An American tourist, Angela from San Francisco, found her visit to Lyon quite isolating despite the picturesque surroundings. Despite wearing a pink beret, she expressed on her TikTok account (@RealPhDFoodie) that the city wasn’t very welcoming for someone who doesn’t speak French. She was disappointed about the lack of open restaurants on New Year’s Eve, including McDonald’s.
She also complained there were no restaurants open on New Year’s Eve (Picture: @realphdfoodie/TikTok)
In her video, Angela shared, “I’m just filming this video here in Lyon, France. It’s my first time visiting. The experience is very isolating. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful city – it has a lot to see and do and discover. But I recommend it for a solo traveller or someone who doesn’t speak French; it is a very isolating experience.”
She mentioned feeling indifferent vibes from the locals, contrasting her experiences in Italy and Germany, where she had no trouble meeting people. Angela expressed frustration at people making her feel bad for not knowing the culture or language. She even bought a French hat but found the experience not to her liking.
Angela had expectations of enjoying escargot and foie gras on New Year’s Eve, but even McDonald’s was closed, sparking discussions among viewers. Some advised her to create her own experience and not rely on locals for entertainment, emphasizing that solo trips require a self-driven approach.
There were speculations in the comments about whether Angela was suffering from ‘Paris Syndrome,’ where tourists might have overly romanticized expectations of France from books and films, leading to disappointment upon arrival. Some even suggested that this syndrome could result in hallucinations, convulsions, and panic attacks.
