Romney Recalls Vacations in France, Not Missionary Years

(Image Credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo)

ASTON, Pa. - When a member of the foreign press asked Mitt Romney about his memories of his time spent in France today, it wasn't tales of his Mormon missionary work that came to mind for the presidential candidate, but his vacations.

"I have a lot of memories of France," said Romney, who did his Mormon missionary time  in France in the late 1960s and who has talked extensively about his experience there.

"The best memories were with my wife on vacations from time to time in France," said Romney, who has been criticized for being "out of touch" and has made several comments that have highlighted his wealth during his campaign.

"The last vacation we had there, walking around the city of Paris, walking not just on the Champs Elysees but walking over to the Jardin of Luxembourg and around the city."

"It's one of the most magnificent cities in the world, and I look forward to occasional vacations again in such a beautiful place," he said.

His missionary work in France is one that he spoke about frequently on the trail. Last year Romney told Charlie Rose that the two and a half years he spent overseas was a "very revealing experience." Romney told reporters trailing him in a New Hampshire suburb last winter as he knocked on doors for votes that the event reminded him of knocking on doors as a missionary in France.

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