There's one big difference between driving in the US and France

It was far from the first time that I've been there, but it was the first I'd ever driven in the land of the Gauls.

Intellectually, I knew it would both the same and different from driving in the US. For starters, in France, you drive on the right side of the road.

And I also knew that parking in Paris would be challenging, but that along the autoroutes outside the city, there would be convenient places to stop for snacks, coffee, or even a nice dinner.

I knew that the mix of vehicles on the roads would be different. As in: no big SUVs or pickups.

But wow, was I ever ill-prepared for one major difference.