Paris leaves an impression on everyone, from students perfecting their langue française to tourists who wonder why the French don’t pronounce half the consonants in each word. This city has been home to countless films, revolutions, and kings named Louis, and, in case you hadn’t heard, it’s a really big deal. Nearly everyone in the world idealizes Paris, whether it’s for the Eiffel Tower, the Grands Boulevards, or the fact that there are more miles in the Louvre than in many towns. Don’t let yourself be content with ideals. If you want to know the danger of that, do some research on Paris Syndrome. This city can be rough, and, yes, the waiters are judging you. When you get Englished for the first time (when someone responds to your mangled-French inquiry with an English response), you’ll realize that you maybe weren’t prepared for all this. But Paris and its people pull through spectacularly for those who can appreciate the sensory experiences around every corner—the sweet tastes to be found in a patisserie, the resonating bells of Notre Dame, the springtime greens in the Jardin des Tuileries. This city will charm and bitchslap you with equal gusto, but don’t get too le tired—by your third or fourth sincere attempt at s’il vous plaît, even those waiters will soften up.