Bonjour!

Bonjour!

Judell Balaquit 

One of the most popular tourist destinations nowadays is France. A country situated in Western Europe, this is a very famous country, known for its reputation of having the capital dubbed the “City of Romance”. Although, that’s not the only thing worth seeing in this very beautiful country!

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is an amazingly beautiful building located in the Île-de-France region of France. Not only is the architecture well done, but the furniture, art, and other inside are also grand and incredibly dazzling. You will feel like a royal king or queen in your own beautiful palace.

Musee du Louvre

This tourist spot is very special, because not only is it a very beautiful historical monument, it is also the world’s largest art museum! As a central landmark of Paris, this structure itself is very grand and elegant. It contains nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century.

Carcassonne

This is a city with walls surrounding it, and it also has 52 towers. Not only is the city famous for its walls that make it look like a castle straight from a fairy tale book, it also has many different attractions inside of it!

Eiffel Tower

Of course, who could forget about this one? This is one of the most well-known structures of the whole world! Yes, the Eiffel Tower. A magnificent tower with bright lights that will sparkle when day time comes, and is a perfect destination for two lovers who really want to enjoy the essence of Paris, France. Then you’ll know why they call it the “City of Romance”!

DOS AND DON’TS

Don’t: 

1) Complain about how long it takes to get your cafe order.

French cafe culture is drastically different from the American coffee culture. Whereas in the US you grab your coffee and go, in France you must linger over your coffee, sit outside the cafe, watch people pass by, and enjoy the moment. Also realize that “coffee” in France has hundreds of variation, none of which are the kind of coffee you get at Dunkin.

3) Assume everyone speaks English.

Surprisingly, a lot of people in France do not speak English. Unless you are in a very famous tourist spot, you should always remember not to do this.

4) Wear shorts.

Although teens in France do wear shorts in the summer, sophisticated French women will either wear skirts, dresses, or lightweight long/capri pants. Short shorts are considered a bit crass, and some restaurants won’t let you enter their dinner service in such casual clothing.

5) Refer to superiors by their first name.

The French system is rather hierarchical, and students should refer to anyone older than them as madame or monsieur, or by their appropriate title. Never use the “tu” form of speech (the French equivalent of a casual “you”) – instead use the “vous” form in phrases such as “s’il vous plait”, “avez-vous…”, and “Je vouz remercie.”

Do:

1) Learn key French phrases.

When entering a store, always greet people with a “bonjour”, make sure to thank them with a “merci”, and always say some variation of “au revoir” on the way out. Politeness is incredibly important in France.

2) Dress well.

France is also known for being a very fashionable country. You don’t have to dress fancily, but do dress well. That means a clean pair of jeans, a cardigan, comfortable but well-maintained walking shoes, a classic dress. Classic style trumps the latest trends – so leave the sequins at home and bring your best basics.