Saturday, June 14, 2008

paris

City of Lights.

City of Love.

I'd like to add to that list...

City of Crotte.

City of Kamikaze Motorbikes.

City of Dust.

I don't want to sound like I didn't enjoy Paris, I did, it's just that there are a few things you must know:

1) Watch your step, doggie-doodoo abounds on the sidewalks... hence the turn of phrase 'crottoir' instead of trottoir.

2) Watch your step, again on the sidewalk because it's very likely that within 2 - 3 city blocks you will need to skirt out of the way of a motor bike, scooter or vespa. The city is polluted with them, and the only thing worse than a Parisian driver is a Parisian Bike Rider. I am reliably told that there ARE rules of the road that apply to Motorbikes (scooters and the like) but seeing as they spend more time on the sidewalks I guess they feel those 'road' rules don't apply. And an amusing cabbie commented as we passed on unfortunate Motorbike rider (laid out on the street being tended by 3 paramedics) that if there's an accident in Paris, the chances are 90 in favour of it involving a Bike.

3) It's a little ironic that in a city of such high standards of fashion (and what is more fashionable than a pair of fabulous shoes) that the streets and sidewalks of Paris are extremely dusty. Yes, dusty. Your shoes soon become entirely coated in a not so fine layer of chalky white dust. I was very thrilled to learn of this in my Blue Suede Shoes.



This is their Coat of Arms, their 'blason' if you will. The motto "FLVCTVAT NEC MERGITVR" is a Latin phrase meaning "She is tossed by the waves, but is not sunk". I think a more appropriate motto would be "She has stepped in crotte a la trottoir, but is not stuck".

But enough of this critique, we have arrived in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and a little crotte, dust and suicidal motos is not going to stand in our way...

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