The Truth About France

In America, the stories about France are legendary: Snotty locals, expensive restaurants that serve microscopic portions, incredible congestion, rude business-people, and gray skies. It's a cliche, and not a useful one (unless you're a francophobe, of which there are more than a few). Yes, Paris can be all of that and more, but so can any other big city. I'm a resident of New York City, I've lived in Boston, spent time in London and Los Angeles. There's snottiness, ridiculous restaurants and congestion in all of them. In that way, one big city is very much like the next. But the truth about France is that it's a diverse, beautiful country full of friendly people and laaaarrrrgggge portions if you get out of the tourist centers.