I can personally attest to the WIFI availability and speed at Starbucks!
“wi-fi = wee-fee pronunciation in France”
"the French word for Wi-Fi is “le Wi-Fi.”
Hmm, so which is it? Wee-fee, or le Wi-Fi? Maybe it’s le Wee-fee?
I do believe the same relatives we are staying with referred to it as “wee fee” when they were here last fall. (now that you mention it!!)
It’s written wi-fi, but pronounced wee-fee.
Yep because the French I is pronounced as in mill and not mile.
Oh no, Xiggi, not this again! Mill and meal (or will and wheel) have distinct vowel sounds to most Americans. So, to Americans, the French “i” sound is NOT like the American “i” in “mill”! It’s an ee sound, as in Paree (for Paris).
Haha – that is pushing it. My point was between EYE and EEE. Try this … un billet de mille francs à Paris! I am not sure where there is a longish “eee” in there. But if one wants to say Pareeeee, I have no problems with it!
On a different note, I just checked the Monde and Figaro for any story of an American group aimlessly wandering through Charles de Gaulle. I think we can safely assume that abasket is now basking in the Mediterranean sun! Or is it manana?
Here we are on French ground. Truly, you cc folks were with us the whole time as we progressed with all your wonderful tips! All went well EXCEPT the Paris airport - as it happened , yesterday all taxis in France were on strike against Über. It was a FIELD day at the airports- people abandoning their cars on the highway to make flights in Marseille etc! They did not have enough wheelchairs for the passengers, were very unorganized and at one point when we did get a wheelchair they wanted to put my mom on it to switch airport buildings but would NOT allow any of us to go with her! We would
Not leave her not knowing where they
Would drop her off and they
Could not tell us where she
Would be. So grandma was a champ and trudged through that airport and security AND the passport checkers again with us cheering her on - we were so worried we would
Miss the connection but we made it - all else was wonderful except a broken luggage conveyor belt in Marseille and the traffic there for our ride to pick us up - a three hour drive for them as opposed to the normal 40 mins! Today, st. tropez! THANK YOU all again!!
I forgot to mention that if it’s summer in France, then there WILL be a transportation strike somewhere in that country.
I’ve been stung twice by French air traffic controller strikes, and only by French air traffic controllers. When they go on strike, air traffic all over western Europe is screwed up. ~X(
So glad you made it abasket. And so very French that there was a strike!
So glad to hear that you made it through the airport. I’d heard about the taxi drivers strike and was concerned for you - especially after all your careful planning and preparation. Be glad you weren’t trying to get into Paris - strikers blocked cars, burned tires, called the RER trains with bomb threats causing evacuations, stopped buses, etc., etc. Not that you had a field day - and congrats for making it through! Makes the Air France strike of last fall that trapped me in Paris (sorrow of sorrows!) look like a cakewalk. Now, relax, enjoy and report back!
Just noticed that an Air Controllers threatened strike may indeed by on for next week, July 2 and 3. http://www.thelocal.fr/20150623/frances-air-traffic-controllers-to-go-on-strike
I hope that this won’t affect any CC travelers. Not that one can do much about strikes, but I like to know the potentialities and monitor the situation. Just a head’s up for anyone over there!
Great news! Hope the terrorist attack on the American co. near Grenoble doesnt interfere with travels.
Shouldn’t interfere with travels, but my cousin works for a chemical firm apparently right next to the attacked one in Greenoble - same town. She was quite upset todAy! Putting my fingers in my ears regarding any possible air controller troubles next week- we leave the 4th! St. Tropez visit today - rich people, rich sun and rich dessert!!! Our Paris visit is scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday - the way people drive here in France I figured visiting Paris will be no more dangerous than crossing the street here!!! 
Wow! D leaves for Paris next week with 15 teens in tow, a 3 week tour leader. This could be rather interesting. Will
watch your posts. She knows the place rather well though and is fluent, so hopefully not easily tripped up. I’m more concerned about the parents of those kids and their worries.
Ah, summer in France: another transportation strike. This time the striking French workers set fire to the tracks in the Chunnel tunnel.
From the article:
http://twitter.com/LexyTopping/status/615869106944917504/photo/1
Those people are either insane or deserve a medal! For full disclosure, that was probably how our family looked like 23 years ago! Parents can be saints!
Well, the trip is in the history books, and I truly, truly have you guys to thank for SOO much guidance and patience with me! I learned a lot - would do most things the same, a couple a little bit different!
One of the best tips I would recommend - take TWO credit cards with you. I had my AmEx and a VISA card. For some reason (that I have still not figured out) my AmEx would NOT work. Tried it twice without luck, called them and had them tell me it should work fine (well, guess what, it’s not!) I haven’t tried it at home yet. Was SOO thankful to have the VISA card with me.
The Viber app was great for calling/video messaging at home.
Travel was generally more smooth on the way home except for a 1 1/2 hour delay to “change tires” on the plane in Paris. We made up ground in the air and only arrived about 1/2 hour later than originally expected. Small wins! Wheelchair process MUCH MUCH better on the way home. The Air France staff sweetheart was waiting in Paris and walked us all directly to the gate. I think the fiasco on the way there was due to the taxi strike which was creating turmoil for all the airport staff.
France was beautiful and VERY HOT! Touring Paris in 105 degree heat with an non-air conditioned hotel is not what I would recommend but hey, we were there and had two days to either visit or pass out from heat stroke! Lots of water and shade searching kept us still walking about 10 miles each day to visit the sites.
We spend a good amount of the trip being either entertained by family at their homes (yeah! everyone had pools!) and by the sea. A day in St. Tropez, a day in Marseille and other small seaside towns completed our trip.
Mom was a trooper and proudly announced “I MADE IT!” when we landed in Detroit. So happy to have done this for and with her.
Thank you again for all your wonderful advice. I think my daughters who traveled with me secretly thanked you too!!!
Well, thanks for taking the time to report so quickly upon your return. It will even be smoother the next time. The credit card issue is one that has plagued many travelers. While there is an issue of security involved carrying too many, the blocking of the cards is a bane for anyone traveling solo. It is less of a burden when traveling with family. France is known to prefer the Visa or Carte Bleue. This is a good tip for anyone sending a student abroad armed with THE credit or debit card. Better be prepared.
105 degrees?!! Wow! That is unusual, isn’t it? I’m glad you made the best of it.