’m still trying to find out about Paris itself. Other than what the French think of Americans.
Thank you everyone for a great answer to that question.

Jason,
You shouldnt really "catergorize" anybody. that just makes people more narrow minded and ignorant.

jason,

I think you misunderstood me when I said "you’ll either be met with kindness or indifference." Indifference doesn’t mean people will be rude to you. It means trhat people will be neither rude nor friendly; you’ll just be another face in the crowd for them, no matter who you voted for. You already experience this everyday in your home country when you walk down the street, walk into a store, or take the subway. A waitress might not be kind to you because maybe she’s having a bad day, or maybe she’s mean to everyone. Don’t assume it’s because you’re American. If you walk into a bakery, and ask them for directions, they’ll most likely be very friendly to you. But expect indifference from the people who work at the Louvre’s ticket counters, for example. They deal with sooooo many tourists a day, spend roughly 10-45 seconds with each tourist, and they never see you again. To them you’re not Joe Smith from New Jersey who voted for John Kerry…you’re just tourist #45928450277702. This person can’t wait for his shift to be over, and they don’t care what country you’re from, just as they don’t care about the person before you or after you.

I think your question(s) of what the French think about Americans is perfectly legitimate, because societies do tend to have a collective worldview about certain topics. Americans certainly do. The answers to such questions, however, are complicated.

One thing you will notice is that people will not blame you for policies/actions of/by your government that they disagree with. Some people will even assume that you, as a fellow human being, disagree with your government. Others may assume you’re uninformed. Others may think you’re stupid for supporting your government (even though you don’t, but someone might assume you do.) Others will realize they don’t know unless they ask you. Expect 6 billion different views from a world of 6 billion people.

Thank you luv_the_beach. You’re a very intelligent individual and are very insightful. I appreciate your comments.

Solveig

I’m sorry to tell you, but I’m not trying to flatter my self. Nor am I trying to place Americans on a pedastal. What I am trying to do is put together a European vacation where I can have fun without meeting much hostility. I think that’s fair. Furthermore, if I hear that many citizens of Paris dislike Americans, then my question was a fair one to ask. I believe that you completely misundersttod my question and answered it while thinking of your own misunderstandings of Americans. Perhaps you should consider taking yourself off that pedestal.

Jason, I won’t delve into U.S. foreign policy and why it may or may not get people of other countries to change their opinion of us, except to say that most educated people (and in France, that’s a very large percentage of the population) know the difference between a regular joe american backpacker and an overzealous, slow-witted, and possibly trigger-happy politician. That and that if you go there with an open mind, you’ll probably love Paris. It’s not the best place in Europe for partying, but the food is delicious and it’s a big, sophisticated, and very cosmopolitan city.

Luv the Beach – excellent posts. I agree. Most europeans (especially any that are interested in world affairs or politics) are intelligent enough to realise the difference between the US governement and a single American.

As for indifference in Paris? I don’t think you’ll experience indifference because you are American. I found some Parisians to be like that but the vast majority that I encountered (in shops, creperies, cafes) were very friendly and helpful. I didn’t find Parisians any less friendly than any other nationality. At the end of the day you are a tourist visiting their country, they will just get on with everyday life while you are there, they won’t stop everything to roll out the red carpet.

quote: I think that Americans are over paranoid about everything – no one really cares, dont flatter yourself!

Maybe your all just too involved with our bizness, I mean Iraq jeez already.

quote:I have an American friend who asked me to send her some Canadian patches/pins so she would not be identified as an American in Europe!

Hard to believe but we do have some pathetic insecure people in america as well, hard to believe.

quote:The way I look at it, and maybe I’m being a little harsh about it, is that by thinking that because youre American and everyone hates americans is just a way of thinking that you’re more important than other people.

Are you trying to say we’re not? G-DUB pretty much reassured me that we were.

Support FREEDOM FRIES!

This discussion really got sidetracked!
You’ve asked about cheap meals, and one option is to find a market, and assemble a picnic, or you can find places that sell snack foods such as pizza by the slice, or sandwiches. You can go to a bakery (boulangerie), and buy a baguette, and look for a charcuterie, where you’d find slices of meat, etc.— again, you could assemble a picnic by going to a few of these specialty stores.
If you’d like to go to a "restaurant", you should be aware that places called restaurants will, in general, expect you to have a meal in several courses. If you want just a salad, or some soup, or a sandwich, then look for places labeled "bar" or "cafe" or "brasserie", for example. These also often offer a "menu", or a meal that will consist of two or three courses. Outside all such places, there will be a posting of what’s offered, and what the prices are—- you’ll quickly figure it out.
I hope that you’ll put aside a little money to enjoy a good meal or two while you’re in Paris, since that’s one of the pleasures of being in France. Some very good restaurants offer a 3-course meal for 25 euros—- but items such as bottled water, wine, and coffee can add substantially to the bill!
Finally, the tip is included in the total but, if the service was very good, you might leave a little small change (not mandatory!). You must usually ask for the bill at the end of your meal—- it’s not automatically brought to you.

