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Hello, we\\u2019re one week into the honeymoon season of The Earful Tower and my wife and I are currently in the small coastal village of Courcelles-sur-Mer in Normandy.

We\\u2019ve driven 400 kilometres on the scooter and we\\u2019ve seen a lot, staying in Chantilly, Pacy-sur-Eure, Bernay, and Saint Hymer before arriving on these northern beaches.

Here\\u2019s what we\\u2019ve learned so far about the French countryside and the French people living there (compared to Paris and the Parisians we\\u2019ve lived among for the past few years).

1. People are friendly

In fact, they\\u2019re very friendly. They\\u2019ve been going out of their way to be helpful too. Anyone who says that French people are all rude have clearly never travelled in the French countryside. We\'ve literally had someone running after us in the street to correct their travel directions.\\xa0

2. Waiters are slow, but they care

Parisian waiters are excellent and attentive. They get you in and out before you even know what\\u2019s happened. But it\'s not so in the countryside, where they take their time and help you pick what they consider to be the best food for you.

3. People aren\\u2019t obsessed with how they look

People in Paris wouldn\\u2019t be seen dead in their sports clothes outside the gym. They\\u2019re slim, chic, and always on trend. But it\'s not like that in the countryside. People don\\u2019t tend to put on airs, they\\u2019re simply themselves - and it\\u2019s sometimes quite refreshing.

4. There are many hidden gems

It\\u2019s amazing how many villages that are just a name on the map turn out to be outstandingly beautiful spots. Case in point: Bernay in Normandy. If you\\u2019re a Patreon supporter, go and watch our live walk through Bernay - it\\u2019s like a fairytale setting.\\xa0

5. There\\u2019s actually a lot of info in English

In Paris, you\\u2019d be lucky to find a tourist sign that\\u2019s translated in English, at least one with any interesting information. But not so in many countryside spots. Even small villages (like Bernay, for example) sometimes have translations for us English-speaking tourists about the history of buildings and so on.

6. There\\u2019s a list of the most beautiful villages

Here\\xa0the link to find the prettiest French villages, officially. Good to bookmark this page if you\\u2019re travelling too :) We checked out La Roche Guyon and it was fantastic (did a live Patreon walk there too!).

7. Things can be very pricey

Nine euros for ice cream in Chantilly, 20 euros for a cocktail in Deauville\\u2026 it\\u2019s not just Paris that\\u2019s expensive in France. Beware: Touristy traps come with the price tag. But don\'t worry, everything else is pretty cheap.\\xa0

8. People have more time for you

There\\u2019s simply a slower pace in the French countryside. We\\u2019ve ended up in conversations in bakeries and pharmacies with the other customers - something that rarely happens in Paris - if ever. And it\\u2019s been happening a lot.

9. People are proud of their villages

It\\u2019s very easy to see that French villagers love their villages. There are colourful flower displays on every corner, often no graffiti at all, and everything is exceptionally clean. People are proud of their homes - and it\\u2019s not always the same vibe in the French capital.

10. People don\\u2019t switch to English (even if they can)

In Paris, you may have tried to speak French with a waiter only to hear them respond in English. It can be frustrating at best. But in the countryside, people are very encouraging and patient, and happy to help you along with your French - even if it\\u2019s not perfect.

That\\u2019s it for now - we\\u2019ve got a lot more road to travel.\\xa0

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