The city of love! The city of lights! Baguettes for breakfast, snails as a snack and cheese galore! Wine all the time, cigarettes all around, and berets abound! Sadly, this wildly stereotypical depiction of Paris, France was approximately what I had in mind when I first learned I was to visit this city with my friend and her family. Before this trip, I had never been outside the country besides one strange trip to Canada, which involved hairspray, playing cards, and a curious fear of mist on the behalf of my half-sister. As I chose Spanish as my foreign language in school, my French extended not far beyond the archaic expression “Zut alors!” gleaned from The Little Mermaid and “Bonjour!” ascertained from Beauty and the Beast. At that point, Disney was responsible for nearly all of my global awareness.
I desperately needed to expand my international cognizance beyond its limited Epcot scope. To remedy this paucity of knowledge, I did what any teenager would do: I surfed the Internet. I prayed to the Wikipedia gods to make me Paris proficient, but my prayer went unanswered. I learned about coq au vin, and aperitifs, but nothing about how it is to live in France. So, cheetah print duffel and newly acquired passport in hand, I boarded my first international flight woefully ignorant, though not for lack of trying. At around three in the morning Eastern Standard Time, a flight attendant accosted me with a croissant and orange juice. Immediately, I knew I would like France: the only time it is okay to wake me up that early is if you are holding a pastry item, or maybe a sack of money. Thankfully, both situations are rare or I might be overweight and/or in trouble with the IRS. In any case, our cab driver met us at the baggage claim, where I had my first French experience. A tourist, who could only be described as Ugly American #1 for his fanny pack alone, ran over the foot of our cab driver and received a loud “Merci Beaucoup!” for his offense. I decided I would love this man forever.
After a pit stop at our apartment, we promptly began our weeklong site seeing sojourn. Like any traveler’s odyssey, it entailed every single tourist attraction that could be squeezed into one week. Our list included but was not limited to Notre Dame and its regretfully inanimate gargoyles, the Eiffel Tower and its surprising lack of star-crossed lovers, what we presumed to be the Touileries Gardens, the actual Tuileries, and the catacombs in which it is more than likely that I inadvertently inhaled the dust of a dead French poet. Needless to say, I was exhausted. One seesaw ride and two omelets into the trip, I was punched in the face by an epiphany: at none of these places did I see anything enumerated by the French stereotype. True, most French people do eat baguettes (though not exclusively) and many of them do smoke, but not in the hyperbolic fashion so many assume. Just as the United States is not entirely composed of cowboys or businessmen, France is a diverse nation not unlike the United States. No one deserves to be judged prematurely as a result of the country from which they hail.
Thinking back to my irrational preconceived notions about Paris and its inhabitants, I was extremely embarrassed. This excursion taught me that to truly know another country, one must experience it. No book, website, or brochure can ever come close.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
2 Replies to “French Fever”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Looking for a summer vacation that will keep the whole family entertained? Check out the list of 51 great family summer vacation ideas in this blog. Whether you’re looking for something outdoorsy, historical, or just a relaxing getaway, this blog has covered. From beach trips to amusement park adventures also there’s something for families vacation in Klamath. So whether you’re planning your dream vacation or just dreaming it up, be sure to check out this blog.
Hello, I enjiy eading alll of your artkcle post. I waanted tto write
a little comment too support you.
I needed to thank you for this fantastic read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you saved as a favorite to check out new stuff you post
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this site is very user genial! .
Congratulations on the content. Interesting..
Interesting and something new for me. Thanks for travel inspirations! 🙂
Awesome. I’m getting ready for my next trip, so I’m looking forward to more posts about places like whis. 😀 Thanks! 🙂
It sounds like Barcelona would be a great destination to study Spanish, even if Madrid or another town had more native speakers. Thanks for sharing the info, will look into this school for our teens.
Very interesting topic, appreciate it for posting. “He who seizes the right moment is the right man.” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Great web site yoou have here.. It’s difcicult to find high quakity wrriting like yours these days.I seriously apreciate people like
you! Taake care!!
You are so cool! I don’t think I have read through something like that before.
So wonderful to find someone with some genuine thoughts on this issue.
Really.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is something that is required on the web,
someone with a bit of originality!
Top ,.. top top … post! Keep the good work on !
your article is so unique and very good
Thanks a lot for the blog post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
Very informative post. Really Great.
Thanks for the blog article.Really thank you!
That was a nice write-up.The article was so informative thanks for sharing and keep posting.
also, you might check at Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Great article and thank You for Providing Such a Unique and valuable information on
also, you can visit Tours and Travels – Coimbatore<
Really informative and valuable blog, keep sharing. Also, you could look Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Great article, thank you very much for sharing this awesome post with us, if you want more visit- Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Great article, thank you very much for sharing this awesome post with us, you can also have a look on Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
well- articulated ! Thanks for sharing, Also, you may visit Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Excellent blog post, thanks for giving such informative articles. You might also check
Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth
information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Great read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Great Blog post. Thanks for sharing, also, you can visit Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Great article, thank you very much for sharing this awesome post with us. you can also check on Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
such a helpful and interesting blog, Thanks for the post. you can also visit Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
Really informative and valuable blog, keep sharing. also, you might check at Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
That was a nice write-up. The article was so informative thanks for sharing and keep posting. you can also check onTours and Travels – Coimbatore
Great article, thank you very much for sharing this awesome post with us, if you want more visit- Tours and Travels – Coimbatore
The greatest time to travel to Alaskan was during summer because the days are longer and the weather is warmer.
Relax on your spacious terrace as your opulent cruise liner passes creaky blue-white glaciers and verdant forests.
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
Excellent blog post. I definitely love this site. Thanks!
Excellent brief and this article helped me alot. Say thank you I looking
for your information.
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Your information is of great quality, thanks for sharing.
I have noted these ideas and will follow them this summer vacation. cause last time have enjoyed https://www.goldenbustours.com/new-york-to-niagara-falls-bus-tours/ and that was cool experince for me.
This is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Brief but very precise info… Appreciate your sharing this one.
A must read post!