French here: I'd never learned formally about this rule, I was just used to hearing the expression with a vague sense of what it meant; I often say I go down to

French here: I'd never learned formally about this rule, I was just used to hearing the expression with a vague sense of what it meant; I often say I go down to Paris from the countryside thinking about elevation (bassin parisien) and with a sense of “going down” on the town. But then again I also say « monter sur Paris » some of the time like everybody.