Great American Grump Out Day 2024 is on Tuesday, May 7, 2024: `Momentary Hates and Miscellaneous Grumps`guess what? - a Spontane! :D would you c-c please?

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 is Great American Grump Out Day 2024. The Great American Grump out•The Deluded DivaThe Deluded Diva Great American Grump Out.”

Don't cha just love them Americans Lapiz? I know I do. Good morning to you. It's only natural we have gripes sometimes and it's better out than in girl - yes?

What holiday are you celebrating today?

cinco de mayo

Won a trip to paris in a couple of months, are the French people rude or is that just a stereotype?

It is a stereotype.

There are rude people all over the world, but the majority of French people are no ruder than other nationalities. They just have a different way of approaching people they do not know: they think being familiar is lacking respect so they are much more reserved and less outgoing than Americans. They do not grin or even smile at strangers, and they would not dream of forcing information about themselves on people they have just met.

The problem with some tourists is that they behave as if they owned the place, expect everyone they meet to know English and do not bother to even learn "Bonjour " and "Merci" which everyone there says wherever they go and whoever they approach, even to the assistant who sells a burger at Mac Donald's. They will accost someone indiscriminately asking directions but will not consider that this person may be in a hurry, on their way to an appointment or to work so that they have not got the time to chat at great length, and may be curt in their answer.

In Paris the mayor has appealed to Parisians to be tolerant of tourists and to be more effusive towards them and, since then, many have made an effort to be more accommodating. The "grumps" are the taxi drivers who live on their nerves all day and are curt to the degree of rudeness, and some waiters who get impatient when they have to serve twenty tables and some people cannot make their mind up because they know no French at all and do not bother even to carry a small pocket dictionary to understand basics.

If people are courteous in their approach, they will be treated in kind, but if they are rude, overbearing, and assume that everyone is at their beck and call, they will get the cold shoulder. Likewise in shops they will be given a hard look if they pull everything off the shelves or touch everything when they clearly have no real intension of buying anything.

As for the centre of Paris, it is magnificent. The architecture is varied. Some buildings are very old, others are very modern, but few lack style. The town has spent a great deal to clean buildings that were drab and grey in the post war era. There is something to please every taste, tons of art and artifacts, elegant boulevards, beautiful gardens and large open spaces. Streets are clean and rubbish cleared daily. And yes, it is a fun city, with splendid and spectacular shows. There are nightclubs, bars, and entertainment of every kind.

It is the most visited city in the world for a good reason: it really is exceptional.

If you are there for several days, do not miss the Palace at Versailles, half an hour by train in the outskirts of Paris: It is a marvel and one of the world wonders.

Lucky you to win this trip. I hope you enjoy every minute!