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Richard Turen
This was our annual vacation. We’ll spend several days in off-the-beaten-path Paris, then continue to the Luberon for several nights in the painted “most beautiful village in France,” then cruise the Rhône River from Avignon to Lyon with Amwaterways for a week. .
My wife Angela was looking forward to this “love” trip, and my daughter Bree was looking forward to starting her summer vacation. It was a family reunion in France – with 33 of our clients.
On the left bank from our home-away-from-home, the Hotel Esprit Saint Germain, modern and intimate, had a cozy lounge on one side of the entrance and a library on the other side with an open bar. My favorite thing about the hotel was the mysterious neighborhood around it. We loved walking down the street in the evening as the outdoor cafes began to fill up with locals and the gardens, sadly, ran out of the day’s supply of fresh bagels. Bookstores always seem to be packed, and I noticed that the French like to enjoy an ice cream before dinner, because dinner starts before 9pm and the streets are hot in the June sun.
Allow me to share a few things that I think would be useful to know about France:
• The most important thing to know about visiting France is that “Bonjour” is more than a greeting. It’s the kind of entry that should be taken seriously as a guest. To meet a French person and not say “bonjour” is to instantly identify yourself as just another rude American. When a person enters a cafe or meets a shop assistant, immediately “Bonjour” ensures that they know the first French rule of interaction.
• The French don’t smile as much as we would like them to. It should be noted that the word “imbecile” is French and is often used to describe someone who smiles for no reason. But don’t mistake the lack of a smile as a sign that the French are unhappy. Note an important fact about the French: 95% of them eat freshly baked bread every day.
• Some of us might think that the United States, given its size and diversity, is the most visited place on this small planet. We were wrong. In the year France hosted more than 90 million international visitors in style in 2019.
• Taking care of this large number of annual visitors is a challenge. But those of us in tourism should note that 99.9% of businesses in France have fewer than 250 employees. So, when it comes to private travel, hospitality and special events, the country is full of small firms that are dedicated to personalized and unique travel experiences.
• The French “obsession with food” is real. A recent survey found that 93% of the population identified food as representing a “primary place” in their lives. According to a fascinating report from a famous French university, the French start salivating about half an hour before lunch or dinner. Eating brings emotional and physical pleasure. And that joy comes twice every day!
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