IT’S very difficult to understand the French. Pardon my French. In actuality, I really don't know French or the French.
I do know that every time I get the opportunity to visit France, supposedly my sixth this time, I have always wanted to avoid going here. In two occasions, I successfully avoided it.
Allow me to just relate my experience too with the French are also not as memorable, almost forgettable.
I say this again with some bias, I have not wanted to stay here in France for a longer time. Two days at most, just overnight. It is only now that we get to extend. Three nights, four days for two rooms for 200 Euros only! That's the only reason.
I will always want to leave soonest. Normally, just to transit to another country, maybe visit Paris and Versailles or those near the borders to Germany and Switzerland, where my bias is preferred. This is the most.
My judgment is really just based on short term experience. Just like Italy, I dread staying too for any more than a day, a day trip only it should be and also transiting to another country.
For the first time, we will be looking forward to some sightseeing in the region of Normandie, I hear it is beautiful. I write this on the train trip heading there. It is a beautiful place called Saint Michel.
We never made it there. We ended up in a place recommended us by the train company. We are lost. We made previous plans and researched. It's just unfortunate that we were asked not to follow up on previous plans.
Upon reaching the station, we were told that there are no available trips to the destination until the next day. We are stranded. It took us three hours getting here. We are at a loss. Lost!
We walk towards town. It was beautiful. Our first in the French countryside. Definitely, a first in the Normandy Region. Only in the war movies do I know of the place, or heard of it.
The air was indeed different, the air literally, it was of the sea. Some smell of seafood too. It was nice. Nice by Côte d Azur was the closest to smelling the sea of the French. It did not smell this good and this fresh. Too many tourists.
The French here were kind, the way I like it. They were friendly too. Normally they won't be especially to those who don't speak the language. We always seem to say "Gratzie". Funny but we are not used to saying "Thanks" to the French, we are seldom treated nicely. French air, really. That's just normal.
We were lost. We wandered off too far. We failed to research about this new place. It was so frustrating. Some added stress from our present situation. Our dream of wanting to go Saint Michel once more shattered. It will elude us again. This may be a last for us for France.
This was until we wandered further to town. We found the Tourism Office. It is always gloomy, cloudy and dark in Normandy. Then we were convinced to stay instead.
It soon became brighter, literally! The sun came out to shine. The place then became beautiful. A map was given and places to see were offered. We soon learned that Christian Dior hails from here and grew up here.
French air is really there for a reason. Perfume is very French. For some reason I get it why there is perfume. The scent in the trains and in the streets is something we are just not used to. We bathe everyday, not here. Rooms don't even offer a bath. Know you know.
It is now very different, the air that is. It smells better. We are happy. French air is now a breath of fresh air. We will surely be back for the next. We hope to get lost and wander off again. Merci!
