The French adore their language and are really not forgiving when one makes mistakes. ( I have had shopkeepers correct me sharply for getting a gender wrong and using Le where I should have said La) but they are also deeply appreciative when you can demonstrate some fluency with the language.

Today we went for the first time to see Le Vieux Cimetiere in Beziers- not to be confused with Le Cimetiere Neuf.
I asked the most obliging concierge if he had a plan as we had heard that there were some impressive statues here Because it was called the Old Cimetiere I asked him was it still in use.

“Mais Bien Sur” he said.
” Ah!” I said “C’est vieux mais c’est pas ancien”

I was rewarded with a large beam.
I had demonstrated to him that I understood a certain subtlety of the French language. Where Ancien means old, or even very old it also means former or no longer in use.

I know it is pathetic but I still treasure moments like this