Parisian Waiters

There is something so distinctly different about waiters in France, a country where the job is respected much more so than in the United States. There, for many people, it's a career choice, not a last option. A common stereotype of Paris is that you will inevitably encounter a snooty waiter who acts like he's doing you a favor by even bring you a menu. I have experienced aloofness but never outright snootiness. Being polite and knowing a few words of French always helps.The top and bottom photographs were taken this summer. The middle one in the summer of 2003.