Yesterday's "Big Kiss du 9 novembre" event had so much promise and the right ingredients for a sexy stew: the planet's most romantic city, a gorgeously sunny day, and the opportunity to kiss someone to land in the record books. How could you go wrong?

Well, first move the event a few kilometers outside of Paris, far from any remotely romantic landmarks, like say, the Eiffel Tower? Then for good measure, hold it in the middle of the day on a Thursday when everyone is working.

The result? A paltry 1,188 kissers showed up. A new record? Not even close. Budapest has got Paris spanked, and holds the record it set in 2005 with 11,570 people.

So, cher Paris, a few words to the wise from your friends at Parisist: 2007, Saturday afternoon, Eiffel Tower. Très facile.

Photo: © PHV, by Pierre-Hervé Vérant at des Photos et Puis Quoi Encore? [fr].