Life Lessons …

So, what are some of my more novel takeaways from this trip?

My favourite word in the world is now ‘Bonjour’. Everyone greets you with it, even Lycra-clad cyclists! But it’s more than just a word - it’s the way it’s spoken. It always feels genuine and warm … almost sung rather than spoken. ‘Bonjour!’

French drivers are very courteous. There seems to be a culture of respecting cyclists here, and it’s been wonderful.

The French respect history. It's old. The investment in restoring and maintaining heritage buildings is significant. Perhaps the French take the beauty of their architectural wonders for granted, but for visitors, they are priceless and leave you in awe.

The French seem to work to live rather than live to work. In the early days, travelling through regional areas, I was perplexed by how many shops were closed or had limited hours. In part, this is because we’re now at the end of the tourist season, but mostly it felt like many smaller retailers just did what they needed to do to maintain the lifestyle they wanted, not what was expected. This was different from the larger cities, were, as in all cities, we’ve forgotten what’s important in life. I came to appreciate this less hectic way of life.

An important, if unusual, observation—never, ever wave or signal to get a French waiter’s attention. You’ll be the last served, if at all. Just wait, smile, and they’ll eventually get to you.