"Was that garcon grinning at my accent?"

Well yes, actually they didn't just grin, they laughed out loud and begged me to speak English - LOL - couldn't understand a thing I said in French - somehow everything came out with the wrong sil-ab-el and sounded more Italian than French.

By the way, do check your restaurant bills and others. An acquaintance and I had dinner at a good restaurant in the 2nd arr. with one glass of house wine each, but when the bill came, I noticed there were three martinis, a vodka and a gin and tonic charged. I called garcon and sweetly asked him,
"Did I have a martini?" "No, madame", "Did I have a vodka tonic?"
No, madame, "Did I have a gin and tonic?" "No, Madame"..."Then please take these off my bill"

His "No Madames" were all replied very quietly and without a smile- until he and the lady manager went to the cash register with their backs turned to us and laughed histerically.

Well, it was a good try on their part, but on the whole, with just 3 or 4 exceptions, I found the French to be quite amenable.

Oops - what happened to the "edit" function?

I should say I found the Spanish people warm and amenable also, and a people who really know how to enjoy themselves and have fun. The men especially seem to bond with each other and make friends in a way American men don't. They giggle and laugh like little boys.

But I do have to admit that most of my time in Madrid and NOrthern Spain I was hungry! Oh for some GOOD paella, which we did not find in Northern Spain, probably the worst paella I've ever had....even I can make better - most of the food in the north seemed to be pig, pig and more pig in unrecognizable forms...nor was I crazy about tapas which was also unrecognizable,( I'm not a person who is fond of octopus) however I did find some very good restaurants and food in Barcelona.

Spain is a VERY heterogeneous country, probably the MOST heterogeneous country in Europe, and to think that paella is something to be found in northern Spain is a (big) mistake...

Such a tiny territory and so many big differences in everything in just a few miles...

VJBLOVESITALY:

Yup I hear you girl! ;;)

Wow! I am still recovering from the shock of finally knowing Australia and New Zealand are NOT a part of Asia :) One learns something new every day ;)

Lobo, Pavlov's dogs? Okay okay, I stop teasing you right now. :)

Guys, Consider not generalizing impressions from a 2-3 week vacation trip to an entire culture. Of any country.

Guys, Consider not generalizing impressions from a 2-3 week vacation trip to an entire culture. Of any country.

Is over 8 months in Spain, over many years, none of it in school, enough to form an opinion?

Adu, If 8 months is longer than 3 weeks, yes. :) Also anyone who has taken enough good shots to actually have a public show is a Champ in my book. But you must post a weblink because I know people who think they took all the good photos and there are no more left :) Okay okay, I need to stop joking.

>>>Do the Spanish like Americans?<<<

For what it's worth, a friend's ex-boyfriend (who was backpacking for a couple of months last year) fled to Spain after a few spitting and "yankee go home" incidents elsewhere on the continent. He had no trouble in Spain, and loved it it so much he stayed for weeks.

He was a bit of a dolt, though.

Adu, If 8 months is longer than 3 weeks, yes. Also anyone who has taken enough good shots to actually have a public show is a Champ in my book. But you must post a weblink because I know people who think they took all the good photos and there are no more left Okay okay, I need to stop joking.

I am a computer ignoramus. Friends have explained in excruciating detail, how to post photos and still I cannot do it. If I figure out how to do it, I will certainly do so. True to form, in the current show no one purchased any Spain photos but another I put in the show with the sole intention of getting rid of it was bought.

I guess the only people who attended the show were the ones who could not find breakfast in Barcelona and those who melted when a Spaniard did not smile.

Aduchamp1-
Or the ones who were vacationing in Mexico because it's just like Spain.....

hehe! Good one.:))

Does anybody like Americans?
I think a lot of Americans don't even like Americans!
This sentiment is mostly due to bad politics and not the actual citizens.

If you called a French waiter "garçon" I'm surprised that he just laughed at you.

Waiters, nowadays answer to "Monsieur"
Try calling a waiter "boy" at home and see what happens.

Try clicking your fingers as well.
You will get your lunch in your lap.

They really need to stop teaching garcon=waiter in school.

BTW, saying it louder, which is a very common occurrence, will not get you anywhere either.

Copain

It is more complex than than

The differences in pitch and intonation between English and French makes it very hard for an English speaker to attract a French person's attention if their mind is elsewhere.

They simply don't hear.

I have lived in Italy for a total of 6 months and have visited every region and every major city. Every single person I have met here has treated me like family and strangers have literally moved me to tears for their sweet and selfless acts. Italians love Americans, so those of you who say that Europeans dislike Americans are wrong. I took my mom to Madrid last week thinking we might have a similar experience. My great grandparents were from Spain so this was a very important trip for us. We spoke spanish the entire time, and we still had a horrible experience. I don't like to generalize, so I'm not going to say that all of Spain is like this, but in Madrid we were treated with nothing but disrespect and rudeness. We worked extra hard to get people to warm up to us and a couple of them finally came around after a week of trying! We were even served rotten food twice and wondered if it was because we were tourists. I do not wish to return to Spain, but my mom would like to give it a second chance and perhaps visit Barcelona instead.

Digging up an 8-year old post? Why???

A first time poster with an agenda?
Editors should take note.

Barcelona isn't Spain so maybe they'll like you there.