I was a bit surprised at a comment my Menu post on e-Gullet received. Something to the effect that what did the relationship between the $ & Pound vis-a-vis the Euro have to do with the price of meals in France.
Thinking about it the commentator was right. It has nothing directly to do with the cost of meals in France.
I didn't make my point clearly. The point was that if you are a tourist from the USA or Britain the exchange rate has made France & its meals far more expensive than last. Or if you live in France, but your income is in dollars or pounds your cost of living has gone up pretty dramatically over the past year. The 100 Euro meal is now $160 instead of $130 for instance. Live here and multiply all of you expenditure by the same factor & it starts to pinch a bit.
Inflation in Euro terms has also accelerated here in France. Not just gas & diesel, but all kinds of things. ( I still haven't figured out why the price difference between petrol & diesel has almost disappeared. Diesel used to be about 20% cheaper; no more.) Fruit & vegetables have really accelerated. Fish is way up & getting scarcer as the fishermen protest by not going out. Lots of other things are up as well.
A while ago we briefly considered moving back to the states. Our Euro valued house would translate into a lot of dollars, but we rejected the idea. Too many negatives & too far from family.
Anyway, if you are coming to France on vacation let me know & I'll send you the write up I did on how to enjoy France yet save money by doing many of the things the locals do.
In the meantime we'll just ride this out until the currencies regain their common sense.
About Me
- Yank
- Retired American, ex-business man now living in rural France. Wide range of interests, but food, cooking & wine are at the top of the list. Do not tolerate fools gladly and can't stand self promoting bloggers. Guess that makes me an old grouch, but so what?
2 comments:
I would like to read your write up on how to save money while we are in France. We will be there for 5 weeks, Sept-Oct, and have rentals for all but 4 nights in hotels. 2 days in Cassis, 1 week in St-Remy, 2 days passing through the Languedoc to buy a few bottles of wine, 2 weeks in Sarlat (not far from you?) then 10 days in Paris. Any help in saving money and still enjoying the French life will be appreciated. Paul pkondeff@comcast.net
Paul You should have the write up by now. If not, let me know.
Dave
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