>>>>>>For my ears, the french r is pronounced somewhere at the root of the tongue, not the tip (like most european ones are), so it's not so distinct (or rolled, as we call the english r), but I can clearly recognize when it's pronounced.
>>>>>
>>>>>I see the difference between 'crois' and 'croissant' as 'night' and 'day' :)
>>>>
>>>>Seeing it is easy. But do you hear it? :)
>>>
>>>Tamar is hearing the exact sound I am; so she and I were on the same page. Lutz was the first who correctly brought up the notion of nasal 'r' and not guttural 'r' that all the "experts" were hearing :)
>>
>>As I said, the French R is pronounced in the back of the throat; http://french.about.com/od/pronunciation/a/r_2.htm
>
>I have heard a very good explanation that to pronounce french 'R' you have to make a sound as if you are gargling your saliva.
>
>But (IMHO) this is not the case for the R in the word 'crois'.

AFAIK your "very good explanation" is exactly correct.