The other week I was doing research on Paris Syndrome and how people get physically sick from how their expectations of Paris do not match the reality of the city. This apparently is because of media and Paris’s extensive positive reputation as a city of romance and culture. From The Independent:

“Paris syndrome is often defined as a “state of severe culture shock”.

Physical and psychological symptoms when Paris fails to live up to expectations have been known to include hallucinations, a rapid heart rate, dizziness and nausea.”

In my opinion, this is unlikely to happen to tourists who visit dc.

Why?

I feel like dc meets the portrayal shown on the media. As someone who moved here fairly recently, I directly recall my experience matching or exceeding what I saw in the media.

• the city is fairly clean for the most part
• monuments actually exceeded my expectation actually appearing larger than what is shown in popular shows and media
• the museums are huge and there is way more than is ever shown in media
• you can definitely see the political influence in the area -you actually get more than you expect since dc is so much more than just politics and museums

Therefore, in my opinion, I don’t think a tourist would exhibit these symptoms.

What do you think?

TLDR- I think dc meets or exceeds its public portrayal and tourists should not get Paris syndrome here.