Attention Tourists! Mal knows Paris.. read this or weep like little children later..

(Photo courtesy http://www.whitman.edu/)
Excerpt:
""Tipping: Not usual in restaurants as they often slug you 15 per cent service charge. Small change is fine."

Tipping not usual in restaurants!!!Bulltwang. That's a surefire way of getting the famous Gallic snarl of disdain. YOU MUST tip. Even if it's just a few Euro. Tipping is a way of life here. Like the States, service people are on minimum wage and they rely on tips to boost their earnings. Tip the cabbie. Tip the barman. Tip the waiter. Tip the guy that holds the door of the post-office open if you want to. Always carry some shrapnel in your pocket. You'll see lots of beggars in the street here, too. The Parisians tolerate them and give them a few cents (like 10 or 20 cent coins). It's not gonna kill you to sling a few coins their way. "There but for the Grace of God go I" and all that."

Perhpas the most brilliant thing I have ever heard about travel in Paris.. or anyfucking place in Europe.. My fellow Americans, go here.. Welcometowallyworld.com and read every word Mal has written on the Paris subject..
Then go smack the travel agent that booked you on your trip to Paris this August..