When learning French during the 1970s, we were told that French-language purists were very vigilant at keeping English-isms out of their language... all while ironically being tested on "le pullover" and "supermarche" in our weekly vocab tests.

And I think we're all aware that the French remain somewhat peeved that French (which I studied as "the global language of diplomacy") was replaced by English as "the global language of business, diplomacy, and coolness" approximately 50 years ago. ("Somewhat peeved" being a vast understatement - and actually I think this peeve-ment only relates to Parisians.)

And I've always been led to believe by US-news-outlets, that ALL THE FRENCH hate Americans (after 1950, when the chocolate and stockings ran out) but again, this appears to be only Parisians (as noted in my previous trip to Provence and as shown today in Marseille).

While strolling down a typical non-touristic street today, I heard a car BLASTING Elvis... the real Elvis, not a bad Euro cover of an Elvis song, but THE REAL ELVIS... and when I say blasting I mean blowing the shatter-proof glass out.

And then tonight... Bastille Day, btw... before the fireworks…. the loud bar down the street has a band blasting over crickly speakers, singing Beatles hits in Anglais including Sgt Pepper's and Come Together.

So………….. Again, as I experienced in 2017, we’re all the same………….. except Parisians.