Of course ‘Paris syndrome’ is real – the charmless, underwhelming French capital fails to live up to the hype
The IndependentSign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Paris represents the apotheosis of this disappointment – there’s a reason that the city gives its name to a physical and psychological syndrome caused by severe culture shock. Ernest Hemingway’s 1964 memoir, A Moveable Feast, recalling his time as a struggling writer in the French capital during the 1920s, was the template of a life to which I aspired: a veritable richness of culture in the most beautiful city in the world, surrounded by the greatest artists of the twentieth century. ‘Paris syndrome’ is alive and well – a high-profile example this month was an American food blogger’s tearful TikTok capturing her visit to France, which has been watched more than 7.5 million times.
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Paris syndrome: What is it and how does it happen?
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How to do the French capital like Emily in Paris
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Parisians Express Anger over City's Garbage-laden Streets, Share Pictures and Blame Politicians
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