An American tourist named Angela, hailing from San Francisco, found herself shedding tears during her trip to Lyon, France, where she documented her experiences on TikTok. Despite donning a pink beret, Angela, who confessed to being unable to speak French, felt “isolated” and discouraged her followers from visiting Lyon if they couldn’t converse in the local language.

Venting her frustrations, Angela shared that the city appeared beautiful but proved to be a challenging and isolating experience for solo travellers lacking French language skills. Her TikTok video, posted on her account @RealPhDFoodie, has garnered over six million views, becoming a highlight of her eight-day European journey.

In the video, Angela lamented the lack of open restaurants on New Year’s Eve and criticised even McDonald’s for closing its doors. “People here seem very indifferent,” she expressed, comparing her positive socialising experiences in Italy and Germany to the less welcoming atmosphere in France. Angela revealed feeling almost regretful for spending money on the trip and even purchased a French hat in an attempt to immerse herself in the culture.

Expecting to savour escargot and foie gras on New Year’s Eve, Angela was disappointed when even McDonald’s turned out to be closed. Viewers engaged in lively debates in the comments, with some emphasising the need for creating one’s own experience and managing expectations when travelling solo.

While some sympathised with Angela’s experience, others were more straightforward, suggesting that travelling in France is about reflection and melancholy, emphasising the importance of managing expectations. Additionally, there were speculations about whether Angela might be suffering from ‘Paris Syndrome,’ a condition where tourists face disappointment due to romanticised expectations derived from books and films about France.

Regardless of the debate, Angela’s tearful journey through Lyon has sparked discussions about the realities of solo travel, cultural expectations, and the potential pitfalls of idealised visions of foreign destinations.