I had the misfortune to talk myself into visiting Paris for a week. Everybody was "oh, I am so jealous, Paris is marvelous". I even missed a TEDx event that I really wanted to attend...
Whatever...
I arrived in Paris Charles DeGaull (CDG) airport after an uneventful flight. As airports go, CDG was dark and ugly. Long passenger movers. I was impressed by a Concorde that was parked on a display. My first impression leaving the plane was the smell. France smelled sweet! The airport has an internal rail shuttle that connects the terminals with the train stations and the parking lots.
I took the RER (train) to Paris Gare Du Nord and was fortunate enough to get on the express version of the train - it didn't stop anywhere. I got my ticket from a ticket machine that excepted ONLY coins, however this was not the machine's fault... There were machines that sold tickets using credit cards but someone just of the plane has no way of knowing that: No instructions anywhere, except of course ON the machine itself. Train was also dark and ugly and very very filthy. Everything broken and covered in graffiti.
Sidenote: Only the French could be so annoying to have SIX "central" train stations for one city: Gare du Nord, Gare St Lazare, Gare Del'Est, Bercy, Austerliz, Montparnasse... hopefully by 2016 they will incorporate all of them to the "new" central station of Les Halles.
I made my changeover to the Metro easily, however, I was annoyed and stunned of the disastrous appearance of the metro stations. Filth everywhere. Hobos sleeping in every corner. Signage was in french of course, but I found my line and stop quickly. The biggest problem was the unfriendliness of the station for someone carrying a 20Kgr suitcase.
Getting out of the Metro into the cold and wet Paris night was disorienting and confusing. A very nice local helped me locate my hotel using his iPhone. I arrived to the Hotel and crashed in my room. What is the first thing someone after a long trip on planes and trains wishes to do? of course: take a hot shower! But the room didn't have any soap of any kind. I was prepared, knowing the "love" the french have for washing. I had my OWN soap with me!
Refreshed and partially clean, I spent some time acclimatizing to my new living space for the next week. The room was extremely small and smelled of mildew. So small, it didn't have a spot to put my suitcase! I opened the window to clear the smell and started unpacking my stuff. Room was nicely decorated with IKEA items and had a big photo tapestry of "Les Invalides" at the head of the bed.
Then, I got dressed and stepped out into the unfamiliar surroundings, to look and feel around and get something to eat. My Hotel was located close to Place De La Republique. Not the best part of town I imagine, but lively, full with people and heavy traffic. Long lines outside cinemas. Hobos everywhere, but nobody cares. Plenty of big scooters locked with heavy locks (says something about traffic problem and petty crime). Many eateries around, most of them oriental food, sushi, kebabs - not looking particularly clean. One nice Ethiopian place, some bistros, some cafes. Couple of boulangeries. Gangs of teen girls and boys roaming about and making noise (probably the local version of gypsies)
The Parisians walk inside a perpetual cloud of perfume.
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