I do remember one summer reading a Times on the beach in Tuscany (holiday treat to read a paper from end to end except the sports pages) and laughing out loud about a "be kind to tourists day" being announced in Paris and having to train taxi drivers and shop staff to be polite and smile.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Sounds about right. I work for a rather well known theme park, our American cousins can be fired for being in polite or not courteous, pity the same can’t be said for some of our local hires! A smile is a great start, but probably comes from one of our international employees. If you expect “I’ll just go and check” or “ how can I help you”….. you are more likely to get “ not my job” or “I’m not paid to know that”…. Or my most favorite of all “ you are in France, speak French “ just such a warm way to welcome non French guests.
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
We took Possum there when she was 8, against my better judgement cos I'd always said my idea of hell would be American "culture" dished up with French "service". We stayed on site in one of the hotels so had VIP passes to avoid queues at the rides.
It was not as bad as I expected but I have to say the food choices in the park itself were dire.
Mind you, on another trip to Paris for our joint birthday weekend jaunt I fell foul of a smart arse in a well known brasserie. I walked in and asked in impeccable but accented French if we could have a table for 2 to dine, which is what Belgians do at midday. "Oh, you wish to lunch, madame?". Food good but service abrupt to say the least. Never been back there either.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have to agree about the majority of the food choices Obelixx. We do have some nice table service restaurants but most folks are looking for a quick snack, rather than a sit down meal, so whereas at opening we had at least 7 really good restaurants we now only have 2, and even they struggle to be worthwhile. Mainly burgers, pizza and the odd buffet now.
I find most Parisian restaurants have nice food, but terrible service. You either get nasty attitude or it is just so slow. I find even “fast food” to be really slow service here.
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
@Jacquimcmahon@Obelixx The attitude down here is quite different. Although staff are not exactly falling over each other to be helpful, on the whole, it's pleasant enough.
We did go for a sit down @Jacquimcmahon but it was very slow with perfunctory service and average food. Bit of a shock even tho it was expected cos we were well used by then to Belgian food and service.
Yes @tuikowhai34 it seems to be a Parisian thing. Round here and elsewhere in France we've found people friendly, helpful and chatty on the whole and intrigued as to why we choose to live here. Really looking forward to getting out and about again.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Lol floralies why am I not surprised. The Chinese / vietenamise restaurants are everywhere and yes usually much friendlier and know something about customer service. I can’t wait to be able to just sit in a restaurant again, at this point they can be as rude as they like as long as I can have a meal outside of my own four walls, with a decent selection of wines!
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
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It was not as bad as I expected but I have to say the food choices in the park itself were dire.
Mind you, on another trip to Paris for our joint birthday weekend jaunt I fell foul of a smart arse in a well known brasserie. I walked in and asked in impeccable but accented French if we could have a table for 2 to dine, which is what Belgians do at midday. "Oh, you wish to lunch, madame?". Food good but service abrupt to say the least. Never been back there either.
Yes @tuikowhai34 it seems to be a Parisian thing. Round here and elsewhere in France we've found people friendly, helpful and chatty on the whole and intrigued as to why we choose to live here. Really looking forward to getting out and about again.