Breakthrough in communication

By Jennie and Denzil Verardo
This item appears on page 22 of the February 2022 issue.

This month’s winners are JENNIE and DENZIL VERARDO of Elk Grove, California:

Following a trip to the Loire Valley, we had returned via high-speed train to the Montparnasse rail station in Paris. We hailed a taxi, and Jennie explained in French where we wished to be taken.

When the driver didn’t understand, we thought Jennie might have mispronounced the location, so she handed the driver the hotel’s card.

He looked at it, said, “Oh,” then carefully read it out loud, a syllable at a time.

It was only then that we realized he didn’t speak French! We conversed in English the remainder of the way.


Tell us about something humorous that happened to you while traveling outside the United States. There are no restrictions on length. ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Include your full mailing or billing address. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.