FRANCE - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 142

FRANCE
“How can you be expected to govern a country that has
246 kinds of cheese?”
—CHARLES DE GAULLE, 1962
Now, France has more than 500 different kinds of cheese and more than 450 types
of wines. France is western Europe's largest and probably its most diverse coun-
try. Each of France's 22 regions has its own culture and scenery, its own style of
architecture and art, its own gastronomy and lifestyle, and, in many cases, its own
dialect. This delightful diversity makes travel in France so intriguing.
The primary language is, of course, French, but most tourism officials and rail per-
sonnel speak at least un peu (a bit) of English. The best way to obtain the most help
and cooperation in France is to first of all smile and then ask in French, “Excusez
moi, parlez-vous Anglaise?” Even if your pronunciation makes the French language
unrecognizable, the idea that you at least attempted to ask in French makes a big
impression.
For more information on France, contact the French Government Tourist Offices.
Hotline: [phone]; http://us.franceguide.com ; E-mail: info.us@france
guide.com.
New York: 825 Third Avenue, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Tel: (212)
745-0952; Fax: [phone]
Chicago: Consulate General of France, 205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite
3770, Chicago, IL 60601. Tel: [phone]
Los Angeles: 9454 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 210, Beverly Hills, CA
90212-2967. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Montreal: 1800 McGill College Avenue, Suite 1010, Montreal, Quebec H3A
3J6, Canada. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]