Commercialization of the French Countryside and Other Problems

I know many of you out there consider France as a European haven, but nothing is perfect, so they say.

For example, in the French town of Draguignan, there is already a sizable population of Dutch and British; naturally, the locals are not too happy to be congested by foreigners. But, there is nothing they can do because migrating from one part of Europe to another became very easy since the formation of the European Union.

In this part of the world, the city included, smoking can also drive anyone loopy, but men and women alike engage heavily in this guilty pleasure. You try to relax in a cozy corner and find yourself cornered by cigarette smoke. The residents don't care about the people around them, as long as their nicotine desire is satisfied. Whether you choose to hide in a restaurant, take a break on the beach, or even stay inside your running car, second-hand smoke will certainly find you. So, I really pray that freedom will come when Parliament empowers the bill banning smoking in public places. Ireland and Italy are already smoke-free states, so why not this magnificent country?

I also bought a very ancient book in a place which sells antiques and second-hand items. It is an anthology of vignettes from the Bible published in 1875; it is does not cost much but it is written in both Latin and French! Now, where did the value of the low-cost price go, especially for us vacationers?

No wonder the smoking, the annoying bureaucracy, and the confusing charges are the top three exasperations I have on visiting this country.