andyelectrolux
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Thanks Louis! If I had my choice of anywhere in the world to take my next vacation, it would be Paris!
Paris last weekend
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toggleswitch2
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C'etait tres bon!
Since when does a "boulagerie-pattiserie" sell "vetments"?
Do cars still have those unusual yellow headlights?
Looks like you had a great time and saw so many wonderful things. Thank you for posting that!
Since when does a "boulagerie-pattiserie" sell "vetments"?
Do cars still have those unusual yellow headlights?
Looks like you had a great time and saw so many wonderful things. Thank you for posting that!
Ahhhh, Paris
. . . and the seductive perfume of diesel smoke and urine. It's been 15 years since my partner and I were non-plussed by the polluted air, the lousy weather (June) and overpriced and unsatisfying restaurants. I am transported there again every time I'm stuck behind a bus or big rig, or walking past a derelict doorway.
Men, stand up and be counted! Nobody wants to get real about this place. Believe it or not, it's OK NOT to like Paris, regardless of all the (seemingly mandatory) swooning others may do over the thought of the place. But if you absolutely must go, here's one valuable piece of advice: Watch your step. Contrary to what you may think, apparently there are few green patches where one can walk their dog so everyone uses the sidewalk, and they don't pick up after the dog uses the sidewalk too. It doesn't matter where, from the now-trendy Marais (where we stayed) to the Left Bank, looking down while walking is essential.
(B)ahhhhh, Paris.
. . . and the seductive perfume of diesel smoke and urine. It's been 15 years since my partner and I were non-plussed by the polluted air, the lousy weather (June) and overpriced and unsatisfying restaurants. I am transported there again every time I'm stuck behind a bus or big rig, or walking past a derelict doorway.
Men, stand up and be counted! Nobody wants to get real about this place. Believe it or not, it's OK NOT to like Paris, regardless of all the (seemingly mandatory) swooning others may do over the thought of the place. But if you absolutely must go, here's one valuable piece of advice: Watch your step. Contrary to what you may think, apparently there are few green patches where one can walk their dog so everyone uses the sidewalk, and they don't pick up after the dog uses the sidewalk too. It doesn't matter where, from the now-trendy Marais (where we stayed) to the Left Bank, looking down while walking is essential.
(B)ahhhhh, Paris.
Oh Ralph... LOL
But really you are right. Unless things have changed I do remember their being dog crap all over the sidewalks every two feet and I'm really not exaggerating.
Manchester as I recall was another place where you had to watch your step, it was bad, but not as bad as Paris.
But really you are right. Unless things have changed I do remember their being dog crap all over the sidewalks every two feet and I'm really not exaggerating.
Manchester as I recall was another place where you had to watch your step, it was bad, but not as bad as Paris.
Great pics, Louis, you saw some very interesting things. I also like to see the graveyards, they are sometimes as beautiful as upscale neighborhoods but more compact and easier to walk!
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us!
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us!
Yeah, it's not like I'm wanting to be a spoiler here, but somebody needs to tell it like it is and let people know it's really OK not to get all dreamy and wistful when the word Paris is uttered. If you haven't been and think you must go, think again. Don't even get me started on De Gaulle airport. If you're an art lover, by all means the museums are not to be missed. Just be sure you don't track anything in upon entering.
Well Louis can tell us if they've done anything about cleaning up the poo
toggleswitch2
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There is good and bad EVERYWEHRE!
...........Ahhhh, Paris . . . and the seductive perfume of diesel smoke and urine.
There I was on a train from Paris to Amsterdam.
On board was a gorgeous young lady (believe me, she was; I tend not to notice these things!) in a littel red dress with spaghetti straps, nice pumps, and a trendy little hand-bag that looked like an "Oggi" magazine (Italian for "Today", probably fashon-related, IIRC.) a true breeders wet-dream. Or so I thought.
She went into her bag to get a cigarette and there was a FOREST under her arms. That caught me cultually off-guard! She then put the cigarette to her mouth and what I saw--where there WERE teeth that were not missing-- was a patchwork or off-white, beige, tan and brown teeth.
I was not impressed. The occasional lack of deodorant amoung the populous was not so pleasant either.
Back when I went in 1985 to 1990 there was very limited air-condtioning. TRY to get a cold drink.....with ice. UH-UH. I saw a McDonalds and hit it many days in a row to get a decent coffee that was not demmie-tasse, and later in the day a soda or water with ICE.
Used a local laundromat. It was fun watching some girls from Michigan(USA) attempt to use a front-loader. OMG! Even in a commercial settings the damn washers took HOURS to produce their own hot water. For some reason the dryers had a huge tumber in diameter but very limited depth. Vending machine for detergent put a fixed charge of detergent in a tin cup that got dumped into washer and replaced in vending machine.
But I think funnest of all was watch those "ugly-Americans"
1- expect English to be spoken and understood.
2- expect to be caterd to.
