Travel in Europe - Paris 信步巴黎 - 9

　　The French are language perfectionists.They often speak more English than they let on.This isn't a tourist baiting¹ tactic,they are just hesitant to speak a language less than fluently.If you don't speak French,bring a phrase book and a good supply of patience. Learn and use the basic vocabulary of politeness. Bonjour, merci,pardon,S'il vous plait (please)and sprinkle in a lot of Madames and Monsieurs.
We non-French-speaking travellers should start every conversation by politely asking do you speak English "Parlez vous anglais?".If the answer is no,then do your best in their language. After a couple of sentences of my French, many locals would admit actually I do speak some English.
Why travel all the way to France and expect things to be the way they're at home? Enjoy the differences, sometimes they are frustrating², but as they like to say here Viva la difference. One of the benefits of travel is coming face-to-face with logical,civil and sometimes even better alternatives to our own ways. As I see it ,we're travelling through Europe to be open-minded, not to judge, but to absorb,accept and to learn.
And with that thought we say goodbye to Paris. I love this place, it's a city that can teach us all something about the art of fine living. I learn more with each visit. I'll never tire of Paris, Sainte Chapelle,the Left Bank, Village Paris along Louclair, Chateau³ Chantilly, Cafe Olay,Montmartre, this won't be my last visit.
I hope you've enjoyed our look at offbeat⁴ Paris. Join us next week, when we cross the channel to London, where we'll do some brass⁵ rubbing and some pub grubbing, take a city walking tour,make a surprise appearance at Speaker's Corner and side trip out to Salisbury Cathedral and salty seafaring Greenwich.Till then ,I'm Rick Steves, wishing you happy travels. Au revoir(byebye)Home videos of destinations in this series are available for 24.95. To order the 80-minute, three-program tape on Amsterdam,Paris and London or any of the other destinations tapes, call 18008667425.Also available, Rick's 420-page Where to GO and How to Travel guidebook for 17.95. To order,please have your credit card ready and call 18008667425.

1 baiting   

下料

参考例句：

• They had been baiting him for fun, but nobody wanted a fight. 他们确是有心“咬”他，撇些闲盘儿，可是并没预备打架。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• He delighted in baiting his mother. 他喜欢逗母亲生气。

2 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

4 offbeat   

adj.不平常的，离奇的

参考例句：

• She adores old,offbeat antiques.她非常喜欢那些稀奇古怪的老古董。
• His style is offbeat but highly creative.他的风格很不寻常但非常有创造力。

5 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。