I recently completed a two-week journey through France that included visits to Normandy, Burgundy, and Paris. The following are some observations and reflections based on my limited time spent in each place.

Heritage and Identity Matter

I observed a few years ago after traveling to England, Scotland, and Ireland that as a region, the Pacific Northwest where I live is incredibly young. I have ancestors going back as far as the mid-1800’s, but this doesn’t compare to the 1,000+ year heritage of someone living in Normandy. The first day we arrived in Bayeux, there were a series of heritage events throughout Normandy that included an evening choir performance in the city’s ancient cathedral. Later that night, townspeople visited historic Norman buildings in the city lit up by candlelight.

When you live in the same place as your grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather, you have a sense of belonging. You know what you are because you’re firmly rooted to a place and people. In contrast, a friend once described Washington as a place where people who don’t belong anywhere go to live, and I think that explains a lot of the overall anxiety I sense.

Medieval Architecture is Beautiful…and Superior

Name one modern building you can think of that people in two hundred years will pay money to visit and tour based primarily on its aesthetics. Name one that will inspire the same kind of awe that Mont-Saint-Michel does.

Keep in mind it was constructed by people using primitive tools compared to the construction technology we have today. If they had a time machine and could visit the future, I’m sure they would marvel at the height of our buildings and their capacities, but I have a feeling they would be unsettled by their hideous appearances.

Ultimately, architecture is a work of art, and art reflects values. Look no further than the fight over how the damaged sections of the Notre Dame cathedral should be rebuilt. The French Senate voted in favor of restoring it to its prior condition after there were talks of renovating it with bland, uninspiring modern designs. Perhaps those ideas more accurately reflect Western values of the 21st Century, but that only demonstrates how inferior they are to those held by the peoples of Medieval Europe.

Cigarettes Are Still a Thing

In France, anyone can smoke, and even if a person chooses not to, it’s a regular part of the culture. I watched older men, young women, and even teenagers light up. In every town we visited, there were ashtrays on all the outdoor café and restaurant tables. From what I’ve read, roughly a third of French people smoke. Strangely, neither the air nor the people carried the smoke smell of a 1990’s bowling alley.

Something is Wrong with Our Food

Virtually everything I ate in France tasted better than the same food does in the States. A part of that may be the ingredients they add to give it more flavor and the quality of the venues. However, one tour guide mentioned they usually do not use corn—which includes high fructose corn syrup—in their food, which they apparently consider to be appropriate for chickens. Now looking at food back home, I realize how much of it uses corn in some form or another.

Consequently, there was something else I noticed; I saw hardly any obese French people. Sure, you’ll have the occasional older gentleman with a paunch, but I’m talking about Walmart shopper obese. A part of that is likely due to the places we visited and the limited time spent there, but France is apparently healthier than the US in that regard.

Whatever the reason may be, I’m limiting my corn intake from here on out.

French Streets Are Narrower, But the Drivers Are Better

Like other European countries, roads in many French towns and cities were built well before the automobile, and it shows. They’re incredibly narrow and barely fit one vehicle, let alone two. However, the drivers are far more comfortable leaving a few inches between passing vehicles. They’re also far less passive-aggressive in how they interact. They honk the horn to express their displeasure at others, but hold no grudges. In my neck of the woods, honking at the wrong person can land you a psycho stalker for the next 20 miles. Pacific Northwest drivers will also frequently remain in the left lane while driving ten miles per hour under the speed limit, or tailgate you in the far-right lane when you’re already going over the speed limit.

Paris is a Mecca For Beautiful Women

I’ve never seen so many attractive women than I did in the touristy central part of Paris, and that’s not just in comparison to other countries. On practically every road I walked, there was at least two belles strolling by or riding a bike. The women were also well-groomed and tended to dress in tasteful, feminine attire. If you’re wondering where all the beautiful women are at, sit at a Parisian café and wait half a minute. Or just look at the table next to you.

Don’t Delay Traveling

Notre Dame caught on fire one month before I visited. Because of that, I only got a look at the cathedral’s exterior, and from a distance. Though much of it was salvaged or preserved, there are parts of it I will never see even if it one day opens again to the public. Theoretically, I could go back. However, it’s not lost on me that the entire cathedral could have been destroyed, a fate suffered by other similar sites in the two world wars.

It’s tempting to take for granted certain things will always be there.

Don’t put off a trip because of that assumption.