A certain Je ne sais quoi

I hadn't really planned on this, but I find I'm frequently being approached by people asking for directions, usually women. A couple of examples.

At the Montparnasse train station an older lady asked me for help with how to buy a ticket. Having only barely mastered the ticket machine myself, not fully understanding her questions, and being under some time pressure to find our train amongst the 24 platforms in the next few minutes, I felt uniquely unqualified to help. So I had to decline. But she kept talking as I excused myself - most of it went straight past me but I did pick up a couple of international themes about the hopelessness of railways and how there is never anyone around to help you when you need it!

At Mauborg metro I was asked by a couple of young Spanish women for help, again with the ticket machine. This time I could help, and showed them how to make the machine speak spanish, after which they quickly discarded me.

I can only put this popularity down to my Kathmandu trou and R&G polo giving me a certain elegance and 'Je ne sais quoi' as if I was a real Parisian!