Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'People might treat us differently': Trump era leaves US tourists in Paris feeling shame
BBC News ^ | April 12, 2025 | By Andrew Harding

Posted on 04/12/2025 6:35:28 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last
To: Oldeconomybuyer

Paris will always be a spot for anti-American and anti-tourist attitudes.

Try Lyon or Toulon or Alsace, anywhere else. The French outside of Paris are lovely people.


41 posted on 04/12/2025 7:10:06 AM PDT by OpusatFR
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: virgil

Well they do treat the Germans nicely. They even lined the streets with trees so the German soldiers did not have to march in the sun.


42 posted on 04/12/2025 7:10:21 AM PDT by Mouton (There is a new sheriff and deputy in town now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

And like I care, I care as much as I do how Whoopi feels.


43 posted on 04/12/2025 7:11:17 AM PDT by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
I've not been to Paris, but I have been to small towns in France (and many other countries in Europe). I've found that if you interact with locals respectfully and don't expect them to know English, they are very gracious. They love it when you make an attempt to speak their language. One of my favorite memories years ago was going to a tiny French town knowing only five words in French. I wanted to find a local beer there so went in a small bar with an older woman bartending. I smiled and quietly asked “Beer do France?” like Tour du France and she couldn't have been any sweeter to me.

So many Americans travel expecting locals to know English and they are loud and obnoxious. Locals are usually kind, appreciate people caring about their country and wanting to see their way of life.

Like so much of life, you find what you're looking for.

44 posted on 04/12/2025 7:11:36 AM PDT by Heartland Mom (You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: virgil

Visited Paris in 2000.....had no problems with anyone. I knew a little French and could say hello, thank you, good bye, etc. They seem to appreciate you trying.


45 posted on 04/12/2025 7:13:10 AM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This “story” is pure propaganda by the virulently anti-Trump BBC.


46 posted on 04/12/2025 7:14:40 AM PDT by phil00071
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: virgil

Exactly. This is nothing new. When I was in Paris in 1976 with my sister and her French husband, there were times they told me not to speak (English).


47 posted on 04/12/2025 7:15:00 AM PDT by goodnesswins (Democracy to Democrats is stealing other peoples money for their use, no matter how idiotic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
We were in Portugal this time last year. We hired a driver for a part of our trip and got to know him fairly well. We asked him about various nationalities he escorted, he was complimentary of most with the exception of Parisians ... not French in general but Parisians specifically.
Visited Paris on different occasions over the years and really didn't feel any animosity.
One thing that struck me as interesting is how Canadians travelling in Europe slap Canadian flags on back packs, suitcases, etc... don't want to be mistaken for Americans. They've been doing this for decades.
48 posted on 04/12/2025 7:16:06 AM PDT by BluH2o
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FamiliarFace

Agreed. Before traveling to another country, I’ve learned how to say, in that country’s native language, “I’m very sorry, but I cannot speak (insert language here). Do you speak English?” That simple phrase has made travel much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. I’ve even been treated well by the French!


49 posted on 04/12/2025 7:17:03 AM PDT by drwoof
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Jim Noble

My daughter speaks fluent French and even teaches it as a high school teacher, she has been to France several times and lived there for some nine months while attending the University of Bordeaux. She has never had a problem there.


50 posted on 04/12/2025 7:17:35 AM PDT by Inyo-Mono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Looks like BBC is still mad about the huge hole in their budget from USAID money being cut off.


51 posted on 04/12/2025 7:17:48 AM PDT by Cincinnatus.45-70 (What do DemocRats enjoy more than a truckload of dead babies? Unloading them with a pitchfork!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

these people are no different than that suck ass fellow employee who changes depending on who is in the room... treat them as such and go on about your business.


52 posted on 04/12/2025 7:21:33 AM PDT by sit-rep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I suspect these people were already ashamed of being American, before they went to Paris.
Nowhere in the article does it say that the French treated them differently.

For the record, the French aren’t particularly warm, cheerful and friendly to ANYONE.


53 posted on 04/12/2025 7:24:48 AM PDT by I want the USA back (America is once again GREAT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
This certainly ain't new. How many stories have we heard over the years like this? "Claim you are Canadian, not American" so euroweenies won't spit on you.

It was certainly an issue in 1964 when my dad was assigned to a base in France while in the Air Force. The frogs hated us but loved our dollars.

54 posted on 04/12/2025 7:24:53 AM PDT by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

In 1998 (when Clinton) was president, I got the same advice about going to Paris with my 16-year-old son. Multiple people told us to wear Canadian pins and to not indicate in any way that we were Americans. We did not do that and were treated well. I had four years of French in high school (by then very rusty), and I used it when I could, but if I was trying to communicate anything the least bit complicated, the French person would switch over to English. Waiters were nice to us. Twice they upgraded our seats (once at a Moliere play and once at the Folies Bergere theatre).


55 posted on 04/12/2025 7:25:56 AM PDT by Kipp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

the French have always turned a nose up toward Americans so what they gonna do...turn it up farther?


56 posted on 04/12/2025 7:26:18 AM PDT by Qwapisking ("The left will rue the day they cheated Trump out of the 2020 election forever" L.Star )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

“I’m disappointed in our country. We are upset about the tariffs,” she explained.


Besides asking, “Who did you vote for, Babs?”, I’d also like to know why you are upset with the tariffs. I can understand why the French might be, but why are you?


57 posted on 04/12/2025 7:30:44 AM PDT by hanamizu ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio

Fedora.

All men look good


58 posted on 04/12/2025 7:31:56 AM PDT by Chickensoup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I know a person who returned from a trip there a few months ago. Said it was dirty.

EU should be ashamed of what has happened to their countries.
Who wants to visit a nation without free speech that is becoming part of a caliphate?


59 posted on 04/12/2025 7:35:51 AM PDT by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Before leaving his hotel, he’d taken a small piece of black tape and covered up the Stars and Stripes flag on the corner of his baseball cap.”

Because he can afford Paris but not a new ball cap?
Because he is too dumb to know an old man wearing a ball cap in Paris shouts “American”?
Because a piece of tap on a ball cap is high fashion?
Because he is actually signaling that he wants Paris to know he is embarrassed to be an American?

I traveled the world for 20 years on business. Europeans love to discuss US politics. Russians despised Obama even though he was Putin’s boy toy but I would not trash him. I told them to visit me in the US if they wanted to discuss Obama. I was in the middle with of nowhere England, went to a local pub with a customer the week after Trumps first election, was asked rather loudly and sourly what I thought of my new president. I replied that I was as thrilled and asked what they (he and his wife) thought. He jumped and up and screamed “about damn time!”. We started eating and drinking at noon and didn’t leave until 7. The next whole pub celebrated with me.


60 posted on 04/12/2025 7:36:45 AM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson