Missing Place
When I think about the charms of where Randie lives (its real life counterpart), I know that I would miss exactly what Jacques said Randie would miss… the cypress trees, the drippy fog that haunts the peninsula, the blue ocean and the sea life that floats among the kelp… and then there are the things I long to return to in Paris… the fresh markets, the art-centric daily life, the Seine and the boats the motor along it. I would love to spend six months of the year in both places…. wouldn’t that be great!?
I heard Paris was too be avoided, and the real charm of France was un thé régions….
Personnellement, je serais pas capable d’endurer leur accent trop longtemps, on m’a raconter que les parisiens sont souvent arrogant =(
Et le Mistral sur le Rhone!
J’ai entendu la même chose que les gens qui n’ont pas l’accent du français de France se font traiter avec rudesse sauf dans les endroits touristiques.
Frank… You are not incorrect in what you’ve heard. I would say, however, having visited some of the other regions, that each has it’s own unique charm. Paris isn’t unfriendly or rude from what I’ve seen. It IS full of tourists which will make anyone grumpy. I make an effort to speak French, so that doesn’t go unnoticed. I find that people open up if you are a traveler and not a tourist.
But, to other French peoples, yes, the Parisians seem arrogant.
Rich: not so much.
Eprinc… My last trip to Paris, we stayed on the Rue Colbert not far from Notre Dame…. it was TOURIST CENTRAL! It annoyed us travelers three. We find that tourists can be rude as well!
I’ve been to Paris twice and loved it both times (of course I spent most of my time in the Louvre and other museums). Only dealt with two rude french people (did not poll them to see if they were Parisian natives). 2 out of 2.2 million doesn’t seem like a bad score to me. It was my accidental walk (with my wife and son) through the red light district and almost getting myself covered with garbage thrown out of window that left me a bit on edge. Still, I’d go back in a second if I could.
Ugh…… from the perspective of a bodyguard Paris is a NIGHTMARE. Most major cities are, but Paris s especially bad news for me because I’m not used to parisian behavior. Everyone seems like they’re up to something. it’s worse than almost any city besides Berlin, New York or Cairo.
Nice place to visit if you AREN’T expecting trouble, I hear. I wouldn’t know……
Lady J,
I would imagine site access is another major problem with older cities.
Fun Mike… One could get lost in the Louvre… and I have. I walked into a mini market one time, and had the gall to ask for low fat yogurt… I got a stern talking to…
Lady Jenn… Parisian behavior is an interesting term. The French do things differently from Americans… like they walk about the city just to see the city… to people watch and window look and BE in Paris. I like that.
Ah! Mas certainment, their mutual love of Paris will draw these two into a “Nellie/Emile” romance, some enchanted evening. All that’s needed is for Ryan to write a bestseller and buy them a pink Vespa jet for a wedding present. : )
Well put Brig, unfortunetly rude people are everywhere. I like to think us nice folk outnumber them 🙂