Random observations: Scenes from the streets in Paris
People back home keep asking about the little details of life in Paris, asking what we truly see every day in Paris.
So I've put together some of the smaller things that folks on this choir trip have pointed out so far. Believe me, we're not going to put Lonely Planet out of business here, but we hope that our humble descriptions just might help make a vision of Paris just a little more real for everyone back home.
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
- The people of Paris are truly beautiful, causing so many of us Arizonans to remark that we've never enjoyed such great people watching. The people are mostly quite dressy, even when they seem to just be out walking or doing errands.
- We see many African women wrapped in beautiful and colorful dresses, their hair decorated with matching material.
- Men and women dressed in Muslim garb are also commonly seen in this large, diverse city.
- Lovers don't mind sharing their passion with passersby, laying together on a park's grass or kissing passionately on a park bench.
THE FOOD
- The coffee is dark and rich, just as tantalizing as you'd expect. Each coffee pot at the hotel is joined by a pot of steaming-hot milk, a plus that we all seem to enjoy..
- Big trays of fantastic cheeses are served at breakfast, alongside sliced meats, yogurt, an amazing selection of fruit, etc. The most unusual breakfast items are tiny pickles and roasted tomatoes.
- No one drinks water from the bottle at cafes. The waiters insist on bringing you a small glass. Many French people order Evian water in glass bottles the size of wine bottles, which tend to run empty far too quickly.
- Servings at restaurants are small, but the ingredients are rich and fresh, always leaving you feeling surprisingly satisfied.
- We've been served veal several times, much to the dismay of a few Americans not accustomed to the meat.
- The only food that's not good at the Paris hotel's wonderful breakfast is the one food that should be great - the croissants. For this being France these famous pastries are surprisingly dry and heavy.
THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS
- Almost every window is wrapped with molded scrollwork, tiny stone faces and other decorations.
- Every apartment seems to have a balcony, all of which MUST be brightened up with pots of colorful flowers. A person could make a fortune here selling geraniums.
- Almost every building here is five or six stories, all crowned with fantastic molding, frescos and countless chimneys. The attic level is usually rounded and ornate.
- The tall and narrow rows of apartment buildings make streets look like canyons stretching out into the horizon.
GETTING AROUND
- Men decked out in sharp, dark suits can be found driving scooters.
- We all get a kick out of seeing the racks of public bicycles that are available for rent. They are free for the first half hour, then cost some amount. You just take off from one of the stands and return it to another stand when you are done.
- Motorcycles are everywhere, constantly dashing between cars.
- We've seen Italian luxury cars with Arabic license plates parked illegally in front of super-expensive stores. Our guide said those cars are owned by Middle Eastern princes, who are known to leave 500 Euro notes under the windshield wiper to satisfy the police.
- Stairs taking people down to the Metro subway are everywhere, including right in front of our hotel.
- The cars here, just like in the movies, are incredibly small. One square little car can park parallel with the street or with its butt against the curb - it doesn't matter. Some even just park on the sidewalk. They're that small.
- They say there is an accident every 13 minutes a the Arc de Triomphe, which is surrounded by what the locals proudly call the most dangerous roundabout in the world.
