Notwithstanding the irresistible charms of Paris, I was not unprepared for a rather embarrassing situation which I might encounter during my short stay there owing to the language barrier: most of Parisians don’t speak or speak little English except for those working in tourist spots. And therefore, as a tourist, you must prove quite competent while finding your way around and make sure you are always equipped with a good map. I had been warned not to expect any help from a Parisian. Despite the warning, I still decided to try my luck.  

In Royal Gardens of Versailles alone I ran into a French young man and stopped him with my question, pointing to the end of the long rows of trees, "could you pls tell me what is there to see at the end of this vistas?"

Luckily, he seemed to have understood my question instantly and started to talk in French mixed with a couple of English words. While talking, he suddenly squatted down to open his satchel and, smiling clumsily, he took out a map with instructions for me, "you can have this."

My gratitude was beyond words. Without his kind guide, my tour in the Gardens would have been incomplete and I would have missed out the fabulous country mansion used by Louis XIV  for his love trysts and the Queen’s House in the very depth of the garden, where his Queen , accompanied by her court maids,  used to pretend to farm but, ironically, had all her real cows and sheep perfumed!

The photo to the right is my portrait of Notre Dame.