Away from the TGV routes, though, France has some intriguing railroading. France explored more technological dead ends than other countries (rubber-tired trains and turbine-powered trains, for instance), and in general French engineers are not afraid of complication. It is still possible to see some of this antiquity and complication - consider the signals pictured on the cover of this book.

Withing an hour or two of landing at Paris, you can be zipping across the countryside in a TGV for an appointment with a diesel railcar or a narrow gauge Mallet or a century-old electric car that draws its power frm a third rail.

A lot has been lately about the attitude of the French toward/vs. the Americans. Don't worry about it. The peopld of France are nicer than you've been told, and some of them will gladly speak and understand Engligh (it won't hurt to try what little French you know.) Go ahead and enjoy France.