[TWfromTEXAS]

As a tourist, I've also found the French to be quite friendly and helpful if you make even a small effort to speak French.

Odd. I have listened to my well traveled parents talk about this many times. My dad has lived in Canada, Holland, Scotland, Germany and South Africa. Mom in Germany and South Africa. In the 70's and early 80's before I came along they traveled to Europe many times, mostly with two other couples. Among them they speak good Spanish and German, and OK Italian and French. Mom has been told in Austria and Germany that her grammar is better than many Germans. They are all low key, college educated, well mannered people.

They say only in Paris have they been ill treated and had locals act as if they could not understand a word of their French. OH and one of the men, while English, grew up in Quebec.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

They say only in Paris have they been ill treated and had locals act as if they could not understand a word of their French.

I've heard - even from other Frenchmen - that Parisians are a breed apart and arrogant even by French standards. Personally I've had pretty good experiences in Paris - I typically find Germans far more rude :).