Paris in Winter

Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second

I’ve been travelling around Scotland seeing relatives for the last few weeks, but my daughter had arranged a special treat of a 4 day break in Paris from which I’ve just returned.
I must be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the trip. I’ve spent many holidays in France, but they’ve all been rural, around the Loire, Bordeaux and Dijon. The people have been lovely, the food has been great and the weather mostly glorious, but everyone told us, stay away from Paris, the people are unfriendly and it’s too busy. I put it down to jealousy.
Paris is beautiful. The buildings are of a finer detailed construction than London, the avenues are wider than Berlin, the food is better than Amsterdam and there is more art available than in Venice and Rome combined.
It was expensive; a coffee costs about €4, a simple two course meal without wine about €20, a Metro ticket €1.70, but everything was clean, crisp and gorgeous. Even the Eiffel Tower was much more impressive seen up close.
Here’s a list of things we saw in our four day trip:

  • Eiffel Tower
  • The Louvre and the Tuileries
  • Notre Dame and the Isles Du Cite and St. Louis
  • Bastille & the Jewish Quarter
  • The Sorbonne & The Latin Quarter
  • The National Gallery (Grand Palace)
  • Rodin Museum
  • Musee d’Orsay
  • Les Invalides and Napoleon’s Tomb
  • Arc de Triumph

We enjoyed all of these, tourist traps though they might be, but it was the everyday shops, buildings and people which mak Paris such a great place to visit. The shops were amazing. I’ve never seen fruit and vegetables handled and displayed with such care. The Patisseries and the Boulangerie were outstanding. Eating a freshly baked croissant while drinking a cafe creme and looking at all the stylish people walking past must be one of life’s great but simple pleasures.
We only encountered 3 rude people.
One was a sales assisstant at Galleries Lafayette (a huge department store), who answered NON in an exceedingly condescending tone when I asked “Palez vous Anglais?”, and then turned her back and walked away.
The second was in The Louvre, when I asked for a free entry ticket for my son (EC Citizens under 25 are given free enty to most of Paris’ museums). The museum employee gave such a sneer before dispensing the ticket he must have sprained every muscle in his nose and upper lip.
The last was an american bartender working in Harry’s Bar. When my son (who is a pretty fair bartender himself) asked for a Negroni and a Manahattan, the bartender complied, but with a continuous stream of muttering and curses.

Smoking is also everywhere.  After being in such a smoke conscious society as NZ and the UK it is really nice to be in a city which treats adults as responsible.  If you want to smoke, go and smoke.  There’s something rreally French about a guy nursing an espresso and a Gaulause and staring moodily at every pretty girl that is passing.

Nevertheless, I wish I’d visited Paris before I emmigrated to NZ, because I really want to visit again and again and it’s difficult to do that from 13000 miles away.

Au Revoir Paris, Je t’aime.

About Post Author

Robert Douglas

Teacher, married with two grown up children. Our son lives in NZ, our married daughter is in Scotland. We live in a lovely house in a small town about 30 km from the capital. We keep a small dog (Bichon Frise) and spend our spare time reading, gardening and going for walks.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
13 years ago

Visited Paris many times between 1968-84, August was my favorite time, everybody leaves town for the whole month.

Admin
13 years ago

I have been to France Douglas, but like you mostly rural areas, and I loved it. I have never been to Paris but want to go. I am glad that you enjoyed your experience and that you chose to share. Thanks.

Previous post Evolving Values: We’ve Come a Long Way
Next post The Dream Lives On
2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x