When you don't feel the way you expected to feel in a city...

Oh, no say it isn't so!
First of all what a well written blog and even if you didn't enjoy Paris this time, the pictures are wonderful! We have been to a few places now that weren't quite what we expected. It seems to especially happen in places we have been before and had an excellent time in. As you say, perhaps if you spent longer or went a little slower. Or perhaps if you had of gone somewhere new.....Great blog anyway and it's nice to hear someone being honest about travel for a change. Sometimes it just isn't that great (but the pictures are nice!).

Quel domage!
What a pity you had a bad experience. . I have travelled in France to many different places and love the countryside having often just followed the brown tourist signs off the motorway also I have met some lovely French people. Parisians and those from Monaco have a reputation for being rather snooty! Sometimes places off the beaten tourist track give you a better feel than the " must see" places. Best wishes

Gorgeous photos as usual!
I loved this blog Jennifer. I agree with your point about expectations (I need to curb mine from time to time); but having said that, sometimes we just don't connect with a place for whatever unexplainable reason. Sorry to hear that this is your last stop on this trip - hoping to see you blogging about your thoughts on your next trip :)

Paris in Paris
Hello! I am so sorry for you that you didn't enjoy your visit to Paris. And I tell you, I do understand what you are on about! However. I have been living just outside the city of Paris now a good while, and there is the "real" Paris to be found, but unfortunately it's not where all the tourists are. ..or most of them.. Of course, people want to see the Tour Eiffel, Louvre, Notre Dame and so on. I have been visiting them dozens of times, because every time a friend comes over to see me, they naturally want to see the sights. But. If you get off the beaten track and the restaurants full of other foreigners, there is a really great city to be found. You do not get away from the traffic and cigarette smoke though.. And just outside the city, there are some amazing places to visit, and just a fraction of people. Chantilly is the place I recommend. A beautiful castle (probably recognized by many from being in the bond film "A view to kill") and its gardens and even more beautiful stables, with also a horse museum. Because Chantilly is populated by horsy gallop people, its international in a friendly way and most of the people do speak english, voluntarily. On the south side, is among other nice places Charters, beautiful cathedral, nice small town, the champagne country on the east side, the drive there through the pretty old villages and a couple of lakes, that's worth it. To summarize it; Paris can be extremely nice, but you would actually have some "local" to guide you, and not attempt to see all of it, especially within a limited time. France outside Paris is definitely worth experiencing, I highly recommend Normandie, Champagne, Bordeaux region, Lyon, Camargue and Nice. Hope you will be back someday, and find France that you like!