I'm writing a piece about Paris, and had to cut the following anecdote. What are blogs for if not to provide a forum for anything and everything I feel like including...
The most important piece of advice anyone could give to travellers heading to France is this: say bonjour.
Parisians have a reputation of being standoffish and rude to tourists. This stigma isn’t true, but it is the preconceived opinion that they will be rude that makes tourists rude. It turns into a vicious cycle, and in the end, no one is happy.
Trying to use the native language in any foreign country will improve relationships with local residents by leaps and bounds. Even simply saying bonjour, then throwing up ones hands in a “that’s all I know but I really tried” gesture will be enough.
Always remember that you are a tourist in their home country, and not the other way around.
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