Back in the City of Light (Paris that is)

Ahh Paris!

The true nature of any big city is always a bit of a contradiction. There exists a dichotomy if you will, between how a city is perceived and how it actually is. Existing concurrently is the city you'd experience as a tourist and the city you'd experience as a local. I've always felt that in order to get a true feeling for a place, you have to live there (or stay as long as possible). Sometimes all it takes is a weekend to know that you don't want to do that, but that's another matter.

In Paris however, locals and tourists are truly in different cities. Maybe it's the language, maybe it's just the French, but it's clear. I've had the fortune of being both a couple times now, and I'm already feeling the snobbery previously reserved for native Parisians. Here are some key elements of tourist Paris and local Paris.

Tourist Paris:

- Long lines and big crowds

- Cheesiness

- Confusion

- Tourist trap restaurants

- Bad attitudes

Local Paris:

- Bureaucracy bordering on hilarity

- Indifference

- Strikes

- Small apartments on loud streets

- Tourists

I'm very glad to be back here enjoying my culinary and cultural favorites:

- Duck - in all its forms

- Cafes where you can sit for hours without being rushed

- Amazing markets and restaurants

- The living museum that is the street
- The healthy music scene

- Not being able to run on autopilot

Lots of posts to come!

À bientôt,

GG