Trivial things you don't understand/mildly annoy you

[Bob's Orange]

Extortionate. I went last year and was about €14 for a beer and a coffee.
I fucking hated Paris, would never go back.

Thats quite interesting as I thought it was great. What did you hate about it, apart from the ridiculous prices? We stayed in the Bastille area and the price of beer was around London prices.

[BANGKOK RED]

I've been to Paris.

Hated it so much I came back early. It's quite possibly the worst trip I've ever had and I've been around quite a lot. The Parisian's obnoxiousness was like nothing I have experienced before or since. I did not feel welcome, in fact they made absolutely sure we knew we were not welcome.

Other French people I know also say the same about Paris and Parisians.

I will never go back.

[Ginginho]

Thats quite interesting as I thought it was great. What did you hate about it, apart from the ridiculous prices? We stayed in the Bastille area and the price of beer was around London prices.

Bangkok Red pretty much summed it up exactly for me.

Plus, there were beggars all over the place, street sales people constantly trying to sell you crap.

Just didn't enjoy my trip there at all.

[Gnasher]

I've been to Paris.

Hated it so much I came back early. It's quite possibly the worst trip I've ever had and I've been around quite a lot. The Parisian's obnoxiousness was like nothing I have experienced before or since. I did not feel welcome, in fact they made absolutely sure we knew we were not welcome.

Other French people I know also say the same about Paris and Parisians.

I will never go back.

We have some French/Russian friends in the south of France. They call Parisians miserable northerners and hate going there.

[Bob's Orange]

Bangkok Red pretty much summed it up exactly for me.

Plus, there were beggars all over the place, street sales people constantly trying to sell you crap.

Just didn't enjoy my trip there at all.

I agree about the beggers. Outside of Gare du Nord was an absolute nightmare. We didn't really go eating and drinking in the centre of the City but where we stayed I found the people to be pretty pleasant. (perhaps they weren't Parisian!)

Each to their own, c'est la vie etc!

[Ardiles]

I heard an interesting theory about grumpy French folk.  They take the 'égalité' bit of 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' very seriously...so much so that when a waiter comes to your table in France, he/she does so as your equal.  Over here (and elsewhere, especially in the US), there's a subconscious presumption that the person serving you is subservient to you...you're paying, so you're the boss.  But not in France.  So when British people go there expecting a level of deference from waiting staff, Métro employees or shop keepers - and don't get it - we sometimes get the hump because it can seem as if the people we're speaking to are being surly and rude.

I'm playing devil's advocate here to a certain extent - because I think there's more to stories like Bangkok's than Revolutionary ideals.  But it's an interesting theory all the same.

[BANGKOK RED]

We didn't really go eating and drinking in the centre of the City

I did.

We met a nice French waiter. Had a good chat with him because he used to live in Reading.

Other people were sooooo aggressive. I've been about and am not intimidated in strange places but this was something else. They'd do things like block our way and force us to walk on the road to get around them. Barmen refusing to serve us. People closing doors on us and I don't mean not holding them open, but literally closing them.

The girl I was with was a bit scared and in all honestly, so was I.

[RJack]

Are you serious? That can't be right surely?

Deadly serious when we questioned it they tried to make out it included entertainment services despite the fact we were sat outside and the music was playing inside it was a complete rip off

[Ginginho]

I agree about the beggers. Outside of Gare du Nord was an absolute nightmare. We didn't really go eating and drinking in the centre of the City but where we stayed I found the people to be pretty pleasant. (perhaps they weren't Parisian!)

Each to their own, c'est la vie etc!

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy some aspects of my trip, it wasn't a total nightmare!
Walking down by the river was great as it was quiet and we had a lovely meal in a fancy restaurant, with a pianist nearby, which we really enjoyed.
It was, like you say, around Gare Du Nord and some of the really touristy areas that didn't appeal.
I didn't exactly feel relaxed while there.

On the subject of big cities, I went to Edinburgh earlier this year and thought it was great, thoroughly enjoyed it, friendly people, nice relaxed place and would definitely go back there.

[BANGKOK RED]

It is a nice city, some lovely old buildings ad stuff.

The people however were complete and utter cunts.

[Ardiles]

I've only been there twice.  Quite liked it.  Stayed in the Marais district most recently which was great.  The other impressive thing about Paris is the transport infrastructure which pisses all over London's.

[chalkies_shorts]

There seems to be a new culture developing at pedestrian crossings. Bicycles and pushchairs owners seem to the worst. Some of these retards think that their bodies should be at the edge of the road, which is a pity for either the front wheel or the kid in the buggy, which is actually in the road.

[Benzel]

Cyclists riding side by side on a busy road. Cyclists who can't ride in a straight line on the road.

Cyclists.

[bigbobjoylove]

Cyclists riding on the pavement and then expecting you to walk around them.

[Ginginho]

Cyclists riding on the pavement and then expecting you to walk around them.

Dumbass pedestrians walking along the cycle path when there's a perfectly good path for them to walk down next to it.

Oh and having to dodge glass and dog shit on said paths.