Parisians....
 

Just came back from 10 days in Paris. The sights and adventures were enhanced greatly by the lovely Parisian people. Everywhere we went, we were met with warmth and sincere politeness. On the street several times a day, people came up to us to help us find our way. Strangers came over to us and carried our bags/luggage up and down the many flights of subway stairs as well as pry the train door open when it shut on my bag. The customer service in the shops and eateries were first class all the way. We were always approached and assisted with kindness. Haven't traveled anywhere else to be met with manners and sincerity as in Paris! Will always remember this as a highlight of our trip. Just sayin'..........:)

Lovely to hear this. Will be in Paris next month.

Quite the contrary of my experiences in Paris - not that Parisians were rude by as is the typical French style according to French friends rather standoffish, which is fine with me.

but be careful when being approached in Paris as there are scammers who approach with mal intents - to wit several recent Fodors threads.

But glad you found parisians so welcoming - I never have in years of going there!

@PalenQ.....I know what you are saying about "being approached". That sort of thing happened in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery but turned out pretty amusing. We were looking formChopin and a character of a man came over and literally guided us to many sites as well as ones not on the guide (many shortcuts). He even pulled out of his very scruffy pack of papers, a photo of Jim Morrison's bust before it was stolen many years ago. We gave him a few euros and it was well worth it. Other than that, there were some typical beggar types but they were very identifiable and we just ignored. Also, the last 3 nights, we stayed at Un Ciel, advertised as a B&B, but it was so much more! We actually stayed in an a beautiful apartment, with the owners, and bedroom/bath had a separate walk through. We were served an elegant and plentiful breakfast by our hosts in their gorgeous dining room. It was such a wonderful experience to be able to do this.

Yes there are many nice Parisians and I think one reason Paris gets a bad rap on Parisians being rude is that many tourists really only deal with waiters and folks in mass tourist industry like bored museum guards, etc who are blase perhaps because they deal with so many tourists, including some Americans I've seen who are really acting like the proverbial ugly American - like a bull in a China shop

So it is your type of traveler who gets out into places like the B&B and cemetery, etc where you are much more likely to have nice encounters and I have had them too as well as downright incredible rudeness and perhaps those incidents stand out in my mind more than the nice encounters

and I also think it depends on the demeanor of the tourist - you obviously are polite yourself and this makes a big difference - you are doing something right anyway and having a positive experience on the people to people level is as important as seeing all the blockbuster sights IMO.

Bravo as the French may say!

Parisians will often mirror the way they are spoken to. I know that I often do.

Glad you had a positive experience, ljc4creb. After many years of traveling to Paris and having lived there for five years, I love Parisians. I only wish I were as warmly received in the States.

To follow up on what Pal and kerouac noted, you do get back what you give. Apparently I don't stand out as an American, and sitting in a café, reading a French magazine, it never occurred to the people at the next table that I might understand what they are saying. It hasn't always been pretty.

It seeme never to occur to them, either, that a waiter in the 6th or 7th arrondissement of Paris might understand English. Then they wonder why they got a little attitude.

I found the Parisians to be every bit as friendly as urban Californians, perhaps more so (and I'm a bit shy & reserved myself). In rural France, of course, they were even more amiable. My husband agrees that the natives were just as friendly way back in 1969. From our experience, the reputation for snootiness seems like a myth. The above posters are likely correct as to the reason for that reported disconnect.

kerouac...I agree...I think that many who are quick to point at that someone was rude to them, fail to recognize their own rude behavior! Have seen plenty of cringe worthy behavior by my fellow Americans.

Overall, I have had very pleasant interactions with the French, inside and outside of Paris We had a young lady offer help with the directions last year and we did not ask! Also a friendly man who started a conversation with us over coffee...quite friendly and charming.

We always try to be polite and try to speak in French (which is a crime for sure) and we have had nothing but great experiences. We also assume that no one there owes us anything, try to observe the customs and mannerisms and we have not encountered any attitude from anyone.

So glad to see the positive comments.