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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2014 12:30:17 GMT
There are also the photos reminding me to change the catbox... But yes, a lovely series.
Early rising is a good strategy in many overly-touristed places; for example Venice. Even at sunrise, there are people about and cafés open, but the people are workers - it is enjoyable to have a caffè at the counter and hear Venetian all around. Many of the workers actually live in suburban Mestre nowadays. And of course there were cats everywhere.
Fewer now, as Venice implemented a serious sterilize and release program some years ago.
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Post by htmb on Jul 16, 2014 13:52:04 GMT
Thanks everybody, but the subject matter is just sitting there waiting for anyone to point a camera at it. It's more a question of timing, because a lot of the streets suddenly look much more boring when they are full of people. I wish to disagree, though I suppose you are being modest, Kerouac. Anyone can point a camera at a subject. Among many other things, it takes skill and a good eye to capture an interesting composition.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 16, 2014 15:06:07 GMT
And welcome from me too Ruffredz! Please let us know where your apartment will be - In the photo introducing Kerouac's video of the walk you see a double story white building directly ahead - that is also an apartment one can rent. You are bound to have the time of your life on your very first visit to Paris. You need lots of energy if you want to make the most of your time but you sound young and sprightly so I'm sure you will achieve tons! Read through every post Kerouac has ever written and you'll pick up loads of tips.
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Post by stickybeak on Aug 10, 2014 23:28:28 GMT
Again, thanks for the look back, sir. We've been back from our first trip ever to Paris for a little over a month. We arrived on June 16 and stayed in Montmartre. In fact, our place was right at the end of an alley you took a picture of--I was so excited all over again to see it! We rented a place next to Dalida's house. We'd never heard of her but now we have thanks to the many tours we sat and listened to from the comfort of the open windows of our living room...
One of my favorite things to do was to attend early a.m. Mass at Sacre Coeur, then go for my run. The streets were calmer, cleaner and quieter by far, and afforded some great photo ops. It was so calming.
Two things I'd heard about Paris all my life were blown out of the water for me: 1) "Parisians are so rude". NOT TRUE!I found them funny, polite, friendly and helpful. If I ran into problems with the language (which I studied for 6 years), people usually offered to switch to English, even when I really wanted to keep speaking French. A big MERCI to all of them. 2)Predatory men. Our lovely 17-year old daughter was never hassled or propositioned by anyone. She attracted a few looks, but that was all, even when she was walking ahead of us. I felt more comfortable with her walking around the 'hood there than I ever would back here in the US. I also felt that young men seemed more respectful of women, not just walking by, but on the metro too. Of course three weeks isn't long enough to make a more seasoned judgement of this aspect of Parisian life, and she was never out late at night, but another MERCI to the guys for putting this negative image more or less to rest.
Looking forward to seeing more of your pictures. You are so lucky to live in Paris! We hope to return when our youngest is finally off to college.
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Post by stickybeak on Aug 12, 2014 3:04:18 GMT
I'd also like to welcome Ruffredz to APIAS. My husband is from Melbourne and we lived there for several years after we got married. Our middle child was born there. I have been to Sydney a few times and always enjoy our visits. You'll like Paris so much you might not want to leave. The metro is easy to learn--just find out the name of the end of the line(s) you will be traveling on to get to your destination. The trains come quickly, but avoid them at rush hours, between 8-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. unless you like being crushed standing up. Expect a lot of walking, you will get a workout climbing stairs and navigating the cobblestones. Make sure you wear a good pair of walking shoes. If you're traveling with a female companion tell her to leave the stilettos at home unless you plan to take cabs everywhere. Leave any Asian food presented in trattorias and food showcases--like in a deli--alone. After you choose what you want, they heat it up in a microwave and it loses its flavor. I'm not sure why they do this but coming from California, trust me. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Finally, you said you don't speak much French--you didn't say what you know how to say, but if you can at least say "I'm sorry, I don't speak French well", "thank you", "please" and "Pardon me" in French, that will take you a long way. Only then will they admit they can speak a little English and help you. Don't take it personally--they're healthily proud of their language, culture and country--as they should be-- and expect to be dealt with on their terms first. As I said in my previous post, they're funny, polite and helpful and I'm eternally grateful to my high school and college French teachers for doing their work so well. I mean, if my husband got on with the few phrases I taught him, then you have nothing to be nervous about. Take a crash course or listen to some French language tapes before you leave, this will help you a lot. Oh yeah--Bring an umbrella and a warm jacket. A hat wouldn't hurt either. Have fun and good luck!
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Post by patricklondon on Aug 12, 2014 6:51:20 GMT
Absolutely the first thing is to remember to say "Bonjour" when you're opening a conversation (or "Bonsoir" when it gets to about dinnertime). Often complaints about Parisian "rudeness" come from instances where people have forgotten or never knew this. You do get Parisians who take offence and don't mind showing it. And for finding out how to use the Metro, this is a handy introduction, especially for those not already familiar with urban public transport systems: goparis.about.com/od/transportation/ss/Metro_and_Buses.htmMy blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by fumobici on Aug 12, 2014 14:24:58 GMT
I posted this to my Facebook account--
Paris rant: if you have a problem with Paris or Parisians, something is f***ing wrong with you. They are warm and polite, funny and considerate and return kindness with the same. Even when you butcher their fine language.
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Post by tod2 on Aug 12, 2014 14:30:09 GMT
I agree about Parisians and their friendliness.......except for Parisian waiters. Some of them just suck.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 14:32:10 GMT
Yes, well often, being a waiter sucks.
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