Paris, France. A feel-good story.

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Birdgun

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A feel-good story.

In 2018, my wife and I went to Paris, France. We were hosted by our dear friends, Bernie & Linda. One day, the ladies went off by themselves for some girl time. Bernie and I went to the French Army Museum, Les Invalides.

Bernie (who was born in Paris and speaks French) and I are both retired U.S. Army. Upon entering Les Invalides, I told Bernie I was buying our entry tickets in appreciation of he and Linda hosting us.

Now the good part. I went up to the ticket counter where there sat a very pretty young woman.
Me not able to speak much French and not wishing to sound like an Ugly American, I politely asked the pretty lady,
"Bon Jour. We are just two old American soldiers and may I buy two entry tickets, please?" I then passed the lady enough Euros to cover admission.
The nice lady replied, "Do you have your soldier identification?"
I replied, "Yes. Bernie, she wants to see our Military ID cards."
Bernie and I showed the sweet lady our US Army Retired ID cards.
The kind lady then handed me two admission tickets and she also handed me back my money saying, "For you, there is no cost."
Well, I was thanking the sweet lady and Bernie was giving her his "Merci Beaucoups" when-----
The pretty young French lady held up her hands and said in the sweetest voice, "No, No, Messieurs! We thank you!"

Bernie and I were both deeply touched.

~~~~~~~~~~~

One of my other hobbies is wargaming with 15mm Napoleonic figures. I carried my 15mm Napoleon figure to Paris with me and took a couple of pictures with my little Napoleon in the photo.

Les Invalides
fs1dip.jpg


Napoleon's tomb in Les Invalides
viib9n.jpg


My admission ticket to Les Invalides.
cZFCe2.jpg


Thanks for letting me tell this little story.

God bless,
Birdgun
 
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Nice story! Some French in Paris may be curt, but so are many Americans in New York. It's a big city thing, IMHO. You were treated very well, and I'm happy for you. My wife and I heard the same thing, but had an experience much like yours in 1993 when we went on a tour of Scandinavia and Europe to visit the exchange students we'd had up to that time. One was born Swedish, but had a French mother, grandparents and other relatives in Paris and Normandy.

We were guests at her aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party in Varengeville, Normandy, which is quite a way from the D-Day beaches, but nonetheless, we noticed many, many houses and businesses had small American, British and Canadian Flags flying over their doors.

What a party it was! They rented a whole restaurant, there were maybe a hundred people, and it started about 11 am; we drank some wine, ate some lunch, sang, drank some wine, danced, had dinner, drank some wine, sang, danced until about 11 pm. In the late afternoon, I was deeply touched when a Frenchman I didn't even know, stood, asked for silence, announced there were two Americans present (us) and the whole room full of people stood and toasted "Vive Les Etats Unis D' Amerique!" (Long live the United States of America!) Our student's mother, her aunt and uncle, her grandparents, and many others in that room lived through the German occupation as children and adults, and in fact, her grandmother and grandfather were in the French Resistance and had some stories to tell. The people in that room had not forgotten, like your gracious ticket taker, who I'm sure had a knowledge of the history between our two nations.

I think one's experience depends very much on locale and circumstances. The French we encountered in Paris, and especially Normandy, were very kind and sociable to us.
 
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I made seven trips to Paris in my two Germany assignments.

I never experienced the stories told here, much the opposite.

I did, however, thoroughly enjoy my three-week temporary duty
assignment to the French air base at St. Dizier. The people were
gracious and most accommodating.

I'm happy to know some Parisians appreciated what we did for
their country.
 
Trooperdan said:
Birdgun, thanks for your story! This is one reason that I am way over tired by the "jokes" about the French and French weaponry "only dropped once". I suppose those jokesters never heard of the French resistance and their heroism during WW2
Click to expand...

Nor do they remember that if it wasn't for the French, we probably wouldn't be a country. At least not this country.
 
Many years ago I was in Paris. Spoke pretty good French. Most people seemed rude. "Les Americans stupid" muttered under their breath. But met 2 older ladies who loved us. They owned a deli and took good care of us. They remembered young Americans from WWII. Other areas in France were more welcoming. Your tale is wonderful.
 
No jokes about the French from me.

Samuel Blakemore was my mom's favorite uncle.

He was a rifleman for the 5th Battalion/East Lancashire Fusiliers. They landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. As part of Operation Charnwood, they were, with the Canadiens, ordered to take Caen.

