Paris: From Myth to Reality...

Everybody thinks that Paris is a wonderful place, but we are going to show you some aspects of the city that people hardly ever imagine...

 Paris may be known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but there are  lots of downsides here too. Only a few districts have a good reputation,  and most others have a bad one. The subway stinks: it's dirty and crowdy inside and Parisians are always in a hurry and don’t want to help you when you need it... Parisians are not polite: they don’t apologize when they push someone and when you ask your way they often give you the wrong direction! When they have a dog, they don’t even clean their droppings, they just ignore the fact that their dog has had a poo and they run away. There’s too much pollution, noise, pigeon droppings and dog dirts!!!

But more than mere derogatory impressions, Paris is such a source of disillusion that it led to a real psychoanalytical illness.

The "Paris Syndrome" is a psychological disorder encountered by some people visiting Paris. It was first identified by a Japanese professor who discovered that when Japanese tourists arrive in Paris, they have the idea that Paris is the most beautiful city in the World, in fact, it is partly true, but from myth to reality, there is a BIG difference. When they arrive at the airport, they have to take the RER B, they have to go through the northern suburbs of Paris which are known for being poor and sometimes dangerous areas. Then they have to take the subway, and there’s no coach with a handsome Parisian who is going to take you out for dinner with beautiful words and wonderful roses. When they are in the subway, they just don’t know where to go and when they want to ask their way, the Parisians don’t listen to them and go back to their sudoku!

When you know you’re going to visit Paris, don’t be excited because when you’ll be there, you might  be disappointed, maybe it’s not as beautiful as you thought it would be in the first place.

Jessica, Bani and Nelly