Chapter 15

Getting Around: Planes,

Trains, Taxis, and More

In This Chapter

Getting through the airport

Navigating public transportation

Taking a taxi

Renting a car and getting gas

When you travel, your first concern may be getting to your destination country, but as soon as you are there, you want to get around. After

all, that’s why you came in the first place, right? This chapter can help you navigate your way through the airport, train station, or subway system, as well as rent a car or flag down a taxi to get where you’re going.

Getting through the Airport

On the day of your departure, try to arrive at l’aéroport (lah-ey-roh-pohr) (the airport) early, usually two to two-and-a-half hours before your departure. Remember that, if you are in the front of the line when you check in, you get to choose where you sit on l’avion (lah-vyohN) (the plane). Have votre passeport (vohh-truh pahs-pohr) (your passport) and other important documents handy, and in no time, you’ll be all set to proceed to the boarding gate.

Before the day of your flight, make sure to check your airline carrier to see how many pieces of luggage you’re entitled to bring with you and the maximum allotted weight of each. By adhering to the airline’s regulations, you can avoid unpleasant surprises like being charged extra for your luggage.

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240 Part III: French on the Go

Finding your way around the airport

Because of their size and the number of people who go through them every day, airports can be overwhelming places, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the layout and the language. This section helps you identity some important areas in the airport, such as

départs (dey-pahr) (departures)

arrivées (ah-ree-vey) (arrivals)

enregistrement des bagages (ahN-reh-zhee-struh-mahN dey bah-gahzh) (baggage check)

Your first task when you go to the airport is to find l’aérogare (lah-ey-roh- gahr) (the terminal) for la ligne aérienne (lah lee-nyuh ah-ey-ree-ehn) (the airline) you are flying. Then look for le numéro du vol (luh new-mey-roh dew vohl) (the flight number). After you arrive at le comptoir (luh kohN-twahr) (the airline ticket counter), you enregistrer les bagages/les valises (ahN-reh- zhee-strey ley bah-gahzh/ley vah-leez) (check your bags/suitcases). At that time, you’ll be given une carte d’embarquement (ewn kahrt dahN-bahr-kuh- mahN) (a boarding pass). Then you can go to la porte (lah pohrt) (the gate) and wait until called to board your plane.

Up, up, and away — On the plane

If you’re flying to France from New York, your trip should take about seven- and-a-half hours. Before landing, you’ll be asked to fill out a custom’s form which pertains to the purpose and the length of your stay. You’ll also be asked if you have anything to declare. If you are traveling with your family, only one form is necessary for all of you.

Once on the plane, sit back and relax. Un steward/une hôtesse de l’air (uhN stee-wahr/ewn oh-tehs duh lehr) (flight attendant) will be around to see to your comfort, offering reading material, pillows, beverages, and so on.

At different points during the flight, you may hear the following:

Attachez votre ceinture (ah-tah-shey vohh-truh saN-tewr) (Fasten your seatbelt)

Restez assis (reh-stey ah-see) (Remain seated)

Ne fumez pas/Interdiction de fumer (nuh few-mey pah/aN-tehr-dee- ksyohN duh few-mey) (Don’t smoke/No smoking)

Éteignez tout appareil électronique (ey-taN-nyey tooh-tah-pah-rehy ey-leh-ktroh-neek) (Turn off all electronic devises)

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The pilot will also share information with you when the plane is going décoller (dey-koh-ley) (to take off), atterrir (ah-teh-reer) (to land), or faire une escale (fehr ewn eh-skahl) (to stop over).

Going through customs

When you arrive in any French-speaking country, you’re instantly surrounded by a flood of French language: The porter, the taxi driver, and the customs people all address you in French. Your first hurdle is making it through customs.

Look for signs directing you to la douane (lah dooh-ahn) (customs). Have your passport(s) and custom form handy, as well as any other documents that may apply, like student or work permits or an extended visa. (A visa is not needed for most of the European countries if you are planning to stay for less than 3 months.) One at a time, you (or your family if you’re traveling together) will be called for questioning. Common questions include

Quelle est la raison de votre voyage? (kehl eh lah reh-zohN duh vohhtruh voh-yahzh?) (What is the reason for your trip?)

