Observations on my 4th day in France

Tourists act crazy in Paris, particularly instagrammers and tik tok types. They literally take their life in their hand to get a photo or video. 

They stand in the middle of the street, cars streaming around them, striking poses. Today at the Arc de Triomphe they were literally going out in the intersection and then having someone film them walking forward. It's scary but funnier than shit to watch.

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The Paris Metro is similar to the London Underground in one way: Stairs. When you transfer trains it is down hallways and up and down stairs. The difference: the metro here is remarkably clean and bright. The prices are SO MUCH. cheaper than London.

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Paris is similar to Vienna in that there are rows and rows of apartment buildings one after another for blocks and blocks that seem to go on forever. They are all the same height-about 5 stories. They all have ornate Juliet balconies. Some are architecturally unique. The difference: In Vienna almost every building had statues on top of them. 

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Paris is probably one of the coolest looking cities at night. All the restaurants are lit up at night in the neighborhoods and looking down the street is really cool. It feels like the city comes alive in the neighborhoods at night.

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French is such a beautiful sounding language. It's soothing to the ear. We have heard English with a  British accent, Scottishaccent, a Welsh accent, an Irish accent. We have heard German, Catalan, Spanish. Nothing is like French. 

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Something I  appreciate about French trains, metros, planes: They make announcements in English. Maybe that's the self centered American in me but it's nice. France seems a friendlier and easier place for tourists overall.

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Paris doesn't smell like a sewer. That's all I'll say about that.

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November 01, 2022 at 11:27PM