Bonsoir - a week without Debbie now. And the only night I've gone out for dinner was one night with co-workers from IFS. I went with my hat in my hand in the morning and asked if I could join them! We did go to my favorite Italian place (Livio in Neully) - so that was good!
Otherwise, it continues to cool off. Nights are in the high 40's now and it is usually in the low-mid 70's during the day. But skies have been clear, and it has been very nice. On Thursday, I did go out a second time. I attended a dinner / study thing at the American Church in Paris. It was a nice meal, but the discussion was VERY intellectual! That after a week of running workshops at work! It was all about science, evolution and religion! Ouch. Well, it was interesting to listen to, and also fun to sit with 3 flight attendants from United Airlines who were here overnight, walking around, and just decided to come in for dinner and check it out! You never know who you might encounter...
So, I have been thinking a while about what sort of experience it is here. It is a sensory circus for sure - the sights, of course. But actually, you cannot overlook the sounds and smells also. I tend to take those things for granted usually, but even if you don't hear things (that others tell you - I've been accused of that) or don't have a keen sense of smell, you cannot help but notice the sounds and smells of Paris.
Smells - first thing in the morning, it is damp, something you don't often get in Tucson - sort of a basement smell. You walk along to towards the train and will probably notice a urine smell (and hope it was a dog). This is usually aggravated by the cleaners who are spraying down the roads. The garbage containers by the road (similar to those in Tucson), usually are not too bad unless the neighbors have been having fish the night before. I walk by a boulangerie and enjoy the smell of fresh bread and rolls (frequently stopping for pain au raisin). As you get closer to Les Halles, it opens up until you step onto the escalator down to the RER. Suddenly, it gets much warmer and the damp turns to moist (think Florida). By the time you reach the train, it's a bit like before the coolness of a monsoon in Tucson. As you gather with the crowd to file onto the train, it gets tight. You hope for perfume, but sometimes that doesn't quite work out. Then you just hope for cleanliness and deodorant. While you are on the train, it is almost always quite crowded (I was told it is the busiest metro line in the world). So you can just imagine what that can be like. And it has always been warm enough to make me sweat! Once you get to La Defense, one of the best smells is just getting back out into the fresh air. Of course, you must first break through the second hand smoke as everyone lights up when they leave the metro (same thing outside any restaurant you may walk by). It is hard to continue to exhale long enough to get away! Later, after returning to the apartment, sometimes, the Taxi Juane restaurant across the street provides some mouth-watering smells. Those can be off-set by the probably-traditional Chinese cooking coming from the back windows of the apartment. I can take care of that by opening a bottle of rouge from Nicolas and heating some quiche in the oven! Of course, as you pass the various stores on Rue Rambitou, you get the roasting chickens, the cheeses, the pastries, and the cafes. And after a nice meal, there is nothing like the smell of the espresso (which is worth it even if it cost $2 for about 3oz)!
I don't know if that gives an idea, but I know that I will recall the smells of Paris (both good and bad). They have made a impression! Au revoir.
Posts
