Training recommendation for newbies to France

Hi Bruce, you're from a beautiful part of the USA!

We've been to France several times and have to say that we really didn't notice a problem, and I'm allergic to smoke. We've been to the Normandy area, all over Paris, southern & SW France.

Hope you're more fortunate on your next trip.

While I personally abhor smoking, I was surprised to find that it did not bother me in Europe as much as I thought it would. I think I filed it away as local texture.

Before departing for France in the fall, I will get extra sleep, walk and exercise more than normal, and, of course, start eating lots more butter, in order to become acclimated;-))

Not many years ago, France took the big step of prohibiting smoking inside restaurants and bars, as many European countries and US states do. This represented great progress from the days when you'd ask to sit in the non-smoking section and they'd replace the ashtray on your table with a little "no smoking" sign. It also drove the smoker-diners out to the terrace. All I can say is, if you want to eat outside, you have to put up with various things like smoke, noise, wind, cold, rain, etc.

Your problem, Bruce, is that living in western Montana has weakened your throat and lungs to the point where even your training proposal may not be enough to prepare you. May I suggest a week in Beijing? ;)

I hate smoke and have never had a problem with smokers on my trips to France. I choose to eat outside and it's never been an issue.

Bruce,

In my opinion the people in Europe some a lot more than they do in the USA.

what i did while in Paris and other places with outside/sidewalk seating was to eat indoors. Most of the time the waitresses were asking me why i didn't want to sit outdoors, but i just told her, the smoke. I go to eat, not people watch so it didn't bother me to eat indoors.

When i was waiting for the Catacombs to open i had some coffee/croissants at the cafe across the street. This was in the AM and there was only few people smoking on the sidewalk tables. Even with a "separate" area for smokers, it was drifting to where the non smokers would sit.

happy trails.

Bruce we haven't really ever been bothered by smoke that much .. its much better then it was 20 years ago .. I go pretty often.. every year or two for last 15 years or so .. and spent many summers there as a child or teen so I have seen a difference.

I think the most important "training" one can do when visiting anywhere.. is to go with a positive attitude.. accept differences and if you don't like something.. move on. We are all lucky to have legs aren't we ?

Ps I really have never had smoke "envelope" me while sitting outside.. perhaps you are a bit sensitive? Its like cats always go to the person allergic to them.. lol

Have to admit, this was a bit of an issue when we were in Paris. I am not a big fan of eating outside on sidewalks anyways, so eating inside right by a window was a good compromise. We got the view and a cool breeze from the window minus the close seating and smoke of others. Every once in awhile the smell would come in, but very manageable. I did have to nonchalantly place my face in my scarf every once in a while at one particular place. Also, did observe a couple politely ask their neighbor if she didn't mind extinguishing her cigarette for maybe ten-minutes while they ate, and she obliged, but that seems risky. We also became pretty good at estimating the direction of the wind, and attempted if at all possible to sit in a location that allowed for the wind to aid us. But, no guarantees despite all efforts!

Hi Bruce, yep, it bothered me too. I was in Paris last May and I guess had forgotten about the smoking. I found that eating inside was more of a problem, the smoke blew in the open windows and was sort of trapped inside. I prefer to sit outside - seems like a vacation-thing and at least there's a breeze!

What bothered me on my last trip to Paris is the smokers standing out on the sidewalk having a smoke because they can no longer smoke indoors. Just walking down certain streets was unpleasant. I luckily haven't had bad experiences eating outside which I love to do.

Seemingly all adults smoke
Actually, about 70% of French adults don't smoke!

If you think it's bad now, you're lucky you didn't visit before the current anti-smoking laws. It was 10 times worse then. I used to dread restaurants (lots of people in France smoked all through the meal), but now they're fine.

In general, while Europe overall is definitely behind the US in this area, they're catching up. In the 1990's I just had to put up with lots of smoke all over Europe (Spain was the worst, and someone said this was because of the kinds of tobacco they put in the cigarettes). Now, many countries have smoking bans, and it's much more pleasant.

I was particularly dreading a visit to Turkey in 2011 (my Lonely Planet guide said "Who smokes more than a Turk? Two Turks!"). But even that wasn't bad. On our third day or so we had a smokey restaurant, and realized it had not been a problem up to then.