I’ve heard that a lot. Been in Paris a couple days and I have noticed for the most part the locals are friendly/approachable, but the service people are largely very rude and aloof. I’m sure it’s at least partly because they’re sick of tourists and the culture clash but it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.
shareProbably.
shareThey pretend to not know english and tries to force you into speaking french.
shareYou get good and bad everywhere. I speak fluent French, so I don't normally have a problem when I'm there, however, there was one occasion when I gave an order to a waiter in French and he turned round and said in English, 'I did not understand a word of that' - obviously trying to be clever and attempting to make me look small in front of my companions (he wasn't trying to make a joke either; he was just being plain rude). Well, guess who didn't get a tip?
shareParisians can come off arrogant, like many big city types. Outside of Paris, you will find friendlier, more humble and hospitable people.
shareOui!
shareThey do have an attitude problem when people don't speak French well or at all. Otherwise, I think they're the same as any big city population.
I don't really go to restaurants or café's when abroad (too expensive and too little time). The folks at McDonald's seem to be the same as anywhere else.
Did you already visit Berlin, by the way? If you want a quick and cheap tour of the city, take line bus 100.
I think it's just the rich, snooty ones. Plus, it's Paris. I think most French are actually [like you said,] friendly and approachable. The problem is, visitors go to the expensive tourist destinations where most of the nice French don't live, and they keep running into those in the upper elite. The further out you go from the cities, the more likely you run into the nicer French folk.
shareNext time you come across one of the arrogant ones, just play them this: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUjGf2Grrus