3- Struggle with a coin-operated (and fornt-loading, even) waher and dryer--they had never seen such a thing). Yes there were suds EVERYWEHRE!
4- Describe what their American appliances did when plugged into a French outlet.
Repetez classe: Les salots stupides.
I think I eventually spoke English and assisted.
The food and drink was fabulous, paying a tip /service-charge even for a bottle of Perrier "to go" (take-away) was absurd.
But once adjused to local cultural norms, it was still quite the vacation/holiday!
oh and PeteK. J'aime the glass pyramid in the centre du Louvre musee.
en.wikipedia.org
...........Ahhhh, Paris . . . and the seductive perfume of diesel smoke and urine.
There I was on a train from Paris to Amsterdam.
On board was a gorgeous young lady (believe me, she was; I tend not to notice these things!) in a littel red dress with spaghetti straps, nice pumps, and a trendy little hand-bag that looked like an "Oggi" magazine (Italian for "Today", probably fashon-related, IIRC.) a true breeders wet-dream. Or so I thought.
She went into her bag to get a cigarette and there was a FOREST under her arms. That caught me cultually off-guard! She then put the cigarette to her mouth and what I saw--where there WERE teeth that were not missing-- was a patchwork or off-white, beige, tan and brown teeth.
I was not impressed. The occasional lack of deodorant amoung the populous was not so pleasant either.
Back when I went in 1985 to 1990 there was very limited air-condtioning. TRY to get a cold drink.....with ice. UH-UH. I saw a McDonalds and hit it many days in a row to get a decent coffee that was not demmie-tasse, and later in the day a soda or water with ICE.
Used a local laundromat. It was fun watching some girls from Michigan(USA) attempt to use a front-loader. OMG! Even in a commercial settings the damn washers took HOURS to produce their own hot water. For some reason the dryers had a huge tumber in diameter but very limited depth. Vending machine for detergent put a fixed charge of detergent in a tin cup that got dumped into washer and replaced in vending machine.
But I think funnest of all was watch those "ugly-Americans"
1- expect English to be spoken and understood.
2- expect to be caterd to.
3- Struggle with a coin-operated (and fornt-loading, even) waher and dryer--they had never seen such a thing). Yes there were suds EVERYWEHRE!
4- Describe what their American appliances did when plugged into a French outlet.
Repetez classe: Les salots stupides.
I think I eventually spoke English and assisted.
The food and drink was fabulous, paying a tip /service-charge even for a bottle of Perrier "to go" (take-away) was absurd.
But once adjused to local cultural norms, it was still quite the vacation/holiday!
oh and PeteK. J'aime the glass pyramid in the centre du Louvre musee.
Ugly American - Wikipedia
Actually I did like Paris. The air was rather polluted at some places I have to admit but for the rest I had a great trip. Didn't notice any dog shit, but then again I didn't really pay attention to it.
What struck is that the people in the street didn't look particularly French anymore. It's a global world and Paris is part of it including the way they dress.
Steve,
Love the Ugly American thread!
What struck is that the people in the street didn't look particularly French anymore. It's a global world and Paris is part of it including the way they dress.
Steve,
Love the Ugly American thread!
Oh Louis if it was bad like it used to be you couldn't help but notice it LOL
The first time I went to Europe was around 5 years ago. We spend about a week in and around London and another week in a car driving to Belgium overnight (OMG! I LOVED Brugge!), to Amsterdam for 1.5 days, then Paris for 3 days and back to London (one helluva lot of driving in a week!).
I can honestly say I liked Paris more then I thought I would! It's a beautiful city and if you greet the Parisians as they do, we found everyone was pleasant, we never encountered any problems with the "French attitude" I had heard so much about. I don't remember seeing dog poop all over, but I wasn't looking. I do remember some air pollition, but it wasn't bad (this coming from one who lives in Los Angeles).
I also specifically remember these public toilets. I made it a point to find and use one since I had read about them and was intrigued. At that time... 5-ish years ago, they were not free!
I can honestly say I liked Paris more then I thought I would! It's a beautiful city and if you greet the Parisians as they do, we found everyone was pleasant, we never encountered any problems with the "French attitude" I had heard so much about. I don't remember seeing dog poop all over, but I wasn't looking. I do remember some air pollition, but it wasn't bad (this coming from one who lives in Los Angeles).
I also specifically remember these public toilets. I made it a point to find and use one since I had read about them and was intrigued. At that time... 5-ish years ago, they were not free!
The Global Look
I do agree about the melting pot that is Paris. I really like that, and felt that the mixed crowd was far more integrated and assimilated than here in the U.S., where way too many people are hell-bent on not assimilating and blending in. What most impressed me about Paris were the examples of diversity I saw everywhere.
I do agree about the melting pot that is Paris. I really like that, and felt that the mixed crowd was far more integrated and assimilated than here in the U.S., where way too many people are hell-bent on not assimilating and blending in. What most impressed me about Paris were the examples of diversity I saw everywhere.
