RE:"What's the anglo name for Thiers?"
Thiers is a small town in central France. Therefore it has no english equivalent.
Because you were speaking Italian, I thought you were talking about a town in Italy......I know very little Italian. I think I saw Thiers when we went down the Loire Valley.
Al's being French explains somethings.
I thought Al was Italian.
Despite what you hear, I've found french people on a one on one basis to be very gracious and they like Americans. As with any country, there is quite a diversity of opinion as well.
I think the Parisians have un mavais charactere but the people in the country and smaller cities are pretty friendly. In general, I think the country is great........great food, some interesting architecture, a lot of variety.......but, in general, I don't care for the people all that much. My best times were in Germany, Amsterdam, Prague and Spain.....the Spaniards are the best.
France, especially southern France, has ties to the Arab world mainly by way of north Africa. My Dad served in north Africa in WW-II and speaks fluent french as well.
OTOH, I think Frances investments in Iraqi oil and loans to Saddam had much to do with their opting out of the Iraqi invasion.
That may have been part of it but I also think it has to do with the large Algerian/Muslim population that is now in and around Paris. They use to be mainly in Marseilles but I think now more live in the Paris suburbs. In the past ten years, there have been some serious riots involving the Muslims. I think France is very sensitive to the Muslim issue while also trying to prevent the dilution of the French culture; to whit, recently, they banned Muslim women from wearing head scarves in public buildings.
I know its the norm to say that France balked over the war was because it did not want to give up its lucrative Iraqi trade but I really think its more complicated than that. |
