Parisian Nights... - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

iamlindoro · 03-24-2004, 08:42 AM

OK, so here's an interesting story. I was in Paris last night and went to a bar in Montmartre. We were told (in English, and by the way, I speak pretty good French) that the cover was 10 Euros and that included our first drink. Being a bit tired, I was happy to go along speaking english. We finished our first round and we were asked if we wanted a bottle of wine. I asked "Ca coute combien?" and they answered "Trente." That's thirty. We agreed and drank the wine.

I guess they assumed that asking that was the only french I spoke, because when we went to get our bill, we were each presented with a bill of THREE HUNDRED EUROS. Now, Trente and Trois cent sound nothing alike. At that moment, I stopped speaking English and spoke the best french of my life. They kept trying to demand that I come in back and "talk to their manager" but I told them I preferred to stay up front in the light. When it became obvious that we weren't getting anywhere, I started asking them to call the police. There was no way I was paying 300 Euros. They responded that the barman would do it, and they would soon be there. I said that I wanted to see it because "Je sais le numero, monsieur. Je sais le numero."

The police never showed up, of course. I kept demanding that they call them. They kept saying they would. Nothing. My friend tried to walk out and the bouncer shoved him into the bar. I kept calm and finally realized I had my cell phone. I pulled it out. The very instant I pulled it out and started dialing, they agreed to the real price.

Bastards. If I'm spoken to in English I'm going to respond in English. But if I have the means to do it I'll hand there ass to them in their native tongue. It was actually really fun. I came away from it feeling like a hero because I got us out of a tough situation, and that's just the kind of adventure that this trip is about.

**Sijuki** · 03-24-2004, 08:47 AM

Way to go Lindoro, you teach them French a thing or two! Bloody French

**worldwidemike** · 03-24-2004, 08:47 AM

Excellent, Lindoro! Yet another scam trying to be perpetrated on us hapless travelers. Good thing for the bouncer it wasn't CD that he shoved into the bar...he might be minus one patella right now...eh, CD?

It's always nice when you know the local language and ti helps you out of a tight spot...

worldwidemike

**Canadian Dude** · 03-24-2004, 09:46 AM

HOLY CRAP!!! Dude what a score that you speak french!!! Man that is insane!!! what fuc'n asshole brotha, what was the name of the bar so other trav'las can be warned of this little scam...was the owner there? or just staff members?? Dude I am so pissed for you!!! that coulld have happened to any of us...Wicked you stood your ground bro!!

We should all send emails to the web site of the bar and tell them of a boycott because of budget trav'la abuse!!!

**joanofarc** · 03-24-2004, 10:00 AM

totally, lindoro!

those rat bastards!
hey - that comment i made about rilke's grave... i meant maurice utrillo - the french landscape artist.

great idea about the e-mails, cd! i wouldn't have been able to get out of that situation had it been me.

**tecia** · 03-24-2004, 10:32 AM

What bastards!!!

That is so cool that you could tell them off in their native tongue!!!!

You were the hero of the night

Good idea CD!!! that could help other people out even if it is just a few word travles!!!

Kalliber · 03-24-2004, 11:40 AM

That is AWESOME that you stood up for yourself and did not let them take advantage of you.
It makes me really worried though, because although I took french for 9 years, I don't have any practical experience, you know? Just classroom. And I can easily imagine myself in those circumstances when I'm in France in June. Dayton (who I am traveling with) doesn't speak French, so we will be relying entirely on my communication skill.
Doesn't it go to show you what crooks there are in the world, though? Not even on the street but in a business. How many other people do you think they have done this to?

iamlindoro · 03-24-2004, 01:08 PM

I think it just brings a new dimension to the whole "make an effort to speak the language" thing... Had they known the whole time that I spoke French, they might have been less likely to try anything.

I honestly didn't really remember the name of the place, but it's about two bars straight to the left of the Moulin Rouge, and they will approach you in English... Wonder what gives us away... I didn't have a pack or anything.

When in doubt, demand the police-- they're there for YOUR protection and if you're being cheated, they'll do something about it. If you're in the wrong, you can cave and no harm, no foul.

**Carisia** · 03-24-2004, 02:21 PM

Wow, lindoro, great, truly heroic way of handling those @#$#@! bastards! Well done!

Magnifico · 10-03-2004, 03:44 PM

A few friends of mine got ripped pretty bad at a bar in Pigalle (I think that's what the district was called; I think Montmartre and Pigalle are close so it's even possible this was the same place) and they said the same thing happened. A classmate, Jacob, a survivor of the Capretz method of learning French, told the wanker whatfor. Not least, of course, because they had all consumed enough vodka to become macho. I can't stand the people who take advantage of a group of people who are keeping them afloat, though it sounds so much more uncommon now than it was when my sister's group of friends went over almost a decade ago.