I really liked your diary. I have been to the brassieries in France, I didn't notice anything, but I never do when I go to restaruants. I don't care if the waiter or waitress isn't particularly friendly. And I don't know why people expect that in addition to the food that should recieve anything more than someone who is attentive. Sometimes when I go for dinner with someone they will say something about the waiter not being friendly or something. I always think, (having never graduated in a restaurant beyond a bus boy myself) what difference does it make? Maybe they don't feel good, maybe they aren't being phony, maybe that's just the way they are. As long as you get the food and the staff is reasonalbly attentive that's all that matter, but I think people secretly desire to see someone be subservient to them, to act slavishly toward them. That's not the role of a waiter or waitress.

It's funny when people go to France they have to come back with a story about how rude the people are. You can't come back and say everyone was nice....it's a conversation stopper.

Samething with Rio De Janeiro...you have to come back with a story of being robber or an attempted robbery. Or Mexico.

Outside of the Frontier, Mexico seems a very safe place to me. I traveled in the fabled Ghetto of Neza and instead of being robbed was invited to two parties, one in a very nice house...just from walking down the street.

The world is not a dangerous place as Bush says. Not really. Not among people, just politicians.