tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post8698291890310791067..comments2022-04-08T01:44:47.178+02:00Comments on Not quite down and out in Paris, but almost...: It's Paris, isn't it?Mec about Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766877511053673811noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-46597992545366076212010-07-27T18:44:34.928+02:002010-07-27T18:44:34.928+02:00I can't argue with your own personal experienc...I can't argue with your own personal experience but in my opinion, as a foreigner who lives in Paris for over 2.5 years now, your impression of Paris is way too gloomy.<br />We could have endless examples about why this city is not as good as NY, London, Berlin, Madrid or any other metropolitan, examples such as the damn trick with the coin of the Gypsies, the metro bands, the way they abused and massacred the Pizza etc..<br />But there are some other things in Paris, some things which I can find charming - the artists, the liberated souls who feel the beautiful sites and the sewerage of Paris; they are friendly and they keep this city alive and visually in anarchic way up to date, another example are the various attractions you have during the different times of the year all over Paris.<br />Furthermore, when you do know how to speak french and you will try to have a small talk with somebody in most cases you will make a new disposable friend. It might be the guy from the Greek fast foot diner, the girl from the tapas bar next door, the barber, the taxi driver, the barman, the same homeless guy that sometimes is too disgusting to stand next to, but on another occasions can be an interesting character to speak with,<br />And more than everything else the girls. the beautiful Parisian with Chic who you can make you fall in love with 20 times in 30 minutes, from the moment you step into the metro until you get off at your stop.<br />The reality is in the eye of the beholder, so as Parisjohndepp9https://www.blogger.com/profile/03949868497081717736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-39584862202397617692010-07-23T15:55:47.844+02:002010-07-23T15:55:47.844+02:00i've got some horrible stories about having my...i've got some horrible stories about having my daughter here and all my immigration woes. I would love to be able to say that someone flashed me or that i was disappointed to find something out of service. To each his own apparently, but my woes in Paris regard the seriously debilitating. However, I'm very happy to have found your blog for some fellow cynicism in what feels like a sea of Parisian romanticists. I'd love to PM you if possible.LissaSiouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04376045297665079023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-4305519677989589362010-07-17T18:15:08.479+02:002010-07-17T18:15:08.479+02:00Everyone who lives in Paris has their stories - I ...Everyone who lives in Paris has their stories - I thought it's what gave the city its character. I could tell personal stories about the girl who got flashed at by another woman on the metro, or the woman who felt her skirt being lifted climbing the metro stairs one evening (another homeless guy). I recall two business men impatient in the post office, yelling (to the point of spitting on the back of my neck) and banging fists on the desk as they knocked over stands and shouted abuse at the staff, then walked out with goods they hadn't pay for, to compensate for their wasted time. There's the countless youth who refused to give up a seat for a heavily pregnant woman on public transport, or the people in the supermarket, who literally push you out of the way to get on an elevator leaving you stranded, waiting with a pushchair, only to have people attempt to do it again on the second attempt to go down a floor. Everyday there's people parked on zebra crossing, or reversing on a crossing as you're on it. There's the waiter who told me to 'vamoosh' because I was blocking the corridor, and when I explained I couldn't leave because I had been giving the wrong change, he retorted 'we are not thieves here'.... I could go on, and on and on, but it's not all bad is it? I've never lived in New York or London, but I've visited and found plenty of rudeness there - that's just the nature of city life.<br />Very easy to be all one sided, but I've met plenty of friendly people in the city. Some people are very polite, and some folk will go out of their way to help others. In two years I've never felt intimidated day or night, and the only crime I've seen were some Eastern block kids trying to run off with the camera belonging to a Japanese tourist. The architecture's splendid, the museums stunning, and some of the restaurants are amazing. There's beautiful parks, and beautiful women. <br />Agreed, the taxi driver's are bloody awful though!Gavinhttp://www.paris-in-photos.com/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-66471968090331523362010-07-15T12:19:46.804+02:002010-07-15T12:19:46.804+02:00Brilliant James, I liked it that you touched upon ...Brilliant James, I liked it that you touched upon the expats who have lived in Paris for a number of years. I hope I don't end up like it but they seem to become a bit obsessed by the length of time they have lived here and/or by the fact they live here at all. An Irish girl refused to acknowledge me in the Galway the other night and when I asked her why she told me she does not speak to "effing tourists"...charming eh? The times I have been called a "newbie" for only living here two and a half years !! Karen XxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-30653358649521316922010-07-13T23:59:00.407+02:002010-07-13T23:59:00.407+02:00Thank you for reading - I'm glad you enjoyed t...Thank you for reading - I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Apologies for the interpretation of my perception of the homeless in Paris. I, too, have every sympathy for them and my issue is with the city for not providing suitable help and facilities for them, such as one might find in London or New York for example.Mec about Parishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766877511053673811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205632500397886493.post-52848933703004126772010-07-12T23:22:26.318+02:002010-07-12T23:22:26.318+02:00(They) 'instead develop an assortment of noise...(They) 'instead develop an assortment of noises which can be slipped into conversation where necessary simply to avoid a moment’s silence.'<br />This is so true that I laughed loudly for a good 10 seconds after I read it, so thank you. On the other hand I found your description of the homeless in Paris verging on dismissive and cold. I'm still affected by the amount of people living on the streets in this city, and agree that there must be some way to improve the situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com