Paris Syndrome – the (arguably) disappointing reality of travel

By Abbie Vauls

Disclaimer: this article was written by someone who really likes to travel, and concedes all stress, exhaustion, and financial drain is well worth it. And I really liked Paris.  

I spent the weekend in Paris. Before I left, a friend wished me well on my travels – “hope you don’t get Paris syndrome”. Thinking this was some sort of exotic French maladie, I took to the internet. 

It’s said that the city of love has been so idealised, particularly in Japanese culture, that when visiting Paris, tourists actually suffer physical consequences from disappointment. The culture shock is so great, that they experience symptoms as severe as hallucinations, rapid heart rate, dizziness, and nausea. Although only about twenty Japanese tourists suffer the effects per year, the embassy has thought it worthwhile setting up a twenty-four-hour hotline. And so, it’s a concept worth considering – the possibility of international tourism is becoming a reality for more and more people, and with that comes the reality of travel itself. 

I concede. While experiencing that little thrill as the Eiffel Tour begins to sparkle on the hour, surrounded by my lovely girlfriends all wrapped up in our winter coats, the magic was somewhat diminished by the harassment, stares, and bag-grab attempts of the conmen who stake out the tourist trap spots. One of said conmen then followed us beyond eleven metro stops and kindly hovered outside the station awaiting our ascent. And, while devouring a pizza with a cheese pull so magnificent you burn your mouth in impatience, a rat running across the restaurant floor somewhat spoils the taste in your mouth – a little more Ratatouille than I’d bargained for. Pray the bin strike remains fini. Or, when you finally fight your way through your fellow tourists, elbows extended, to see the world-famous Mona Lisa, only to realise you’d need a magnifying glass because she’s been painted on a canvas no larger than your birth certificate, you start to see why after a 15-hour flight the Japanese might feel a little cheated. The city has been so romanticised in movies, music, books, and culture, that it has become impossible for Paris to live up to expectations. 

And so as dramatic as Paris syndrome may seem, there is no doubt travel is beyond glamourised by our generation, and that the reality is rarely considered in comparison. We are constantly bombarded with TikToks of our peers out “finding themselves” in Thailand, something that simply cannot be achieved until you’ve posted a picture of yourself bathing a wrinkly old elephant, feeling like Augustus Gloop drowning in that chocolate river; exhausted, sweaty, and ready for some good old home comforts. But the photos paint a much more glamorous picture for those stuck back in Ireland. They’re the real losers… right? 

No, I’m changing my tune. Travelling is amazing – you see the world, meet new people, enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and learn a lot about yourself. I’m a big advocate. To prove it, since I’ve done nothing so far but rain on the backpacker’s parade, I’ll counter the negativity in Paris syndrome with that of its south-eastern neighbour and tell you about Florence syndrome. The opposite of Paris syndrome, Florence syndrome is when the sight of a place or artwork is so overwhelmingly beautiful, it can cause people to quite literally fall at its feet when they faint at the sight of it. Perhaps you can imagine me too cynical to experience this wonder, and I've never quite heard of someone who has, but it’s nice to know there’s a few romantic suckers out there falling in love with what the world has to offer. Maybe one day when I see Klimt’s The Kiss will I suffer from Florence syndrome (Vienna will just have to keep waiting for me - at least until I have the finances to fund that trip to the Belvedere Palace). Not that this is a panel, but I’d love to know what artwork or landmark would inspire Florence syndrome in you. Shoot me an email. And I hope for your sake it’s not in Paris. 

This has been a whirlwind of an argument – but alas, so is the nature of travel. There’s highs and there’s lows, but the point of travelling is to welcome the hard parts and see how you manage. It’s all part of the experience. And finally, when you all see me in Thailand post-graduation posing with the elephants, mind your business. 

Edited by Ruby Hegarty