It seems every American tourist has a horror story about
visiting France. Mine goes like this: A
crappy bike broke down two kilometers after I rented it. When I tried explain that the axle was horribly rusty,
a heated dispute arose with myself and the shady manager of the rental
kiosk. Finally, a gendarme was
called. A decision was made. There is now a lifetime ban on DUNER ever
returning to the picturesque riverfront city of Blois.
Well…those days are over!
At least, that’s what new French Tourism Minister Sylvia Pinel
says. Since the socialists took over
last year, there is a nouveau attitude in Paris. This means lots of fresh programs aimed at
changing vague things like the ‘national psyche.’ For example, Mamoiselle Pinel is extremely proud
of her latest such promotion. It’s a
twenty-page pamphlet titled: “Do You Speak Touristé?” It is designed to help
Parisians “break language barriers” and help wealthy tourists around town. It
has simple, helpful phrases in six languages. It also has a section devoted to the subject
of traditional French egalité…and how it needs to be toned down a bit.Sylvie Pinel means business! |
We here at the DUNER BLOG applaud Sylvie Pinel and her
wonderful goal of humanizing the French.
However, we know that there is still a long road ahead. There are many other cherished national
traditions (aside from being rude in the street) that also need to be
examined. For example, it’s hard to shop
when the stores are closed during a three-hour lunch break. On Sundays, the French like to spend the
afternoon burning tires and blocking main roads over a labor dispute. And…of course…The French love to charge way too much to rent an old
bike to a college kid on summer vacation in France. Bon chance, Sylvie!
NOTE: We like Sylvie Pinel’s goal to encourage visitors to
see some of France’s wonders outside of the capital. Here are three amazing places that are a
two hour train ride from Paris:MONT SAINT MICHEL. At high tide, it's a island. But at low tide, the road opens up and you can access the castle. It might look familiar to film buffs as it was the inspiration for Minas Tirith Castle in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It also appeared in the film The Spy Who Came In From the Cold.
CHENONCEAUX. Everyone loves this castle...because it was built across a river! You walk in the front door, glance out the window at the water, then exit onto the vineyards on the other side. It also has a topiary garden for the kids.
CHAMBORD. The inspiration for the famous liquor is perhaps France's most famous chateaux. Visited by everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Louis XIV, it claims to have the most chimneys of any building on earth: 282 in total. During World War II, the Mona Lisa was hidden in one to escape Nazi capture.
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