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Paris Dispatches
- Thread starter JPSmit
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OP
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Well, here we go again. Today was true culture - Disneyland Paris. Turned out to be a very interesting time. First of all, you can get there by public transit (as I suppose you can the USA parks, but, it would never occur to anyone to do so) Took the metro and then the RER to the end of the line and there it was. IT is similar to Magic Kingdom, though more compressed and was it packed! But, in a very French way - less kids than you'd expect, more black clothing and lots of hip young people - youth and adults cruising around. (One caveat to what I just said - when we lived in FL we were near Winter Park where everyone was skinny and beautiful and had nice teeth - that wasn't the same at Disney, there I always felt skinny and smart if you catch my drift. Same thing here, largest Parisians I have seen all week (though not as many as in the US) more boys with pants hanging of their butts you get the idea.) Still no electric scooters to run you over though there were certainly folk in wheelchairs. The parks are similar in terms of ride but different in terms of mood. First off, it was the coldest day I have ever spent in a Disney park (no surprise there but it makes a difference) Secondly there was no music playing in the parks and even at night there are many fewer lights, making for a much darker park than you can imagine. What struck me the most though was the park itself. I had never thought of theme parks being anything else than theme parks. Today I realized they really are a uniquely American phenomenon and as such, Disney Paris is as unabashedly American as Coca Cola and Apple Pie. I appreciate that by the way. (and wish there were a few more unabashedly Canadian things but that is another post another day.) Here the rides were named in English, most signs were both french and english (or more), the announcements were both, it was very cool. It was not in anyone's face, but it was what it was and that is cool.
It was PACKED! And I got the idea it was the first visit for a higher percentage than you might find in an American park. Certainly at the end of the day there was a feeding frenzy in the stores such as I have never experienced ever in any park anywhere (and this is based on 150 plus Disney visits). One thing that was particularly neat was how much fun everyone was having. While there wasn't the "disney uniforms - hat sweats - tee shirts - jewelry -pins" you would find in the USA, and there wasn't the "I must see <span style="text-decoration: line-through">mecca</span> Disney before I die pilgrimage, still, people were having a hoot. We have ridden Star Tours literally hundreds of time and I have never been in a group having as much fun as this. During the employee's explanation of the ride, a woman's cell phone rang and everyone started singing the tune. The woman behind me laughed and screamed so much she could barely breathe. We had a similar experience in of all places It's a Small World (I know but I love my wife) there were kids reveling in the ride, pointing out things to their parents when they should have outgrown the ride years ago - I am talking 6 & 7 years old. I have no more than the hotel TV to go by, but it makes me wonder whether French kids get bombarded by the media the same way North American kids do, and whether that means they don't arrived already jaded like many of our kids are at a very young age. There seemed to me to be a much greater sense of surprise and delight than I am accustomed to in North American kids.
Anyways, home on the metro - found an American restaurant and was in the mood so had a burger and beer and all is well with the world.
Now onto the pics.
It was PACKED! And I got the idea it was the first visit for a higher percentage than you might find in an American park. Certainly at the end of the day there was a feeding frenzy in the stores such as I have never experienced ever in any park anywhere (and this is based on 150 plus Disney visits). One thing that was particularly neat was how much fun everyone was having. While there wasn't the "disney uniforms - hat sweats - tee shirts - jewelry -pins" you would find in the USA, and there wasn't the "I must see <span style="text-decoration: line-through">mecca</span> Disney before I die pilgrimage, still, people were having a hoot. We have ridden Star Tours literally hundreds of time and I have never been in a group having as much fun as this. During the employee's explanation of the ride, a woman's cell phone rang and everyone started singing the tune. The woman behind me laughed and screamed so much she could barely breathe. We had a similar experience in of all places It's a Small World (I know but I love my wife) there were kids reveling in the ride, pointing out things to their parents when they should have outgrown the ride years ago - I am talking 6 & 7 years old. I have no more than the hotel TV to go by, but it makes me wonder whether French kids get bombarded by the media the same way North American kids do, and whether that means they don't arrived already jaded like many of our kids are at a very young age. There seemed to me to be a much greater sense of surprise and delight than I am accustomed to in North American kids.
Anyways, home on the metro - found an American restaurant and was in the mood so had a burger and beer and all is well with the world.
Now onto the pics.
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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Really enjoying your posts. It makes me want to sneek off to Paris over the New Years.
I was wondering: Have you used any of those famous "public bicycles" in Paris? Are they common or has that whole concept fizzled out? (I hope not).
There is a high-end body shop near us with one of those Maseratis in the lot (like the blue coupe you've included above). I got out to look at it....very understated and cool.
Even if I owned a Multipla and a Messerschmitt, I'd *still* want a 2CV. They are The Bee's Knees!
I wish we had a chance to buy some of those cool European cars. There are many small-displacement diesels over there (like the VW Polo) that make great sense to me. Also, lots of other interesting cars. My 50-something female cousin in the UK is not particularly a car nut and she just bought this Peugeot RCZ
I was wondering: Have you used any of those famous "public bicycles" in Paris? Are they common or has that whole concept fizzled out? (I hope not).
There is a high-end body shop near us with one of those Maseratis in the lot (like the blue coupe you've included above). I got out to look at it....very understated and cool.
