It isn't true that french people is unpleasent. I've been in Paris three times and I found many kind and comprehensive people every time. Often they help you if they see you in troubles with a map. But what I noticed is that they hate to be shot by videocamera, even if accidentally, so be careful.

"Le systeme D" is important in French culture. D stands for "demerder," or to pull one's self from the shit. Essentially, under Systeme D, you can do whatever it takes to get yourself through a tough spot. This means tricking bureaucrats, going the wrong way on a one-way street, lying, breaking rules--whatever. Remember this when you need to process government paperwork. In France, Systeme D is how things are done, from the President on down. It's not Germany, or even America, where the rules are clear and made to be followed. After five or six different Republics, the French know that rules change all the time, so don't get wrapped up in them--take care of yourself.

A friend of mine once told me she dreamed of visiting Paris, but wouldn't dare speak French, for fear of insulting them. I reprimanded her--it's not like that. The French love their language and prefer to speak in it at all times. To understand why the French bristle at speaking English and hate to hear mistake in French, one must understand the education system. Kids are made to fear mistakes and are ridiculed. The way of teaching language is rigid and fear-mongering. So when they are faced with speaking English, most Parisians are stressed out, remembering school. Try your French skills, and you'll show that you understand, and get a much better reception.

If being dramatic, chatty, and interesting doesn't work, don't forget being snotty. Remember, this is what they're good at, and appreciate. Once, when at Galerie Lafayette, a counter clerk was being surly and brusk with me. I simply started telling my companion loudly in French, "You know, it's shocking. In America, we were told that the French have so much better service, and were so much more efficient. But I'm disappointed--the staff here is really uncultured and incompetent. I thought you had better service that we." When she returned, I got smiles an extra receipt and directions to my next destination. Fight fire with fire.

Tourists commonly return from Paris spouting some story about how they were mistreated, ignored, or otherwised denied service in some establishment. Besides the typical language barrier, people don't understand how things happen in Paris. When trying to get help from indifferent staff, be as dramatic and theatrical as possible, without being irritating. Take your time--explain the whole story of how you kitten died, your boss is furious, and how you are so impressed with how knowledgeable all the Parisians are. Flatter. Cajole. Be thespian. This is the country that idolizes dramatists and poets, so make it good. If you make someone's day interesting, you'll likely get them to work on your problem

If you plan on dining out in Paris, don't make the mistake of rushing down too early for dinner, or you may find the whole experience rather lacking. If you go looking for a restaurant before 9pm, you will only find yourself seated with a bunch of other tourists, and it will be all too apparent that you are not a local. Instead, wait until later, and enjoy a proper meal - Paris style. Get a table at nine o'clock, and relax in the knowledge that you won't be chased out of the building an hour later. In Paris, when you come to eat, you're there for the evening, so don't rush. It always amazes me how busy the restaurants are at midnight, and how empty they were at 6pm.

In Paris, the parisian people have a "famous" sentence : Metro, boulot, dodo = Metro, job, bed. A lot of them live in the suburds and they have only time to take metro, work and come back to sleep ;-))

If you wish to make shopping in great Department Stores in Paris, such as Galeries Lafayette, Le Printemps...for your information, these Stores are open until 10pm each Thursday.

When shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables in Paris, don't touch the fruit to choose the best ones. Indicate which fruit you would like and the shopkeeper will choose the best ones for you.