Tuesday
Feb172009
Meditations on Paris
Tue, 17 2, 09: 5.10 AM 
Photo: Brett Valenstein, 2009
- The French love eggs -- they will put an egg on anything
- The French love ham almost as much as they love eggs. I’ve been told that ham is the equivalent to a hot dog in the US. But you don’t find hotdogs on the menu in the finest restaurants in the US. Unless they are being cheeky like the kitchen at Table 6 in Denver with their Foie Dogs.
- Parisians do not pick up after their dogs. Pas de tout. I’ve heard that people have narrowly escaped a steaming pile in the metro no less.
- You don’t see Parisians walking around with giant to-go cups of coffee. If they want coffee, they will duck into the nearest café and sit down, talk with friends or read a book and take their time.
- Parisians aren’t necessarily all about fashion, but they are all about style. I have yet to see a fashion victim walking the streets of Paris and I’ve been here for almost a month. The women here wear what works for them and wear their clothes with such confidence that they make it look effortless. I think that is why women are forever trying to discover the secret to French-girl style. After this trip, I am convinced that French-girl style is more an attitude than what is hanging in her closet.
- Parisian pharmacists love to recommend any medication that effervesces. And suppositories.
- I can’t hide the fact that I’m an Anglo in the land of Latins. It doesn’t matter what I wear or who I’m with or if I am speaking French.
- I don’t find Parisians to be rude. In fact, most Parisians I’ve encountered have been extremely helpful. The French really appreciate it when you try and speak their language; Sure, they might let you fumble for the words for a few moments but then they will usually switch to English (if you aren’t up for the challenge of communicating entirely in French.)
- Parisian women do not over-heat! I will be in a shop, visibly melting in my coat and oh-so-chic scarf and the Parisienne just stands there, cool as a cucumber.
- The French love American pop music -- I have yet to hear any French pop while out dancing at a bôite. I have also learned that people the world over go nuts when Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” plays.
Reader Comments (5)
Loved this list of what Parisians do and don't do. A lot of fun and makes me nostalgic. I have been to Paris many times, a dear friend used to live there and when I was living in Florence I would visit at least twice a year. Get on train at dinner time in Florence, get off in Paris at breakfast time, what could be more perfect? Those were the days! Take me with you next time, pleeeeeeaaaaassseee!!!
I agree with all of these (though I've never been recommended suppositories!). And I definitely love an egg on just about anything--'specially a burger!
Love this! #4 is so true and it goes for Diet Coke too. I walked down the street with a can in my hand, parched after a jog around Luxembourg Garden and I might as well have had a lit stick of dynamite in my hand -- oh the looks I got!
The pharmacist recommended suppositories for a SORE THROAT! Go figure. I went with a throat spray instead!
LOL. I agree with this list. Especially the overheating thing. WTF is up with the heat in BHV?!?