Photo by Michael Honegger
Missed the Marathon, Made the Métro, Missing Nothing
Parler Paris Nouvellettre®
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Monday, April 12, 2010 • Paris, France
While Ethiopians Tadesse Tola and Atsede Baysa won the 34th Paris marathon on Sunday, and the streets were blocked for the runners making muck and mire of the street transportation, I was making use of the Métro.
Living in central Paris, public transportation is less necessary than for most -- so little that it's pointless to have a "Navigo" pass and still use those dumb little tickets that can be purchased in blocks of 10 (called "un carnet").
The bus is my preferred mode of transport, undiscovered until no longer a tourist, but a resident, with time to study the maps and test out the routes. Once you've taken the leap from Métro to bus, however, you see the advantages the buses have over the trains (such as views of our beautiful city), with the exception of speed and reliability, although even those points could be argued depending on the routes.
Nonetheless, bus-riders and even those hoofing it across town were caught by the Marathon that started just off the Champs-Elysées with about 40,000 runners. It's a shame to have missed it, but one eye-witness related that it was a fleeting moment. (It reminds me of the annual Tour de France bike race when spectators wait hours for the riders to speed by, all to miss seeing them if they blink. Been there, done that!)
When you're out and about in Paris, whether on public transportation, hoofing it or just sitting at a café, it's 'normal' to see the 'strangest' things...that is if you're paying attention even just a bit. On the Métro, you can either cocoon yourself into your own thoughts by reading, listening to music or just meditating, paying no attention whatsoever to what's going on around you, or instead, be very 'present' and make a point of taking it all in.
Being 'present' was a 'game' learned to play as a result of reading "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle that has heightened my sense of awareness and turns any passive time, such as waiting, into an active time filled with pleasure. Try it, you might like it.
Over the weekend riding the Métro, it seemed that there were endless instances of which a rider would be amused, if paying to attention, that is...
One time the door opened and blocking our path to enter was an enormous white hairy dog held on a leash by a tall, thin totally tattooed young man who not only was wearing earphones listening to whatever, but was reading a thick comic book, paying no attention to anyone or anything at all including his dog who was, of course, stepping all over our toes and breathing heavily on our legs. (Dogs, except for seeing-eye dogs, are not allowed on the Métro, although tolerated, and especially if small in a sac or carrying case.)
In another instance, the door opened and inside the car were about 40 or so young men and women relatively well dressed, speaking another language (hard to tell what it was) drinking beer, singing loudly and having a rip-roaring good time. That lasted only one stop when I opted to move to the next car, where it was considerable quieter. (I preferred being stepped on by the large dog, rather than puked on by a young reveler.)
Lots of people sleep on the Métro -- the sound and movement of the train is mesmerizing and therefore makes a great place to catch a nap, except for the risk of missing your stop. Talk about not paying attention! (And I am definitely guilt of such antics, but try not to lay my head on the shoulder of the passenger next to me.)
There were moments of synchronicity on the trains this weekend, too, having just spoken about Gariguette strawberries at a dinner party, and only to have heard about them for the first time, and then to see a huge poster for them in the Métro that evening.
At the end of the weekend, having done lots of fun and wonderful things during two beautiful Spring days in the City of Light, what struck me most were the little things that had passed my way, NOT UNNOTICED.
A la prochaine...
Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
(photo by Harry Hamburg)
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P.S. Tomorrow, April 13th and second Tuesday of every month, Parler Paris and French Property Insider readers gather at La Pierre du Marais for a drink and a "schmooze" --It's an opportunity to meet and chat with other like-minded people and a great way to make friends! Costs nothing except whatever you drink. Don't miss it tomorrow from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit Parler Paris Après Midi
P.P.S. If you have a teenager interested in photography and live in the New York City vicinity, be sure to check out photogrpaher Erica Simone's special Shooting Stars Workshop for Teens beginning May 15th! See below...
