Vacationing In The City Of Light And Romance

As the City of Light and City of Romance Paris is the ideal vacation spot for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. When thinking of tourist attractions in this city the first few options that immediately come to mind are the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

While these historical buildings are magnificent, there is so much more to see and discover in Paris. Paris has been the start of many happy relationships and enlightened learning.

The name "City of Light" comes from the French phrase "Ville Lumiere" which stems from several different sources. The first is the reference to when the electrical street lighting system was first installed.

As the enlightenment era progressed, this phrase also came to refer to the light of knowledge that penetrated the city. The Eiffel's tower, the first Metro line, and many more parks were created at this time.

As previously mentioned, tourists come in droves of hundreds of thousands to visit Paris yearly for vacation and study abroad programs. This makes Paris a very multi-cultural city.

Paris has been known as one of the cities with most opportunity for a multi-cultural experience since the late 1970s. France had an influx of immigrants in the early 1970s.

These immigrants mainly came from French-speaking countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and certain parts of Africa. Statistics have shown that Paris is home to more peoples of different origins than New York.

Rich cultures, foods, and music also immigrated with these people. The opportunity to experience all of these different cultures in one place is part of what make Paris an attractive vacation location.

When traveling to Paris, keep in mind that it is a large city and has many of the resulting city personalities. Paris is a very fast-paced, busy city.

There are also many beggars and salesmen causing the people to be suspicious of anyone who stops them in the street. When you arrive in Paris and are looking for directions, keep this in mind if no one will spare enough time to tell you where to go.

Paris has long been a city of culture, the rich, and the important. Due to these characteristics, Parisians have developed a reputation of arrogance.


However, these people are also very particular about good manners and politeness. It is important to be polite even if you do not understand the language, are lost, or simply frustrated.

Think about picking up a few French words before arriving in France. A few simple words can help you be polite and navigate your way around the city with ease.
A cheerful greeting English or your native language is often recognized due to the multi-cultural personality of Paris. Parisians are much more likely to respond to your questions when you are friendly and polite.

Going hand in hand with politeness, Parisians expect foreigners to talk in a normal voice. Many foreign countries believe Americans are very loud in nature.
This is something they look down on, even if you are trying to catch up with someone in the train station. Speaking too loudly is equivalent to being rude in their book.

Most people will associate speaking too loudly as an American habit and will not say anything. They are also less likely to give you help when you need it.
The French are required to learn English in school. This can help you out if you do not know the French language when traveling there.

However, you will have to speak slowly and clearly because many people will not be fluent. Learning English for them is like being required to learn Spanish in school for Americans.

We do not become fluent through speaking Spanish in high school. Another complication is that the French learn English as spoken in Britain, and so they are used to a British accent.

Younger people are more likely to know more English than the older generation. No matter how frustrated you become with their English if they do not speak very well remember that you should never shout.

You are visiting their country, and technically you should be speaking French. Yelling is a good way for them to stop trying at all.

A vacation in Paris can be a richly rewarding experience with vast choices in style, activities, and cultures. It truly is a city of light and romance.