C’est la vie!
I am in Paris with my family! As we clumsily make our way through the busy, beautiful cobblestone streets, I cannot help making observations on parts of Parisian culture that contrast with what I have grown used to in Canada.
1. Every building in Paris is epic. Loser buildings simply do not exist. So beautiful and so much history!
2. Alcohol costs about as much as juice or pop. Bubble tea is super expensive. Yeah, we would know.
3. People don’t order hot water to drink. We’ve tried… Multiple times!
“hot water please!”
… (confused look)
“uhh l’eau chaud?”
… “mineral or still?”
“uhh… Never mind. Wine please.”
4. Most things are eaten rather plainly:
Bread without butter
Pasta without sauce: “uhh does this come with sauce?” “…ketchup? Mustard?”
5. Musicians on the streets… And on the metro! Accordions, saxophones, and french rap make for some pleasant transit ambience!
6. Traffic laws and lanes… Do not exist! For pedestrians, there is no blinking red man… Only a green man and a red man! This makes crossing the street rather stressful. No dilly dallying, because there’s no telling when the light will switch! AND the cars that are turning will go, even when it’s green go man.
7. People are well-dressed ALL THE TIME. I saw this lovely lady biking through a busy intersection… She could’ve been posing for a photo shoot, she looked so lovely and graceful! No sweatpants or hoodies to be seen. You can tell who is a tourist by their new balance sneakers. even children are impeccably dressed!
8. I always thought it was just a stereotype, but yes, people do walk around holding baguettes under their arms! You can sometimes catch someone taking a bite out of their baguette as they stroll through the streets.
9. Coffee is pretty much always a shot of espresso (or two) in a teeny little cup. You get a packet of a sugar with it and milk only if you order cafe au lait. No takeout cups here, coffee is meant to be enjoyed sitting outside a cafe overlooking a busy street on a glorious summer day!
Haha that’s all I can think of for now. I’m sure I’m missing a lot, and there are definitely some more funny miscommunication stories from our time here :) but it’s time to sleep… Louvre tomorrow, then Versailles the next day and then meeting up with a pair of Lau’s and Lynda !!



