“That’s not what places of worship are about,” said one, who was mollified, but not entirely, by the fact that most British museums are free, including the British Museum. I pointed out that entry to the Louvre is £14.75. “Ok,” she said, “but it’s one of the world’s greatest, and still cheaper than Canterbury cathedral.”
Fortunately, British theatre won over French theatre, said Countess de Vanssay, because it was witty and underplayed whereas the Parisian stage regularly overacted. Said Evelyne from Montpellier: “It’s Molière versus Shakespeare – and, even in France, most people know that the world would chuck Molière off a raft to save Shakespeare.”
Then there are the landscapes. One might have thought that France, being twice the size of the UK and full of mountains, rivers and lakes, had all the landscapes the French needed. Apparently not. Carole, from Normandy, was dithyrambic about the Lake District – “great walks, lovely stone walls and, as we walk, we meet only cool pleasant people appreciating the beauty.”
Breton Céline was similarly enthused by the Isle of Wight. The key thing, apparently, is to start with a roast lunch at the Taverners in Godshill and then roam either along the coast or inland for a “promenade digestive”.
I could go on. Asking French people what they like about Britain opens floodgates – and Brexit really doesn’t get in the way. Just a couple of things. Four, in truth. If we’d finally ditch feet and inches, stop putting milk in tea, improve the quality of coffee – and bin all cream crackers (a mystery to most French people), then scarcely anything would impede a truly cordiale entente.
Do you agree with the French views on our home country? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/britain-through-the-eyes-of-french-tourists/
Author :
Publish date : 2023-10-09 03:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.