More France Observations

Things are coming back a bit, maybe now that the jet lag is subsiding...

WILDLIFE
- The only birds they have are pigeons and ducks. And both are aplenty.
- Is it just me, or nobody picks up after their dogs?
- Wild swans in Strasbourg, you mean they exist in the wild?
- Few if any squirrels
- In the cities, the trees are cut in squares

RELATIVITY
- Grocery stores there are so small and appear for emergencies only
- In fact, everything there is so small, with the exception of churches, bridges and landmarks (statues, arcs, etc...)
- Everything there is so old, I saw residential buildings there that are easily older than this country, and what's more impressive, it's still in use and fairly good condition given its age
- Certain things are dirt cheap: wine, cheese, bread, museums in particular
- Other things are way more expensive: clothing, fruits/vegetables, chocolate, water
- The cars are a lot smaller
- 30lb backpack doesn't feel heavy until you have to walk with it for over an hour on cobblestone walkways

FASHION
- The predominant fashion items for women include: roman sandals, ballerinas, heels, scarves, short cut blazers/cardigans/coats, one piece single colour short dresses, super slim jeans, small detail floral print, ponytails
- The predominant fashion items for guys include: tailored cut everything (suits, blazers, shirts, etc...), slim cut jeans,
- Trend on both sides: scarves, aviators/persols, is to tuck in your shirt at all times (that's everything from tshirts to dress shirts), belt buckles, thin horizontal stripes, navy/white, no shorts allowed

LIFESTYLE
- People there don't let themselves go, from toddlers to the elderly, everybody there is always put together
- They have 5 weeks of vacation, standard
- In Strasbourg, 30 minutes to go anywhere is really far for locals
- They live off of baguettes, people are constantly carrying one
- They dislike peanut butter
- They have a word for the inside part of the bread (meaning not the crust)
- There's no French word for awkward, they just don't get that way I guess
- You don't tip at restuarants
- They are big into their skateboarding. Not just kids either, we're talking middle aged men skateboarding outside the Musee D'Orsay
- Parks are where people pick up each other
- Couples get really close at the parks, why get a room when the park is right there
- There are no overweight people, I can't literally think of one, other than tourists
- Graffiti everywhere is the same
- There are lots of stairs everywhere
- I don't think I ever saw a gas station
- French pop music is really bad
- Tons of scooters and bicycles

GIRLS
- working at the hotel in Strasbourg
- working at the Brioche Doree in Lyon
- sightseeing at the Arc Triomphe
- the two girls from California eating dinner in Montmartre
- the Asian girl at Bernachon who unexpectedly understood English (the French don't get awkward, but apparently I still do)