Top 10 Complaints or Clichés in the City of Lights

By: Melissa Ladd

Complaint : Le service is nul.
Yes, it can be. I have been a victem of it many a time. I have tried, asking nicely for better service, I have tried indicating my lack of time in advance...I have even rebelled against it in the most ungraceful of ways. No matter. The service may improve for the span of a lunch, or if you make like you are about to actually purchase an expensive item, but you'll always find it lacking a meal out in the near future, or another quick spin in a boutique. It is a part of the scenery here but must be an acquired taste no doubt. And it has occured to me, after all these years, that the best defense, is to just deal with it, in an un-phased très Parisian attitude, even if it makes you late. Besides, everyone in this city is always late. And then, when the service is wonderful, you'llbe pleasantly surprised !

Cliché : La Tour Eiffel !
A romantic glance or picture against the backdrop of the sparkling Eiffel tower ! Some Parisians hate the Eiffel tower. But my best friend loves it. And she is Parisian. Moi ? No, I never get sick of watching that thing sparkle. Ever. I have been here over 10 years now, and I still stop in my tracks, even if it's just for a few moments, to watch the Dame de Paris light up in the night. I mean really, we have a dazzling tower that twinkles in our city ! Who else can say that !!!

Complaint : Rudeness in the metro.
Yes, and it smells. You'd be pushy too, to get in and out as fast as possible, if you had to commute on it twice a day. 'Nuff said.

Cliché : Those pretty pastries. Namely... macarons.
Are you sick of hearing about Paris and macarons ? I'm not. Have you tasted them ? Just try one. Then, you won't mind hearing about them daily. Go on, and I bet you'll intragram pictures immediately !

Complaint : The paperwork.
It is a rite of passage. Raise your hand if you agree. Perhaps even a kind of sorting process. « You sure you want to be here that bad ???  Well here, navigate the administrative process, and then we'll see if you've got what it takes to live in Paris ». And once you have made that happen, it's not over... Did you know that in order to get your retirement in France, you need to keep all your pay stubs ? Yep, that's 40 years of pay stubs. Not kidding. Do you know how to say « fire-proof safe » in French ?

Cliché : The French are fashionable.
It's true, usually. Even in the chicest American shopping mall, I think you'll find Parisians are more chic just hanging out in some dive bar in the Marais. Let's just agree that it's part of their DNA. And my advice for adopting some of that French chicness ? Don't over-do it on the accessories and wear great shoes !

Complaint : Paris is over-priced.
Oui. Not going to argue that one. I would say that it is a question of supply and demand. Paris is small, and is the most visited city in the world. Yep ! So naturally, when the demand grows so does the price, and our buying power shrinks. Also, there is a crisis going on, which although it has not yet affected the luxury, aerospace, or eco-environment industries, nor has it put a dent yet in Paris real-estate prices... Parisians too feel the sting of the crisis.

Cliché : The bike, the baguette and the bichon frisé.
Sure....Um hmm. In Paris we have all the time in the world to go from point A to point B on a cute city bike (in heels and a skirt, or a suit and tie), without getting a single wrinkle on our impeccably chic outfit, we don't prespire either of course, we all carry our darling little dog in a Hermès bag and purchase our baguette on the way home which we place in the basket of said bike along with the puppy. It paints a nice picture, but uuuuh, remeber the previously mentioned...Métro ??? Yeah. Voilà.

Complaint : Parisians are snobs.
No, I wouldn't say snob... I would say socially chic. Can we coin that term please ? Socially chic, meaning... there is a barrier between us and them, until they know you.

Cliché : Le temps de vivre.
That moment when you are sitting on a café terrace, with a stream of sunlight warming you as you watch the pedestrians pass by, lounging for an hour or two over coffee or wine... Yes, Parisians do this too (preferably on Sundays). So go ahead, indulge !