January 29, 2007
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Paris! I love you!
In the two days I was there, I found Paris to be by far the most civilized city I’ve ever been to.
The litter was nearly non-existent. No one shoves on the subway or escalators. There is no gum stuck to the sidewalk and the benches. The statues are clean from graffiti. When dogs shit on the sidewalk and in the park, their owners clean it up; I never once had to skirt around poop logs. People are not stumbling around, drunk and vomiting in public. Nothing smells bad.
The people of Paris seem to have such pride in their city. You know when you get a new couch or a new throw and you are super protective of it, weary of potential stains and filth? Parisians seem to have the same attitude towards their city. It’s really beautiful. I absolutely loved it.
I’ll write a proper blog, complete with pictures, as soon as I get a moment. But I just had to say: my heart is still in Paris.
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Have you ever been to Paris? What was the thing that struck you the most about it?
Comments (6)
I have never had the opportunity to go to Paris, yet I hope to someday. In one of my classes, we read an exhaustive (and, alas, occasionally boring) book to the point that I think I already know many of the things I’d like to see.
I have been to paris and the thing that struck me most about it was that I’ve never before felt a city totally embrace me. I’ve been trying to get back (to live) ever since. ::fingers crossed:: i LOVE it there. my heart is still there too.
I have only been through Paris, transferring from the train station to the airport (I refuse to thoroughly visit the city without my wife). I was prepared for the infamous Paris rudeness, and while I found that there was the brusqueness typical of a big city, the people were still quite helpful to a non-French speaking traveller.
I’ve travelled in the rest of France fairly extensively, and I have much the same sense of that as you have of Paris. The people there are town-proud, and I mean that as a good thing. Provided you don’t act like an obnoxious, self-centered, demanding United States of American, they are as friendly, accommodating, and — what’s the word? — vivacious as anyone in the world.
I think my favorite part of travelling in France is negotiating for a meal. My French is very limited, but I’ve never had a problem. Sometimes, I get the feeling that if I don’t enjoy my meal, they will take it as a personal mark of shame. I’ve never been disappointed.
No! But I want to go and more now after having read this.
My father asked me today if I wanted to go there out of the blue. I don’t know what he’s got up his sleeve, but if the opportunity ever comes about I will not pass that one up!
It just sounds so different and what a great experience!
I will look forward to your pictures and narratives.
I’ve never been to Paris. We’re planning to go to France for our honeymoon next year, although we’re planning to go to Provence during harvest time (because you know, yum), but feel like we should go to Paris while we’re there.
I actually had a miserable time there. What struck me the most was the disparity of income throughout the city; how the area surrounding Gare du Nord is cramped with people completely forgotten by the rest of the city, which seems to be so in love with itself that it can’t bother to deal with the poor. Meanwhile, the parts that should be beautiful, romantic and interesting (around Notre Dame, the Seine, and definitely the Eiffel Tower) have been overwraught with those who cater specifically to the tourists. All the merchants and cookie-cutter restaurants destroyed the ambience that should have existed. I guess that’s what happens, though, when you hear how wonderful a place is your whole life – all of those expectations can never be fulfilled.