Combien de temps restez-vous à/en/au/aux. . . ? (kohN-byaN duh tahN reh-stey-vooh ah/ahN/oh/oh. . .?) (How much time are you staying in. . . . ?) (For more on the geographical prepositions, refer to Chapter 13.)

Most likely, you will only need to show your passport and custom form to the custom’s officer; occasionally, you may be picked out for further questioning. In this case, you may hear the following questions:

Avez-vous quelque chose à déclarer? (ah-vey-vooh kehl-kuh shoh-zah dey-klah-rey?) (Do you have something to declare?)

Pouvez-vous ouvrir votre sac? (pooh-vey-vooh-zooh-vreer vohh-truh sahk?) (Can you open your bag?)

After you answer the questions, le douanier/la douanière (luh dooh-ah-nyey/ lah dooh-ah-nyehr) (the custom officer) will then stamp your passport, and you’ll be on your way.

It’s best not to joke around with an immigration or customs officer. He also has to control his sense of humor. He’s there for serious business.

Talkin’ the Talk

Le douanier, the custom’s officer, is the first person Nicola encounters in the French airport. She hands him her passport and her customs slip, and he starts le contrôle des passeports (luh kohN-trohl dey pahs-pohr) (the passport check).

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Le douanier: Bonjour. Bienvenue en France. Allez-vous rester en

France pendant tout votre séjour?

bohN-zhoohr. byaN-vuh-new ahN frahNs. ah-ley-vooh reh-stey ahN frahNs pahN-dahN tooh vohh-truh sey-zhoohr?

Hello. Welcome to France. Are you going to stay in France during your entire stay?

Nicola: Non, je vais aussi à Bruxelles et en Suisse.

nohN, zhuh veh-zoh-see ah brewk-sehl ey ahN swees.

No, I am also going to Brussels and to Switzerland.

Le douanier: Et la raison de votre voyage?

ey lah reh-zohN duh vohh-truh vwah-yahzh?

And the reason for your trip?

Nicola: C’est pour les affaires et le plaisir.

seh poohr ley-zah-fehr ey luh pleh-zeer.

It’s for business and pleasure.

Le douanier: Combien de temps restez-vous en tout? kohN-byaN duh tahN reh-stey-vooh-zahN tooh?

How much time are you staying altogether?

Nicola: Deux semaines. duh suh-mehn.

Two weeks.

Le douanier: Avez-vous quelque chose à déclarer? ah-vey-vooh kehl-kuh shoh-zah dey-klah-rey?

Do you have something to declare?

Nicola: Non, je n’ai rien à déclarer.

nohN, zhuh ney ryaN ah dey-klah-rey.

No, I have nothing to declare.

Le douanier: Pouvez-vous ouvrir votre sac? pooh-vey-vooh ooh-vreer vohh-truh sahk?

Can you open your bag?

Nicola: Oui, monsieur . . . voilà. wee, muh-syuh. . . vwah-lah.

Yes, sir . . . here you go.

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Le douanier: Je vous souhaite un bon séjour!

zhuh vooh sweht uhN bohN sey-zhoohr!

I wish you a nice stay!

Nicola: Merci, monsieur. Au revoir. mehr-see, muh-syuh. ohr-vwahr. Thank you, sir. Good-bye.

Words to Know

When you are talking about staying in a city, you use à (ah) to express the English in, such as à Paris (ah pah-ree) (in Paris) or à Bruxelles (ah brewk-sehl) (in Brussels). For countries, you usually use en (ahN) for the country names ending in e or beginning with a vowel: la France (lah frahNs), la Suisse (lah swees), l’Italie (lee-tah-lee), and so on. If this is not the case, then for countries such as le Canada (luh kah-nah-dah), le Portugal (luh pohr-tew-gahl), les États-Unis (ley-zey-tah-zew-nee), and so on, you use au(x) (oh). For more details on geographical prepositions, see Chapter 13.

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