Talk to the old people! by lalainparis
In general, it is not easy to meet people in Paris. People in Paris, like people in any big city, tend to be in a bit of a rush. Here's the tip: if you can speak French, you should definitely try to start a conversation with the OLDER people you might run into in a boulangerie, cafe, or park. They are a wealth of information of about the history of Paris and tend to have more time to talk than the younger people (who are busy pursuing their careers, caring for their children, or hanging out with their friends). In the last two days, I've had long conversations with two wonderful older Parisians - a man and a woman. (One conversation started when he offered to help me find my way, the other when she mentioned that she was looking for particular type of veal at the supermarket. )The man turned out to be a French teacher and offered me a few grammar tips. We discussed literature and travel and all sorts of topics. The woman and I discussed the cuisine of France, Salvador Dali's art, the Elgin Marbles, and the placement of the Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre. And she talked a bit about the French occupation which she had actually lived through. Don't worry if your French isn't perfect, as long as you can understand French fairly well you will learn a lot.