I’m pretty certain that this has been discussed countless times before. And again, basing your opinion on France on Parisians, is similar to a European forming their opinion on Americans based on New Yorkers. Anywhere in the world, leave a big city and most likely, people will be nicer. Simple, yeah? However, most Europeans will have an opinion on Bush/Iraqui war. And most will think that voting for Bush Sr. was a one off. There was surprise when W got elected, but ok – might have been a fluke with all the Florida re-count thing. Electing a Bush the third time does say something about America though, and you might be asked why. Getting your baseball cap all in a bunch and calling Americans "liberators, and y’all would be speaking German if it wasn’t for us" will (rightly so) get you called a twat, and you won’t have a good time down the pub. Apologies – am currently stuck in TX at the moment, and get the liberator crap more than I’d like. Back to the topic at hand, Luv is right in saying indifference. Don’t expect a lot of eye contact (in France, it can be a come-on) or smiles. Smiling with no reason is a bit wank, and smiling at someone without really knowing them smacks of insincerity. And waiters don’t have to smile and be nice for tips – in most places in Europe, a service charge is already included in your ticket. Go to your local epicerie to buy lunch, or buy baguettes from the many vendors on the street. In Paris, most bars along Champs will be touristy, go there if that’s your scene, if not, check out some places along the bastille or the latin quarter. Most visitors like Fabrique or Budda Bar or les Bains Douche clubs/lounges. Lastly, Sorry this is so long – But am so sick of this freedom fries crap. Fries are BELGIAN. But I guess France is easier to find on a map than Belgium for these people? Check out these tees – I think as far as France being anti-american, it’s the wrong way round. http://www.thoseshirts.com/imaofr.html or, this one? http://www.thoseshirts.com/french.html is that Ann Coulter modeling? Sad cow.

I dont feel like reading all these replies, so i dont know if anyone has said it yet, but eat at Quartier Latin. Thats not a restaurant, but a neighbourhood in paris with more restaurants than normal homes. there’s also a very very very good icecreamshop there, forgot the name though.

oh, i forgot, get a metro-ticket for the amount of days your staying. paris metro is great, simple, and fast. i spend a week there and i could go anywhere with just this one ticket all week. doesnt really matter where youre staying anymore, because its easy to go to the other side.

quote:
Back to the topic at hand, Luv is right in saying indifference. Don’t expect a lot of eye contact (in France, it can be a come-on) or smiles. Smiling with no reason is a bit wank, and smiling at someone without really knowing them smacks of insincerity.

Yes, in southern Europe and especially France, people don’t smile at strangers as often as Americans do. (SMILE! is really an American cultural characteristic.) And yes, it is possible to be friendly without smiling. There’s just different signals to look for. If a Parisian responds to your questions with a puppy-eyes look, it means they’re being friendly. They will smile at you if something mutually funny/fun happens, or if a joke is exchanged (and they do often do this), but don’t expect someone to approach you with a smile. To the French, it signals something suspicious.

Through my experiences of having lived in the US and France, I can attest that Americans may smile and be more "friendly" but they also tend to be more fake. If a French person says: "I’ll call you" or "let’s kep in touch," they actually mean it. For Americans, it’s a non-confrontational way to say, "okay now, bye-bye."

Of course, I won’t get into the several rude tourists I have encountered in France.

quote:And waiters don’t have to smile and be nice for tips –

They also don’t have to pretend that this job is the highlight of their day, nor do they have to wear dumb name-tags.

quote:I think as far as France being anti-american, it’s the wrong way round.

Exactly. It’s everywhere in the media. I remember right before the start of World Cup 2002, Jay Leno made a comment about France on his show during his stand-up routine at the start of the show. He was making jokes about different countries, and commented on the French team and how "it never wins," which got a lot of laughts from an uninformed American studio audience. Little did they know that France was actually the returning champion that year. They won World Cup 1998 (as well as Euro2000), and were the favorites to win 2002. Jay Leno’s comment would have been perfectly suited for the American soccer team.

You must visit the Pere Lachaise cemetery (not sure if i spelled it correctly)
It is home to Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde to name a few. It was a wobnderful surprise to see such an artistic and grand cemetery. There are wonderful pieces of art and these are people’s "tombstones". It was a beautiful and peaceful place. Definetly one of Paris’ best kept secrets.

quote: There are wonderful pieces of art and these are people’s "tombstones".

Are you talking about the tombstones themselves or all the graffiti covering most of them around J.Morrison’s grave?

For meals, I’d second luisfc1972 – one of my most memorable meals in the country was sitting on a park bench with my brothers in Bordeaux eating bagette, cheese, sliced meat and drinking a glass of bordeaux (granted, in little plastic cups, but still!).

Imagine a quick and cheap sandwich on the Seine…

BTW… @Nadrazi "Freedom Fries" is my favorite invention of… jeez, I’m not even sure of that, but a very sad news story. I laughed hearing people ordering freedom dressing for salads… wow.