5 days in Paris
So after visiting several cities in India (Mumbai, Valsad, Ahemdabad, and Goa) I spent the past 5 days in Paris. There are several differences and similarities between Paris & New York City. The main difference which I still cannot let go of is that their Metro kicks the Subway’s ass.
The Metro is cleaner, on-schedule, frequent, easy, and smooth. There are no halts in the middle of stops, there are not as many beggars coming on board. The Metro is super-easy for any tourist who does not want to be a “tourist.” While New York City’s Subway system is all encompassing and has all the right ideas in place, the execution is just much poorer. I became an expert at reading the French map in an hour whereas the current NYC Subway map still leaves me confused. I would be better able to guide someone in Paris than in NYC. Maybe it’s the sheer size of it or maybe it’s the fact that we have tons more people using the Subway than the Metro. I have no clue, but I’ve never experienced a more pleasurable public transportation system than the one in Paris.
It’s funny to watch the stereotypes of Paris come to life while in the city. For example, after a day’s hard work, many Parisians will be going home with 2-6 baguettes in stash. They are very well-dressed for the most part and while some rude encounters occurred, most Parisians were extremely helpful and friendly.
Their sex-district makes the old 42nd street look like the new 42nd street. The architecture is all very classic and newer buildings look slightly disgusting in the middle of an ancient-type city. But all the amenities of modern life exist there too.
I’m glad to be back in NYC and have yet to venture to the East Village (I miss it the most). You can take a peek at the photos of Paris on this Web Album.
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i hope that i will eventually find somebody that wants to go to paris with me. i was supposed to go with my school last year but the teacher that planned it cancelled without telling us. so i spent 200 bucks on a passport to get it expedited immediately, for no reason at all. but the pics look great! hope you had a good time!
It was a great trip. My next time, I hope to learn a lot more French than I know now (which is none). I also want to tour the south of France the next time around. It was definitely a great trip.
I am always curious as to whether the “French hates America” stereotypes are really true. I was in the south of France and people could not be nicer, but of the people I know who have been to Paris, not one has come back with an overall good experience due to rudeness… Beautiful city, but supposedly rude attitude. I would love to go so I can see for myself one day.
Laiya here from the Montreal Metroblogging site. If you’re looking for a french experience closer to home, come visit our fair city. It’s only a few short hours away. We’ve got a Metro, baguettes, and rude people too! But don’t worry, we’re mostly nice and if you can’t speak french, we speak english too! La belle ville de Montreal vous attend!
It is a beautiful city and yes the people are famously rude. However, les femmes are amongst the most stylish and beautiful you’ll find and its still starbucks free (I hope). Hate Americans? No, they love America, they just hate Bush. Thats a different thing n’est-ce pas?
I don’t like Montreal nearly as much as I like Paris. I’m not necessarily looking for a French experience…I think I’m mainly looking for the France experience. I absolutely agree that Parisians love the U.S. The kids are all dressed in G-Unit clothing and the younger ones rock Spider-Man sneakers to hats. It’s an absolutely obsessed city with that kind of stuff.
It kind of makes me wonder what it is about American pop-culture that the entire world (it’s the same way in India) imitates it.
But French women for the most part could be models, even the ones I would consider pepe le pieu for some reason have qualities that you would just admire. It’s a beautiful city through and through. Montreal is the same in this way as well from what I remember . . . but I would still feel like I’m being jipped from the total experience.