He lies in Épron.

 
It is good that many people do remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by so many. I've heard more than once similar stories from people who travelled in France and Belgium who described meeting folks who made that appreciation very clear. One friend said that rudeness in Paris was a big city thing, people in the rest of the country were very different. Glad the OP found that even in Paris there were people who showed they cared.

Rusty1953, I wish we had an option other than "like" for posts like yours. So many sacrificed all, the driveway into the little cemetery of the small village I live in has headstones for several who gave their all in that war. Don't know if they are actually buried there or just as a memorial, no one I've talked to seems to know. The military offered people the option to bring bodies home after the war, some did, some didn't.
 
My times in Paris ere not so nice...but out in the country were enjoyed. The people were completely different. I was at a family gathering with FIL and MIL...Late 60s. Her aunt and Uncle had spent a lot of time in France before and after the war. MIL brought up FIL earned the Croix de Guerre. Aunt piped up that he could ride trains in France for free. but he needed a passport. Told her he didn't want to fide trains in France and didn't need a passport before.. She said oh impossible You need a passport to go to France He just said he hadn't needed one on June 6th 44...Speaking ill of the dead...but she may have been the Original Ugly American
 
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I am sorry to hear that so many have had bad experiences in Paris.

I have been to Paris three times: 1987, 2018, 2022.

The first time I was in Paris in '87, when I was stationed in W. Germany (my third tour). My wife and I were having dinner in a nice restaurant with my cousin and her Parisian husband. The waiter was quite rude to me but my cousin's husband spoke a few words to the waiter in French and, for some reason, from then on the waiter was very polite.

Our visits to Paris in 2018 & 2022 were without any negative incidents. Everyone we encountered were polite and helpful. Even in 2022 when the two pretty young ladies on the Metro (subway) who asked me for directions were very nice. I asked Bernie if he could help them and the two pretty women immediately exited the train at the next stop. Linda was setting near me and told me, "Those two gals were going to try and pick-pocket you!"

Again, my wife and I have had great times in Paris. In 2018 we were there for Bastille Day and the French winning the World Cup (soccer). The World Cup victory celebration was wild! We got down on the street right after the soccer game win to experience the revelry. My wife said she'd never been kissed on her face by so many young men!
It was a celebration!
xwsWbJO.jpg


CnSZxpI.jpg


Hvfr4QZ.jpg


Bastille Day was another great memory. We got to see some of the parades but the most memorable was the Fly Overs. I found it somewhat amusing when the first fly over came, streaming the tri-colors.
Note the three planes that were supposed to be trailing the blue color. I bet someone got a royal butt chewing!
Oops!
p5AKJZ7.jpg


Later that night on Bastille Day, Bernie, Linda, my wife and I had dinner on the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower. The food was very good but the fireworks were spectacular.
I about wore out my camera!
aE8D4ev.jpg


lwizFIr.jpg


LMXZgws.jpg


I love Paris. Vive la France!

God bless,
Birdgun
 
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My one trip to Paris convinced me to never go back. I met people that I knew spoke English, and they smiled when they shook my hand, but then frowned and left when they found I was an American.

I had to go to a business dinner party and sat next to the CEO. He frequently translated to me what they were talking about. Later that evening a French woman was commissioned to take me back to my hotel. She said I must not be an American. I asked why. She said I was so nice and all evening they were taking about how stooped and lazy Americans were.

The whole entourage then came to America for consummation of our business dealings. We served them American wine and they were offended that we didn't have French wine. Of course we had to drink their ********* when we were over there.

Before I went over my Grandma said it was a horrible place. I said it can't be any more, besides you haven't been there in over 60 years

Grandma was never wrong...
 
My wife and I have often visited Paris and other French cities. Paris is a major tourist city. The waiters there put up with a large number of rude tourists. The Germans and Swiss can be particularly obnoxious and being rude becomes a game with the French waiters. I never had a problem if I was polite and remembered to say "Bon Jour" and "Parley vous Anglais?" If you plop down and say "I need an English menu" they will treat you rudely because you are being rude.
 
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Birdgun said:
I am sorry to hear that so many have had bad experiences in Paris.

I have been to Paris three times: 1987, 2018, 2022.

The first time I was in Paris in '87, when I was stationed in W. Germany (my third tour). My wife and I were having dinner in a nice restaurant with my cousin and her Parisian husband. The waiter was quite rude to me but my cousin's husband spoke a few words to the waiter in French and, for some reason, from then on the waiter was very polite.

Our visits to Paris in 2018 & 2022 were without any negative incidents. Everyone we encountered were polite and helpful. Even in 2022 when the two pretty young ladies on the Metro (subway) who asked me for directions were very nice. I asked Bernie if he could help them and the two pretty women immediately exited the train at the next stop. Linda was setting near me and told me, "Those two gals were going to try and pick-pocket you!"

Again, my wife and I have had great times in Paris. In 2018 we were there for Bastille Day and the French winning the World Cup (soccer). The World Cup victory celebration was wild! We got down on the street right after the soccer game win to experience the revelry. My wife said she'd never been kissed on her face by so many young men!
It was a celebration!
xwsWbJO.jpg


CnSZxpI.jpg


Hvfr4QZ.jpg


Bastille Day was another great memory. We got to see some of the parades but the most memorable was the Fly Overs. I found it somewhat amusing when the first fly over came, streaming the tri-colors.
Note the three planes that were supposed to be trailing the blue color. I bet someone got a royal butt chewing!
Oops!
p5AKJZ7.jpg


Later that night on Bastille Day, Bernie, Linda, my wife and I had dinner on the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower. The food was very good but the fireworks were spectacular.
I about wore out my camera!
aE8D4ev.jpg


lwizFIr.jpg


LMXZgws.jpg


I love Paris. Vive la France!

God bless,
Birdgun
Click to expand...

We did a River cruise in 2023 from Paris to Normandy and Omaha beach. Started in Paris, pre cruise, stopped along the way to Normandy, and finished up back in Paris.
You are correct, if one utters one or two French words like we did, please and thank you, they treat you right.
Same with Italy, make an attempt, they smile.
It’s their country after all.
 
Heinz, I agree. Our friends told us to first say "Bon Jour." It is considered very rude to not say "Bon Jour" when you first start talking to someone. That and a smile seemed to work for me.

However, I actually think why things went so well with me is due to my dashing good looks and magnetic personality......yeah, that must be it.
;-))
It can be a burden at times, having to fight off the French women. I was successful for the most part.
Across from our hotel, this young woman kept selling me bread, cheese, and wine. I know she was trying to win my favors. ;-))
nZfsmsT.jpg


God bless,
Birdgun
 
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ladder13 said:
We did a River cruise in 2023 from Paris to Normandy and Omaha beach. Started in Paris, pre cruise, stopped along the way to Normandy, and finished up back in Paris.
You are correct, if one utters one or two French words like we did, please and thank you, they treat you right.
Click to expand...

The closest I ever got to France was northern Quebec. I could speak some passable French and it seemed to be appreciated by the local people. Perfection was needed less than the effort to speak the language.
 
I went on a family vacation to Europe with my family in 1980, as a teenager. We were with a tour group composed of people from former British colonies (Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Jersey islands, and the US). We were the only Americans. While in France, we stayed in Beaune, in the winemaking region. I walked around the downtown area, and found what I would consider a "general store". I went inside and a woman, probably in her early 40s, greeted me. "Bonjour". I replied "Bonjour, tourist, American", because I didn't speak French. She came quickly from behind the counter toward me. I admit I was surprised. She grabbed me in a bear hug, kissed me on both cheeks, and I think squeezed my butt and winked. Then she pulled out some pictures. In them was one with Nazi flags in the town. Then there was one without the Nazi flags. Then one, where there was a small girl with American GIs. She pointed at it, then herself. I nodded that I understood. Then she pointed to the GIs and said "Je vous aime Americain" or similar, which means "I love Americans" I think. She held my hand and gave me a tour of the shop. I bought some candy, postcards, and a few other small things. She hugged me, kissed me on the cheeks again, and a small peck on the lips, and said "Au revoir'. I went back to the hotel and told my parents of the experience, to their amusement.

Overall, I found the small town / rural inhabitants of France a lot nicer than the city dwellers. That was also true in the other European countries. And it held true in Panama when I deployed there in 1991.
 
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