Paris most overrated city in the world – Parisians told to start smiling more

by Scott Carmichael on

The poor French just can’t get a break – back in May, their capital was voted “most overrated in the world” by TripAdvisor, and most recently first they were voted “worst tourists in the world“.

Tourism in Paris is down a whopping 17%, and the French Tourism Bureau thinks it might have something to do with the lack of smiling Parisians.

The folks behind the campaign are asking people to put on their happy faces so tourists don’t feel the city is full of rude and obnoxious residents.

To help things along, they have even hired “smile ambassadors” who will be working around the more popular attractions in the city, and will hopefully help brighten up the atmosphere.

To me, the lack of smiles in Paris isn’t as annoying as the attitude from their cab drivers. I suggest Paris starts paying attention to those people instead of telling residents to “smile”.

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The Smiley Toothbrush Holder: Sanitary AND Perfect For Impromptu Puppet Shows

by Willy Volk on

I’ve spent many nights in dingy hostels. On the one hand, I love the liberation of living in filth, but on the other hand, it can be disgusting. Throughout my soiled adventures, however, I’ve always been careful to store my toothbrush in its travel case — until a friend terrorized me by saying, “You know…you can never really get plastic clean.” Gulp. I peered down into the tube of my grimy toothbrush holder and could literally taste horror, disgust — and a little bit of bile.

If you’re equally grossed out by the thought of hostel sinks or toothbrush holders, a Smiley Toothbrush Holder may be a simple alternative worth looking into. The easy-open lid keeps your toothbrush covered and out of the way between uses, and the suction-cup-back sticks to mirrors, tile, and stainless steel. The best part? The vents in the cover “smile back at you, giving you a cheery outlook on the day.” A pair of Smileys runs about $5. Never before has $5 offered travelers the dual advantages of being (a) hygienic and (b) puppet-show-ready.

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