Even if I owned a Multipla and a Messerschmitt, I'd *still* want a 2CV. They are The Bee's Knees!
I wish we had a chance to buy some of those cool European cars. There are many small-displacement diesels over there (like the VW Polo) that make great sense to me. Also, lots of other interesting cars. My 50-something female cousin in the UK is not particularly a car nut and she just bought this Peugeot RCZ
OP
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2CV's are awesome, and they look so right here, saw one driving today, and a mini and a few small older Fiats including a 500. We are winding up the trip, tomorrow morning the airport. Today was mostly strolling the Champs E'lysee again. Sundays in Paris are amazing, most all the stores are closed (except in a few tourist areas) but everyone comes out to see and be seen. There is just a relaxed air everywhere when people don't have to rush to shop or do chores. It continues to amaze me that a secular part of the world like Europe still insists on a day of rest. I remember reading once that North Americans took all the time saving advances like microwaves and washing machines and computers and rather than taking time, took money while Europeans said, we don't want the money, we want the time. Sure seems like they made the right choice when you're walking along the Seine enjoying a beautiful day for its own sake and not just another opportunity to shop. (It still bugs me BTW that somehow in our countries we stopped being citizens and became consumers - but, again, another post, another day)
Was a drizzly day but not too cold, and negating everything I have just written about Europeans not shopping, the Christmas markets were open. At the bottom of the Champ's D'elysee is a stretch of 3/4 mile? of park. (BTW I'm pretty sure the USA founding fathers got their idea for the national mall in Paris cause it seems very similar) Along this stretch on both sides of the road is booth after booth of stuff for sale. Each booth is made of wood, painted white, looks a little like a chalet and is about 10 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Lots of Christmas junk for sale - scarves, hats, toys, heating pads, magic tricks and so on and more food than you can imagine. They had everything (nothing says paris like fresh churros) they even had hot dogs and donuts (donuts were 2.50 euros each) It was wonderful lots of music, lots of people, lots of fun. We got a bag of warm beignets and just walked.
Yes Nial, they still have the publicly owned bicycles - they are everywhere. For the rest of you, imagine a row of bikes (on many streets) about 20 long, all identical, all locked electronically. You put in your card (or whatever, we didn't try to understand) and use the bike and then lock it up at the next place. They were in frequent use and in very good repair.
Oh, and we went in the Louis Vitton store, I saw a keychain (an ordinary keychain) for 225 euros - suddenly restoring cars doesn't seem so costly after all.
I have posted some pics of the car dealerships on the street - there are 5 - Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Mercedes Benz and Toyota (I know) They were packed. People coming to get their pictures taken with the cars, balloons for the kids, coloring contests for the kids, gift shops - I bought a lovely Peugeot watch and a little die cast 404, the renault place even had Santa (all in white and kids sit next to him, not on his knee) It was all fascinating and a whole different interaction than we are used to with car dealers. Maybe if we did that, there would be a little more buzz around cars than just slimy sales people and high pressure pitches.
When I have a moment, I'll post the next pictures - we exited the subway at the arche d'triomphe and happened on a car moment that I have been savouring all day - now off to the last supper (well not that last supper) Bon Soir
Was a drizzly day but not too cold, and negating everything I have just written about Europeans not shopping, the Christmas markets were open. At the bottom of the Champ's D'elysee is a stretch of 3/4 mile? of park. (BTW I'm pretty sure the USA founding fathers got their idea for the national mall in Paris cause it seems very similar) Along this stretch on both sides of the road is booth after booth of stuff for sale. Each booth is made of wood, painted white, looks a little like a chalet and is about 10 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Lots of Christmas junk for sale - scarves, hats, toys, heating pads, magic tricks and so on and more food than you can imagine. They had everything (nothing says paris like fresh churros) they even had hot dogs and donuts (donuts were 2.50 euros each) It was wonderful lots of music, lots of people, lots of fun. We got a bag of warm beignets and just walked.
Yes Nial, they still have the publicly owned bicycles - they are everywhere. For the rest of you, imagine a row of bikes (on many streets) about 20 long, all identical, all locked electronically. You put in your card (or whatever, we didn't try to understand) and use the bike and then lock it up at the next place. They were in frequent use and in very good repair.
Oh, and we went in the Louis Vitton store, I saw a keychain (an ordinary keychain) for 225 euros - suddenly restoring cars doesn't seem so costly after all.
I have posted some pics of the car dealerships on the street - there are 5 - Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Mercedes Benz and Toyota (I know) They were packed. People coming to get their pictures taken with the cars, balloons for the kids, coloring contests for the kids, gift shops - I bought a lovely Peugeot watch and a little die cast 404, the renault place even had Santa (all in white and kids sit next to him, not on his knee) It was all fascinating and a whole different interaction than we are used to with car dealers. Maybe if we did that, there would be a little more buzz around cars than just slimy sales people and high pressure pitches.
When I have a moment, I'll post the next pictures - we exited the subway at the arche d'triomphe and happened on a car moment that I have been savouring all day - now off to the last supper (well not that last supper) Bon Soir
OP
Online
Well dinner is done - lovely little restaurant across the street. We've eaten there three times so it is nice to be recognized. Started with Calamari then salmon & salad, it was lovely. Saw this car today, they are everywhere and to my eyes, not only smaller than a Smart car but they look to me like a toy playmobile car.
