Judy Faust, a Corporate Travel Advisor with Covington Travel, recently revisited one of her favorite cities – Paris. She offers her perspective of the “rude French,” as well as some of her favorite experiences in Paris.

The Kindness of Strangers

The stereotype of the French being rude is a staple of American travel lore. Admittedly, some who work in jobs that put them in frequent contact with tourists can be prickly, but among the general population, I have experienced a high degree of thoughtfulness that is completely opposite from the “they don’t like Americans” beliefs of many. Some experiences from my recent trip include:

• Frequently on the Metro, passengers occupying the fold-down seats near the door would stand and allow their seats to fold up and make more room if the car was crowded.
• My sister-in-law got a ‘dud’ Metro ticket which the gate machine accepted but did not open the gate. The young man behind her motioned to us, put his ticket in, let Patricia through and then did a gymnast vault over the gate – all in full view of the manned station ticket window.
• Almost late for a hotel inspection, I ran into an Hediard (gourmet food store) for directions. I ended up being escorted by two of the shop patrons down to the closest major intersection that would take me straight there  – a walk of about four blocks.
• I bought my favorite skin products (which were less expensive there!) at a Latin Quarter pharmacy. I took several of the samples, but on the way out, was stopped by the pharmacist. He rooted around under the display and pressed another ten samples – one of everything – into my hands.

Judy’s Favorite Experiences in Paris

The Arc de Triomphe By Night:  Open until 10:30 PM (October to March) or 11 PM (April to September), the monument is crowned with a viewing gallery that provides a particularly stunning view of Paris by night. Night time viewing begins at 6:30 pm when the flame at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier is lit and the street lights start to come on.  The Champs Elysées and all the other major and minor streets radiating out from the Arch light up beautifully. As a bonus, if there is a light show at the Eiffel Tower, as there was on the night we were there, you are treated to a front row, center view of searchlights and flashing lights that look like psychedelic diamonds. There is a reason Paris is called the City of Light!

Virtuoso Galleries Lafayette Experience:  Fashionistas know that this is THE stop for cutting-edge collections of everything from clothing to jewelry to home décor.
As an exclusive Virtuoso amenity, Covington Travel offers a free Welcome Kit from Galleries Lafayette to our Paris-bound clients. It includes a coupon for a glass of champagne, a 10% VIP discount card (some exceptions), a store guide, a Paris map and guide book. I enjoy shopping here because they make filing for a tax refund on your qualifying purchases a breeze. You can pool your purchases within the department store and they have a department where you can obtain the necessary paperwork and get assistance to apply for your refund on the way out of the country.

Nissim Caimondo Museum:  This jewel box of a museum overlooking the gorgeous Parc Monceau, was built by bank magnate Moises Caimondo, a lover of French 18th century design. The house almost out-Versailles Versailles! Furnished with his personal collections of furniture and art, it was obviously a labor of love. My favorite rooms are the library and the kitchen. The house is exactly as it was when the Caimondo family lived there – you have the feeling they’ll return at any moment.  This intimacy is made more poignant by the fact that his son, a French aviator, died in the First World War, and his daughter and her family perished at Auschwitz.

Le Procope: One of the oldest restaurants in the world, Le Procope has been in business since 1688. It has been a favorite of authors such as Oscar Wilde and Victor Hugo, and both French and American revolutionaries such as Ben Franklin, Danton and Robespierre dined here. Set in a Left Bank townhouse that is a National Historical Monument, the dining rooms are atmospheric and charming. We enjoyed the traditional fare of coq au vin and the largest servings of (French) onion soup and crème brulée I’ve ever seen. In this case, the stereotype of minuscule servings was expelled!

To find your own unmistakably French experiences in Paris, contact Covington Travel’s France Specialists to arrange your trip to the City of Light.