I've just got back home after a quick trip back to the UK. The Eurostar managed to arrive on time, and everything went smoothly. It does seem to be only when I go to the station to meet people getting off that it's late...

As I was getting off, some Americans behind me asked what station it was. I said 'Gare du Nord', and they looked puzzled, so I said it again. 'Not Paris?' they replied, looking worried. Then another worried American in front of me also said 'What? Where are we?'. I told them it was Paris, trying not to grin, and they all looked very relieved. I want to tell myself it was my terrible pronounciation of Gare du Nord, which of course is incredibly hard to pronounce, putting 'mille feuille' well in the shade. But I am hard pressed to really believe that, since the American in front had been speaking fluent french a bit earlier. So, it would seem to be a lack of geography knowledge, although possibly the blame also lies with Hollywood, who seem to think that Gare du Paris should exist (along with snowstorms in London).

Here are a couple of other examples (sorry, but Americans do speak rather loudly, it's hard not to overhear. Is it because your country is so big?);

Half an hour after leaving Gare du Nord on the eurostar;
'So this is England?'

On emerging from the channel tunnel;
'Are we in Ireland now?'

and of course, when an American finds out you're English;
'so you're from London then?'

I'm only teasing though. Americans are lovely really :-)