Paradox: Big cities are friendly

Are large cities capable of being friendly?

I just spent a semester in Paris. There is a stereotype that the French are cold and arrogant. Well my experience in Paris unfortuneatly quite reinforces that myth. It’s really hard to get with the Parisiennes if you don’t know how to speak French. I even have friends who are French but don’t come from Paris, and even they say they do not like Parisiennes because they are so snobby!

Paris is a beautiful city, a city to be proud of for sure. No wonder the Parisiennes are so arrogant!

Dublin, on the contrary, is small and warm and friendly. Quite laid back, Dubliners treat you with a surprising closeness. We entered a convenience shop once, and were looking at the newspapers to find an ad for a room to rent. We asked the shopkeeper, and he helped us by showing us the right newspaper, then flipping through it to show us where the section was. 

In Paris, it seems like sometimes they do not want your money. I was in line to order the classic Berthillion ice cream in the heart of the city, and it seemed like I was only a bother to the waitress behind the ice cream bar. She would rather spend her time doing nothing and looking pretty. Parisiennes always look beautifully depressed and are ready to complain about anything and everything.

Maybe once upon a time, Paris was as warm as Dublin. Maybe it was a small city, where most people knew each other. Then it started to grow, and thrived. Then it may have started attracting people of all sorts. People who wanted in on this good life. Unfortunately not everyone is virtuous, some people want the easy way and will prey on others weaker than themselves.

In a situation like that, I guess everyone would be paranoid.

Maybe big cities do not have time for being nice. People have a long way to commute and many things to do.

Nah, I think it could be nice, at least people can be decent to each other.

View of the big city of Paris from atop Notre Dame.

Side street off Grafton Street, counts as big street in city center.