Our stay in Paris has been great. Even though it is much like it has always been for us there are things we noticed that are different. People still hurry from place to place. It’s as if they were 10 minutes late and rushing to catch the last train to somewhere. This, even though the trains run every two minutes. It’s no different on the street. Cars, bicycles and scooters all come to a stop at a red traffic light but when the light turns green, the race to the next light is on with jack rabbit speed. Speaking of bicycles, there are more of them than we remember. You can even rent them at hundreds of locations all over the city. Pick one up at one station, return it at another. No cash needed, just plug in your bank card or get a year’s pass for as little as 19 Euros.
Like in most big cities, there are street entertainers wherever there is a crowd.
We’ve always said that it’s hard to get a bad meal in France. That’s not true. In fact, the first supper we had was not so good. The format was kind of interesting though. It was a serve yourself, all you can eat place. You could choose starters and a main dish for one price or starters, main dish and dessert for another. We had high hopes because the restaurant had the look of one of those out of the way, undiscovered gems—unfinished wooden floors, campy decorations including a stuffed wild boar’s head and antique stuff. Not undiscovered! Unremarkable. The restaurant down the street made up for it. Like most places, it had a limited menu and two tier pricing. The food was carefully prepared and tastefully presented. Also like most places, the pace was leisurely. It’s interesting that Parisians who always seem to be in such a hurry take two hours or more to eat supper.
Of course, we had to pay a visit to “that church” (as we’ve always referred to Notre Dame).
Somehow, its immensity never registered as it did this trip. Also registered this time was throngs of tourists. I have pictures of Claudia years ago in front of Notre Dame and there were no other tourists in the picture—an impossibility today. There were literally thousands in line to go inside. The multitudes around the cathedral did not detract from the street music on the bridge behind leading to tiny Ile St Louis.
One final note about Paris—Kentucky burley farmers, rejoice! Smoking is alive, well and thriving in Paris. No smoking signs in the cafés are considered suggestions and ash trays are in place on every table
Our stay in Paris has been great. Even though it is much like it has always been for us there are things we noticed that are different. People still hurry from place to place. It’s as if they were 10 minutes late and rushing to catch the last train to somewhere. This, even though the trains run every two minutes. It’s no different on the street. Cars, bicycles and scooters all come to a stop at a red traffic light but when the light turns green, the race to the next light is on with jack rabbit speed. Speaking of bicycles, there are more of them than we remember. You can even rent them at hundreds of locations all over the city. Pick one up at one station, return it at another. No cash needed, just plug in your bank card or get a year’s pass for as little as 19 Euros.
Like in most big cities, there are street entertainers wherever there is a crowd.
We’ve always said that it’s hard to get a bad meal in France. That’s not true. In fact, the first supper we had was not so good. The format was kind of interesting though. It was a serve yourself, all you can eat place. You could choose starters and a main dish for one price or starters, main dish and dessert for another. We had high hopes because the restaurant had the look of one of those out of the way, undiscovered gems—unfinished wooden floors, campy decorations including a stuffed wild boar’s head and antique stuff. Not undiscovered! Unremarkable. The restaurant down the street made up for it. Like most places, it had a limited menu and two tier pricing. The food was carefully prepared and tastefully presented. Also like most places, the pace was leisurely. It’s interesting that Parisians who always seem to be in such a hurry take two hours or more to eat supper.
Of course, we had to pay a visit to “that church” (as we’ve always referred to Notre Dame).
Somehow, its immensity never registered as it did this trip. Also registered this time was throngs of tourists. I have pictures of Claudia years ago in front of Notre Dame and there were no other tourists in the picture—an impossibility today. There were literally thousands in line to go inside. The multitudes around the cathedral did not detract from the street music on the bridge behind leading to tiny Ile St Louis.
One final note about Paris—Kentucky burley farmers, rejoice! Smoking is alive, well and thriving in Paris. No smoking signs in the cafés are considered suggestions and ash trays are in place on every table
1 comment:
Do they still have the street markets with fresh rabbit, goat and fish? Paris is a very cool place. Glad you are having fun.
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