Oh, the irony...

According to the writing gods, irony is a literary or rhetorical device that suggests incongruity or discordance between what is true and what is generally understood to be true.

Last week, Time.com printed an article on their website that examined a recent poll of 4000 worldwide hotel employees released by Expedia.fr (the French branch of the travel portal). The question was asked, "Who are the worst and most obnoxious travelers?" My first thought was here we go again. The French just want to take another jab at Americans. Over the course of my traveling life I've consistently heard complaints by foreigners, especially the French, about "those crass Americans". Honestly, I was offended and have spent the better part of my life going out of my way not to be "crass". But, lo and behold, guess what the results turned up?

Americans aren't the "crass", obnoxious travelers. It's the stinking Francos. And what's really ironic, it's just not the rest of the world that dislikes the Gallic attitude; they even finished at the bottom of the rankings when traveling in their own country and rated by other countrymen.

Now, this is refreshing news. And to make their "gripe" on the Americans even more ridiculous, the Gauls even finished dead last on attempting or being unwilling to communicate in a foreign language on foreign soil. Ha! and Double Ha! I don't wanna hear it anymore. Just eat your Royale with cheese (Quarter Pounder) and be quiet.

As Alanis Morissette sings, "Isn't it ironic...don'tcha think?"

Al
Happy Bastille Day!