Gay Paris

Well, I have been in Paris all week for a meeting for work. There have been some fun times and there have been some lonely times. Primarily, I do not like eating dinner alone. But all in all, this is a nice residential neighborhood where most people do not speak English. I personally think that is very cool - though with my limited French I cannot have conversations with anyone except the clerks at the hotel.

I have a few mishaps - was going the wrong way on the subway the other day and got caught in a wicked downpour also. As I jogged thru the streets of Montparnesse in my see thru white shirt - I acutally got very lost. Someone directed me in the approximate direction but I was so turned around and had no map or money with me. Lesson: bring money and a map when venturing out in strange cities, especially where you don't speak the language well. Eventually, after one hour, I found Rue Suffren. So I did get my exercise that day. And I can tell you when I go out walking I am the only person wearing running shoes in the whole city.

When I went out for dinner tonight I put my flats and my blazer on to be more chic. The French dress. Women are walking around the subways in four inch heels.

Obsevations of French Life:

Everyone is rushing around the city at full speed but then they'll stop for an hour to have coffee at a cafe.

There is great people watching here especially watching older ladies riding bicycles.

French people are thin and I mean thin. They look positively scrawny compared to Americans.

The American accent stands out as flat and awful after hearing musical French all week.

Making yourself understood is very important and that's hard if you don't speak the language well so sometimes you get what you get when you order in a restaurant par example.

Smoking is alive and well and wafting all over Paris.

One of the meeting participants who divulged to me he is an alcoholic advised me to treat myself well. Oui, je sais. He was speaking in regard to my new role as 'caregiver' to my mother.