Like - Lots and lots of pedestrian zones
Dislike - Inconsiderate people on scooters and bikes racing through crowded streets
Like - well behaved dogs in restaurants
Dislike - dog poop all over the sidewalks
Like - cheap efficient pubic transportation which allows us to easily wander within and between towns
Dislike - pushy, rude young people elbowing their way on and off trains and buses never considering to yield a seat to the elderly
Like - Farmers markets and flea markets
Dislike - scooters/bikes racing through the markets (yeah, even here)
Like - tipping and tax included in restaurant prices
Dislike - rising expectations of additional tips
Like - slowly becoming a cashless economy
Dislike - continuing expectation of cash by smaller businesses
Like - efforts to reduce single use plastic
Like - old churches
Like - the importance of good food and wine
I could go on and on. An overall theme, though is that the French, possibly more than any other Europeans, continue to believe that one should work to live and not live to work. When they strike (which is often) it usually has to do more with quality of life issues than money. The joy they find in slowly walking along the sidewalks with a friend or family member and then sitting at a café for an hour becomes contagious. We find ourselves slowing down to match their pace and that is probably the biggest reason we will continue to return. Bordeaux - we’ll see you next year!
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