le sexe et la ville
22 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Life, Love, Men, Paris, Romance, Travel
Eiffel Tower
Paris. C’est une ville belle et magnifique! I miss the delicious croissants, the beautiful graciously spaced-out cityscape and extravagant architecture!
My second trip to Paris was even more beautiful than the first, with most of my favourite landmarks revisited by night. Climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower to the 2nd floor was a little challenging, but a challenge I very much enjoyed as the structure around me glowed a warm golden yellow. There was so much light coming off the metal bars that I thought how great it’d be to do a photo-shoot here. It was a delight to see Paris lit up, looking out of the Eiffel Tower. Last time I was up there, it was during the middle of the day but like most cities, Paris was more alive, enchanting and magical by night.
Some of the local tourists enjoyed sitting on the grass on Champs de Mars to gaze up at the structure. A few were drinking beers and no doubt making the most of being an unemployed youth during the 21st century recession. The French love to people watch and it’s also one of my favourite past times. Looking up at the Eiffel Tower from below, you could see random flashes from cameras coming off it. It made it all rather more magnificent if the size of the thing hadn’t taken your breath away. To think that the Parisians first hated it because they thought it looked ugly and then for them to only boast about it for many generations to come! The Eiffel Tower beats anything in London in my opinion!
As the sky turned black, most of the tourists were replaced by locals drinking on the grass. On every hour, the Eiffel would sparkle like a Christmas tree for 5 minutes. It was very relaxing and magical to just be there to witness it amongst the locals. You could easily spend many days just ‘watching’ stuff in Paris, the place has that effect on you. It’s hard to describe. You just have to go there to understand it.
The Metro remained a little confusing with a twee vintage 1920′s feel to it. A few miles older than the London Underground where you actually have to press a button to open the doors, and the ticket barriers look like something between a theme park ride entrance and doors to a giant meat freezer. It made me appreciate the tube here even more on my return to Londres!
I tried to speak as much French as possible, seems only fair since we force tourists in London to speak English! I did so with some success, and I still think you are treated much more favourably if you do! Some French people, including one taxi driver I spoke to, actually refused to speak English. Though it’s rare to find anyone who doesn’t speak English in Paris, it’s more a pride thing rather than anything personal towards the English (least that’s the impression I got from the French when I spoke to them). It helped me somewhat to tactfully talk myself out of a preposition from a french man on the street. I was looking around for a cafe or restaurant with a toilet I could discreetly use. It’s not like in the UK where you can just stroll in and use their facilities without buying anything. It’s considered rude here, even in McDonald’s! Whilst I was stopping outside a cafe, I noticed some cheap but delicious looking croissants and contemplated whether to buy some (yes, some, not just one). A man next to me said something in French that ended in the word ‘bébé’. I looked at him confused and quickly went back to stare at the croissants again. Only 1 euro! Then he said something again “Voulez-vous dîner avec moi?”. This dude was asking me out! Blimey! French men are rather forward! I turned and laughed and said a polite “Non, merci”. But of course, being French and probably horny, he didn’t let the conversation end there.
The man: “Belle femme, pourquoi ne pas vous sortir avec moi?” (Beautiful woman, why not go out with me?)
Me: “Je suis désolé mais je ne suis pas intéressé.” (I’m sorry but I’m not interested)
The man: “Vous êtes Français ou Chinois?” (Are you French or Chinese?)
Me: “Je suis chinois mais né à l’Angleterre.” (I’m Chinese but born in England)
The man: “English?”
Me: “Oui”
The man: “Vous parler français?” (You speak French?)
Me: “Un peu” (a little)
The man: “Come out with me. I’m a good man. I will take you to a nice restaurant and we can have a good time tonight.”
At this point, I found the whole thing rather amusing but at the same time rather annoying. So I decided to distract him from the romance with: “I don’t care about that. I just need the toilet.”
He then pursued with me to direct me to a restaurant that allowed the public access to their toilets for 20 cents. During this time, he decided to tell me about himself, what he was doing here and asked me questions about my stay in both French and English. I thanked him for accompanying me to the restaurant but he said he’d wait for me and even gave me the 20 cents. I disappeared into the toilet (from which an angry fat american woman was there trying to get into my cubicle because she ate too much dessert). I hovered in the ladies bathroom for a while, hoping that the random French man would have perhaps considered going home. 25 minutes later, I emerged and he was still there, waiting for me with no signs of frustration.
“What are you still doing here?”
“Waiting for you. Now, will you walk with me for dinner? I can give you my number and you can call me. I’ll take you out for some salsa and show you my apartment.” Whilst he said this, he put his arms around me and tried to kiss my cheek! I backed away and politely told him no. Dear lord! In the end I had to stop being English and be a French woman.
“Je suis désolé mais je ne suis pas intéressé. S’il vous plaît laissez-moi tranquille.” (I’m sorry but I’m not interested. Please leave me alone.)
And with that he nodded and wished me luck in Paris.
I wonder how common it is for women to be approached by horny men asking for one-night stands in Paris?
Love Padlocks
From this point, I wondered over to the Seine River and sat under a bridge which was decorated in cadenas d’amour (padlocks of love) by thousands of couples. Romantic and beautiful I thought. I had brought lunch with me of some sort of grated carrot salad, some grapefruit juice and couscous salad (which is very popular here in Paris). The sun was low and golden, everybody was out enjoying the sun and it felt super-fine to just be sitting there. I had my feet dangling over the edge of the dock, watching the water rise and lower each time a boat passed by. The French around me were enjoying their lunch, drinking wine and eating French bread with cheese. Such a clean dock I thought. I realised I was sitting on the ground and the river didn’t smell of sewage or wee for once. Unfortunately, other parts of Paris such as most hostels, the Metro and certain streets do smell of urine quite often?!?
Le Louvre
The Louvre by midnight is my second favourite place in Paris. It felt so grand and elegant, its decadence made me want to dress up in a big ball gown to go frolicking around the illuminated pyramids to the sound of French classical music coming from a restaurant nearby. French people, mostly very rich ones, were enjoying a late dinner by the Louvre. I laid down on the walls of the water pools surrounding the pyramids and looked up at the night sky. Some people were doing the same, others were just sitting there and chatting; some were drinking, some were embracing. A very romantic and beautiful spot. Wasn’t long before I spotted a couple kissing passionately in front of the Louvre. It felt very natural to not do anything but just sit still and admire, maybe even think about the meaning of the universe.
In between the impressive landmarks, horny French men and excellent little patisseries, I did ponder about life here in Paris. I could easily live here, and perhaps I will one day.
Jusqu’à notre prochaine rencontre, je vous souhaite bonne nuit de Paris. Merci pour les souvenirs merveilleux.
(Until we meet again, I wish you good night Paris. Thank you for the wonderful memories.)
