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.
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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