Letters to the Editor
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Did I have an American Flag stamped on my face?
Here's a short version of a trip of disillusion:
Frigid temperatures, thin walls, damp blisters, transportation strikes, being hungry but not able to communicate properly what you need, being told you could not get in for dinner with a smirk, "Maybe at midnight", lines that snake around, lost luggage, price fluctuation, broken plumbing, soiled mattresses.
I just wanted to meet the locals, learn more about the culture and explore the area, but was treated like a intruder. In Paris, it was very clear that we were unwanted and unwelcome. Yet, we had this Amelie idea, one of romance and ambiance. Without the art, the trip would have been devastating.
The excrement in the streets and the occasional rude "service person" can be overlooked but the hostility from people was impossible. It was regrettable but not forgettable.