What nobody tells you about visiting France

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from France. Some things matched: Sacré-Cœur is as spectacular as every review says, and Bordeaux has a genuine energy I'd read about. The crème brûlée obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: wine regions. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: Parisians not always patient with tourists. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.