Reporting live from Gare du Nord
Bonjour la monde! Have been in Paris for a month now, and have had a series of transportation misadventures. Today we are headed to the Netherlands, and apparently someone either fell or jumped on to the train tracks, literally stopping us in our tracks. Now, during this trip I have only taken one other trip on the Grand Ligne to Francfort, and the exactly some thing happened! A French SNCF officer informed me without expression (and without fear and without favor!) What better time than sitting in the middle of the tracks five minutes outside of Gare du Nord to sum up my Europeans adventures (and misadventures)?!
The French – they love to strike!
La greve, c’est tout les jour! I’m not sure if it’s because I arrived in the middle of the retirement age law change, or if c’est normal, but there is a strike going on every other day! Like the weather, scandals, and how the kids are, it’s what people talk about.
The French – they love lingerie!
C’est vrai! Just on my brief five minute walk to work I pass by no less than four boutiques with nothing but lacey lingerie. When I try on any item at all in the shop, the vendeuse automatically bring me a whole set, as if it’s unthinkable to wear mismatched undies.
Speaking of vendeuse enthusiasm, my Chinese face has really become a liability when it comes to faire du shopping. Please note that scores of buses filled with eager Chinese tourists are dropped off at Printemps and Galeries Lafayette everyday. They are set free for two hours and tear through the place on a mission! Mistaking me for one of these mega shoppers, the vendeuse are really disappointed when I don’t buy — like — four Louis Vuitton bags within ten minutes. Eeek.
The French – they love food and wine!
I have never had a bad meal here, and have made it my goal to try as many steak tartares as possible (the best so far is at A Pied au Cochon!) The patisseries are like mini art galleries (see La Patisserie des Reves, they are even housed in little glass cases!) What’s more, I love love love that every single Tabac, Traiteur, Bistro, and Cafe serves little carafes of wine. It’s for when one glass is not enough and a whole bottle is too much — which dare I say is all the time!
