Been perusing our old map collection. The 1971 National Geographic map for France had the above byline: 'France at Your Fingertips'. The excerpts below are from the Hints for the Traveler section.
'France's 200 youth hostels offer lodging for less than a dollar.'
'Many restaurants feature good French fare for $5.00.'
'Luxury hotels in big cities may charge up to $20 for a single.'
Sacre bleu...
I am done. the historical artifact
A baguette in France in 1971 cost the equivalent of approximately $0.12 (0.6 Francs). Indeed, in 1971 a restaurant meal cost around 25 Francs, or about $5 at the time.
I try not to remember prices over the 30 years of world travel. In the 1990’s The euro cost a $1.45. But a French lunch was 12 euro and included water, wine, coffee, appetizer, main course with vegetables bread, and a dessert. The euro was $1.10 on our last trip but a French lunch was 15 euro including water, a choice of an appetizer or dessert, main course and bread. So which was the better deal? We won’t even talk about the rise in cost of a room or hostel. We still have to “keep on traveling”.
I stayed at the Hotel St-Jacques in Paris in August 1963 for about $2 a night. The cheapest room there next August is $200. Sacre bleu indeed....
Jojo biker: check your release date for the Euro. You’re ahead by a decade.
It did hit 1.45 sometime early in its release, hung out around 1.37 and then settled in. But it wasn’t the 1990s.
I have a series of Michelin guides printed in 1919. But on a personal level I remember the DM hitting 4.25:1 USD back around 1985. At that price you could have a really good meal and an evenings companionship for $20. I also remember being outraged when I couldn't find a pension in Rothenberg odT for under 30 euro 20 years ago.
Things change...
KGC, our recent Vannes rental had a library with a Michelin guide from 1949.
Enthusiasts of old guidebooks could check out Toronto's excellent Reference Library. The guidebook collection on the second floor Travel section is peerless. Every single latest edition guidebook is featured, with many additional specialist titles to boot. The superb Maps room is adjacent.
But in the Rare Books collection on a different floor, there exists a substantial collection of original red Baedekers books, many from the turn of century.
I am done. the antiques
Elizabeth, you are right about the time of high euro rates. Did a google search and the actual use of euro was early 2000s. It was voted on in 1999. We were in Italy in the 1990s when the exchange rates had us using thousands of liras to pay for everything. Happy New Years to all.
The switch from the French Franc to the Euro took place on the morning of January 1, 2002.
I remember it because I was having friends over for dinner on the evening of the 31st to celebrate New Year's Eve. One of them went out just after midnight to withdraw his first euros from an ATM. I don't remember if he was able to withdraw any.
I don't even remember if he came back. :)
