I’m back home – been here for a few days now. I took so many photos during my last three days in Paris that I’ll keep posting them here for awhile. Or at least until something big or exciting happens here.
Here are a few observations about Paris:
1. Smoking – Good gawd, everyone there smokes! Not only does everyone smoke, but there are currently no laws or ordinances banning smoking from public places. I walked into one bistro (brasserie) and nearly gagged to death within the first 30 seconds. I looked around and noticed every single person inside had a cigarette in their mouth. Ugh – and disgusting.
2. Bread, Cheese, Wine and Chocolate – I haven’t had such wonderful, tasty bread as I had in Paris. And the butter that went with the bread was equally as fabulous. I think I ate more carbs in the first week there than I had eaten in the entire past year. I am currently experiencing bread withdrawal symptoms. Croissants for breakfast, baguette sandwiches for lunch and french bread with dinner. YUMMM!
3. Expensive – It’s definitely not cheap there. It wasn’t outrageously expensive, but there were not the bargains there like we found in Hong Kong. Restaurant food was priced about the same as it is here. Wine is definitely less expensive there. We went to a Wal-Mart type store where there were aisles of wine for sale, most in the $3 – 5 range. You don’t‘ find wine that cheap here.
Clothes were not a bargain anywhere we went.
4. Getting Around – You can walk anywhere in Paris. It’s a fabulous walking city. If that’s not your style, there are plenty of taxis to take you places or there’s the city train, which we found pretty dirty. It’s on time and gets you there, but you want to use a hand sanitizer after the trip.
5. Dogs – already talked about them in the last post. Dogs were everywhere, but I don’t recall ever seeing a cat, except in artwork.
6. Fashion – I’ve read for years that Paris is the fashion capitol of the world. Hhmmm.. Not from what I saw. With the exception of a few trendy dressed young women, I didn’t see anyone stand out from the crowd as a fashion diva. Low-heeled, knee-high boots were the hottest accessory. A very close second place was the hobo-style bag. The bigger the bag the better. Hair accessories were also hot.
Enough rambling – I know you want to see the pictures.
This was from the Disneyland press event. Debby, Fred and me.
Me and Annette joining in the dance.
Another tourist having his picture taken with the Thinker.
