I have been taking notes on what you have said for 2 threads now, and it is really helping shape up my trip plans. I disappeared for a little while, because I have been trying to reserve a room in London and had to lay down for a few days and catch my breath.
My husband is wondering why yankees at Butlins is so incongruous.
I am just worried about explaining to people that went to a place called Butlins on our honeymoon. Neither of us has knobbly knees, so we won’t be able to go into that contest.
We will be using London as our home base/hub, as it seems to be the best place to find independent record stores and record labels. ( If we can find a UK distributor for the husband’s new CD, the trip will be a huge success ). We plan on bolting for the countryside for a few days and trying B&B’s.
I am considering getting a voltage adapter for my digital camera recharger port/printer.
I am assuming we will lose several umbrellas.
We are now thinking of running off to Paris for a day, it had never even occured to me before (after all, its sooo far away, in another whole country) of course, we speak no French at all, which could complicate things.
I would like to thank everyone else whose has been providing information. York sounds groovy, especially to a rene-fair person like me. So does the Avebury ring.
Indian food should be a treat. We have several good Indian resturants here, but it is a long drive from my house, so its a rare thing. None of the waiters at my favorite place seem to speak any English, so as near as I now know, the cuisine consists of many many dishes named “meat” “no meat” and “nan”, and it’s all good.
I’m happy to help.
For independent record labels and shops - try Beggars Banquet and Creation (in putney and Primrose hill).
Not speaking French isn’t a problem in the touristy bits of Paris - they’re used to it. They don’t like it, but they get on with it. Most staff in places that cater for tourists speak good english. The underground “metro” is also very easy to follow.
I’m happy to help.
For independent record labels and shops - try Beggars Banquet and Creation (in putney and Primrose hill).
Not speaking French isn’t a problem in the touristy bits of Paris - they’re used to it. They don’t like it, but they get on with it. Most staff in places that cater for tourists speak good english. The underground “metro” is also very easy to follow.
Please come back and tell me what you thought of Butlins (I still think this is very funny)
Hear, hear. I’ll chime in with thanks as well for all your help over on LifeOnWry’s thread. I think I said thanks in that thread, but it bears repeating. You and the other wonderful BritDopers (paulberserker, GorillaMan and GomiBoy, I’m talking about you!) Your willingness to help and enthusiasm with the answers was fantastic.
Cheers! : pint hoisting smiley:
conurepete, as owlstretchingtime said, don’t worry about not speaking French as most people dealing with tourists speak English. However, if you can learn a few good phrases, and learn them with decent pronunciation, it does go a long way. The basics would be ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘good day,’ ‘good night’ and ‘Pardon me, I don’t speak French. Do you speak English?’ I know a bit more (although I can’t write French worth merde) and found my willingness to start in French was appreciated and everyone I dealt with was fantastic.