It's not a daily occurance, but i've gotten accustomed to people stopping me in the middle of les Champs and asking me how to get to the arc de triomphe

On a good day the answer is usually "It's right behind you"

For the Galeries Lafayette the reply is "euhhhh ... in that direction ... over there somewhere"

But if you catch me on a shitty, uppity day and want to know how to get to the Eiffel tower, i'm sorry, but all you'll get from me will be "You see the arc de triomphe behind you ? Well, you turn your back on it and keep on walking all the way down the avenue .... if you get a bit lost, just ask someone for directions to Bercy"

Today was different

I was outside in the sun having a coffee, when i noticed a tourist loitering outside. Five minutes later, he came past again, loitered some more, scrutinised the list of companies housed in the building, then turned to me and said in a heavy middle eastern accent :

"I'm looking to buy a gun ... where can i find one ?"

I just said "no, i don't - but you could try the comissariat over there " and left it at that and went back inside the building ...

So there you go : i obviously have a face that says "Arms dealer","Drugs smuggler", "Pimp" or general reprobate

I'm a nice bloke really ... honest ... i don't eat orphelin stew for dinner every night ;@)