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sfgirl42 - You really flatter me and I must say that you are one of the most polite, kind and helpful posters on this forum. Drop me a line next time you're in Paris and I'll take you out on a little bike excursion somewhere.

To the OP, as sfgirl mentioned on some trains (the local TER trains especially) it is possible to take your bikes so if you need to cover some ground fast then taking your bikes on the train is always an option.

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French Mystique,

Thank you. Some time ago I had to deal with a well known, large US company that made a huge mess of what should have been a simple matter (a lay-away present for my then husband). After almost a year of excuses and refusals to call me (it would have been a toll call) I went into the store and lost my temper. They had been blaming various 'previous employees who made these mistakes when it was the manager's responsibility to see things were done properly.
The customer service department was next to the television area...which was packed with men who had come to watch an important foodball (US kind) game. It has been my observation that men do not like to hear women complain, even when the woman might be right. I refused to shut up and the volume of my voice continued to rise. By the time I discovered that the article they couldn't locate was in fact in stock--but the person who had written the item number down had miswritten it---and then the manager wanted me to pay the price difference since it had gone up since my original purchase---well the other half of the store emptied out as well.
There were the clerks, the manager, myself and my husband (who was having a very difficult time to keep from laughing)...we got the item for the original price and left.
This was in a mall and I went into the next store where I usually shopped for fabric. The people in there had always been helpful but I guess I was giving off a lot of residual anger..when I went up to purchase something, I asked the counter clerk if the manager was in...the clerk identified herself as the manager and looked like she wanted to crawl under the counter (of course they might have heard about the long rant I did next door)...
I told her what poor service I had received at S---s, but that in coming into this store (hers) I realized how I had always received kind, friendly, helpful service and that shopping in her store was always a pleasure. I said I asked for her because I wanted to tell her what a difference her management made because her employees reflected her own skills.
She was shocked, to say the least--and I asked her to please let all her employees know that their service and behavior DID make a difference...
and that on that particular day I had learned a very important lesson:
If I want the freedom to criticise, I have the responsibility to praise.

I have tried to practice that lesson in all my dealings with other people and have found that it's made my life easier and more rewarding--especially when travelling.
Except in travelling (primarily in France) I turned it around so I praised (always with good reason) and then if I had criticism, it was expressed more as a disappointment than as an attack.
And as far as praise for the contributions you and kerouac2 make to Anyport, well, the works speak for themselves. Has anyone ever recommended the site for a Webby award?

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sfgirl - I feel the same way about criticism and praise. Too many are quick to criticize when things don't go their way but never offer praise all the times things go right and I've had similar experiences as yours. I don't think I've done anything praiseworthy. I've just offered the advice I'd appreciate if I were asking a question here but thanks for your kind words nonetheless.

Feel free to join us over on the AnyPort site. You'd certainly be welcome there (if you aren't on there already, that is). Kerouac is one of the people moderating that site so I think he'd be the one to ask if the site has been given any awards. I'm just a member so I don't know about such things but it's a great forum with a lot of interesting topics discussed daily and a great group of contributors. See you on the next thread. :)

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Thanks for the invite, I've commented (a little) on some of kerouac2's posts...(they all deserve heavy duty praise but too much is not a good thing...)

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Thanks guys this is really helpful. I think we'll look at jumping on some trains to cover the ground and the Michelin map!

cheers