Международный Клуб владельцев автомобилей HUMMER^®

I know a little the "Russian Spirit" and the Russian Politics !! Do not forget that my wife is Russian
I thought as it is very difficult for you to import a car form other countries !
Yes and you must add the bureaucracy
(but ours European and specially French bureaucracy are efficient too )

I have a very good colleague, he is from France, working here- in Moscow with me. He told me few things about French bureaucracy...
Yes, we have some similarities between our counties, that's true!

We have more similarities than only our bureaucracy ! Fortunately ! For example in Russian you have many words (and cooking preparation also) which come from the French language and in French we have the symbol (for the ango-saxon people) of France which come from the Russian language : "le Bistrot " ( the bar in popular french) ! you know why : when Russians occupied Paris in 1812 , the soldiers (we say cosaques in French) went very quickly in the tavern and ordered "bistro bistro" a glass of alcohol !! and after the word come in french under the form : bistrot , the tavern where you can drink quickly ! Funny no !

You are right, Weymard: historically France and Russia were very close, Russia picked up a lot from French culture, Russia has built a warships at Cote D’Azur when after the war Russia was not aloud to build and to have a warships (France has allowed Russia to make this trick)
Tsar’s family and it’s retinue were spending a lot of time (especially during winters) at France…
Well, I understand a Tsar- Nice and Cannes are places where I always like to go!

As you know, I am living close to Cherbourg, this city is a military port, and there is a big avenue (for this small city !) which is called : quai Alexandre III (quay Alexander III) in memories of the Tsar which came in Cherbourg at the beginning of XXe century ! It was a surprise for my Russian wife
And I do not speak about our lot of French artist or intellectual who are Russian origin ! They came after your revolution, then come after the II war and they come after the fall of URSS ! France is also constructed by welcoming the foreigners who later looked to her the best of themselves ! And now, to Nice and Cannes , come the Russians billionaire ! Good for our business !
In France we forget that in 1941-45 the only foreign army which fought in URSS was the Normandy-Nemen squadron ! And it is indeed pity
Between Russia and France there are links of blood, Napoleon, Sebastopol, but also 1914-1916 and the second war ! For this later war, the sacrifice of your people (wanted or not ..) is incredible and it is a debit that we have to you.

Agree with every single word you wrote, weymard!
In my eyes there were more positive links rather than negative between our Counties. But what's important is how we lk into the future: I mean that we should look though pism of good links and aim to improve them and to cooperate, but also- we should not forget bad thing in order те to let it happen again!
World is becomeing smaller and smaller, we all feel that anything happens at one part of the planet- immideatelly influence on people leaving at another part. I see that people becoming smarter and understand it very well.
May be I'm too optimistic, but I see that world is changing to a better! The glass is half full, not half empty! The trend is important.
15-20 years back we could not think about having a chat between us, I could not even emagine that I could go to Paris, Rome, Monaco.. Now it becomes a part of our life, which makes it buteful! Isn't nice?

I agree with you Lex, may be too optimistic, but it will be ! For Russia it is a "giant step" ! I remember the seventies, it was an other song ..... I think that it is always the "dreamers" who made and will make the world of tomorrow, the pragmatics make the present, not the future !
It is very interesting to communicate with foreigners, for example I am on US forum : http://forums.pickuptrucks.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm, the first time the Americans were very surprised to see that a French bought a US truck , the Iraqi war and the French opposition was in their mind but we can communicate and as the facts gave us reason (you and Germany too) they understood better, and it was very interesting. But they have always a "problem" with Russia ! I spoke with them about my journey in Russia, they were interested . On this US forum there is some "Fascist texans " , some "redneck" ! They can not understand the French social system, with a strong government or social protection ! Imagine how they see the Russian system ! If you do not know this US website, try it !

Yeh, people are usually afaid of what they don't know.
When we meet and start discussions about live in general, common problems and things- we understand that we are not so different from each other.
Americans, French, Germans, British? Russians..you name it..we all have a different mentality, but we all have a common sence of values in ur live. Piece, family, children, friends..
In 70-th we were scared of each other because of propaganda in all countries and so called "cold war", than we learned to understand each other and appreciate each other interests. Remember song of STING "Russian"? I agree with him 100%!!
I loked at suggested by you frum- interesting and full of enthusiasts!

Oh Yeah, I love this song of Sting (and love many songs of Stings), very lucid !
When I go to Perm, across Europe and Russia European, I saw that we are so close some the others, our cultural background is the same ! Greece, Roma ! and some adds as for you the Slavic, Asian, for frenchie euh... everybody . The city which impressed me more was Prague , everywhere they speak the 4 major European language : English (normal !!) French, Russian, German, and often Italian in more ! All restaurants, from the little to the biggest, have the menu in this 4 languages ! A lesson for the Frenchie !! . Incredible city !
Everywhere in Europe (I include in this term Russia that I consider as a part of Europe, a big part ok ) the cities structures as same, city hall, church, business, school etc..; some differences but no more differences than I can see in France between Normandy and Provence or Corse !
Geographically Russia (to Oural) is in the European Continent , culturally it is also European, but the "cold war" was a the continuity of the the bloody tear of the WWI and WWII for our Continent and ours peoples. May be now this tear is repairing ,sewn on again , I felt it during my journey across Europe. If the USA change their perception of Russia .... and if Russia opens his political practices ! We could have a great and free Europe, and the world need it

Hi Lex,
How are you ?
Can you help me. I want to translate from English to Russian some specificities of my Silverado (perhaps for a Russian buyer !!) and my wife can not translate, she do not know the French and Russian terminology for the cars
If you can do it, I will send you the text in English.
Thanks

Hi weimard!
I'm OK, thanks! Hope you too!

Please send me your English text and I'll see what I can do for you!