I adore Paris. It is one of my favorite cities and I not-so-secretly dream of retiring there when Heather and I are old and grey. However, being an American in Paris is … unique. First of all, even though I realize it's only anecdotal, I hate to refute all the stereotypes about rude Parisians. In my experience, the Parisians wifey and I encountered were kinder and more polite than the Americans we met abroad. That being said, the French in general and Parisians, in particular, are different. If you've never visited this beautiful city, let me share a few things I learned as an American in Paris.
You will, but it's not at all malicious. It might look that way, but it's not. Parisians stare a lot. Then they stare some more. They never apologize for it, even if you catch them staring at you. You'll think the worst, you'll assume they're judging your accent, your clothes, your manners, everything, but they're not. They're just curious, so they're indulging their curiosity. Nobody thinks you're a barbarian … unless you act like one, in which case, you kind of deserve the judgment.
2 Order Café Crème, It'll Change Your Life
No words of wisdom here. You just need to do this, preferably at a cafe in the Latin quarter. However, remember to order it at the end of your meal, not at the beginning or even with your dessert. You'll get weird looks otherwise.
3 Don't Order a Baguette, Order a “Tradition”
There's a difference between the baguette and the “Tradition,” which is made using specific ingredients and baking techniques. It tastes so much better. It's what you want if you're dreaming of crusty, crunchy crust covering soft, delicious bread.
4 Try to Speak French First, You'll Be Judged Less
You don't have to speak French flawlessly. It's okay to make mistakes. Just attempting to speak the language is the key. It's not just courteous, it also lets the Parisians you're interacting with see and hear that you're trying. In return, more often than not, they'll do everything they can to help you.
5 Lots of People Smoke, Deal with It
#sorrynotsorry. You don't have to smoke. You don't have to agree with smoking. You do have to understand, however, that France is not America, and thus France does not abide by America's laws. You'll see smokers everywhere in Paris. Giving them nasty looks or making remarks about it won't endear you to your hosts. You just kind of have to deal with the cigarettes – or else you'll be spending a lot of time in your room.
6 Give a Little Greeting
Say “bonjour” or “bonsoir” when you meet people! Greet people when you enter stores, say goodbye when you leave, venture forth a kind hello when you get on the train. Parisians believe very much in social niceties. You don't have to greet everyone you pass on the street, but it's common courtesy to do so when you enter or leave a shop, a café, or a restaurant.
7 Savor Every Meal You Eat
French food is so out of this world, you shouldn't rush through eating it, anyway. Moreover, the French don't eat like they're never going to get another meal. They eat slowly, they savor every bite, and their portions are generally smaller, which makes this easier. Turn your meals into Events, not just mundane activities.
8 Public Restrooms Are Not Always Free … and Not Easy to Find
Yeah. You're going to want to look up locations in every quarter you plan to see before you get there. You're welcome.
9 August is a Bad Month to Go
It's hot. It's sticky. The city is empty. Why? Because August is typically vacation month for most of Paris. The city isn't empty, per se, but you'll run into a lot of closed shops and restaurants.
10 Taxis Are VERY Expensive and Raise Their Rates at Night
Actually, it's pretty much like it is in the States. However, Paris does have Uber and the rates are usually lower.
11 Men Will Stare at Women – Just Stare
This is often different than the charming, blatant Parisian stare. Sometimes men will try to touch you and talk to you, too. There aren't many catcallers, at least not in my experience, but a very old dandy was very insistent about trying to steal Heather from me, so it happens.
12 Don't Try Too Hard with Makeup or Colored Clothing, Go Natural
This isn't a judgment thing, and you can certainly wear the makeup and clothing you usually wear, but if you want to look like a true Parisian, you'll keep it natural – or, more accurately, neutral. Parisians are some of the best-dressed people in the world, even on a day-to-day basis, but it's because both the men and women wear neutral shades – black, charcoal, grey, chocolate, navy, cream – and timeless clothes. Show off your pops of color in your shoes, bag, or scarf.
13 Cleavage Isn't out All the Time in Paris, Keep That in Mind
In addition to dressing in neutral, classic pieces, the women in Paris are … I wouldn't call it modest, their ensembles are simply tailored and put together. There's not a lot of bare skin on display.
14 Outdoor Markets Are Amazing but Don't Touch the Food Too Much
Look with your eyes, not your hands!
15 Go to the Latin Quarter – It's Beautiful!
Seriously, though, it's my favorite spot in Paris. There's something charming around every corner.
16 Most Places Don't do Takeaway (takeout) and Frown when You Ask
True story.
17 Research the Section of Paris You Want to Stay in before You Go
Also a true story. See how friendly that area is to tourists, find out if the businesses around you tend to speak English, and look for things to do. There's something to be said about staying in an area where there aren't a lot of English speakers, but only you can decide if that's comfortable for you.
Bottom line? Go to Paris. Always. Any time. Whenever you can. However, don't visit when your mind's filled with a bunch of stereotypes or if you have idealized, unrealistic expectations. Have you ever been?
