There are so many exceptions. A lot of it, no doubt, is just the luck of the draw.

I have some friends who travel a great deal- she is the proverbial lawyer and he is the proverbial carpenter - and as she says, they have no children and travel is how they like to spend their money.

They have spent weeks in various areas of France in different years, and they were prepared for the aloofness/rudeness of Parisians. Instead, they were charmed. As she said, Go figure.