I may eventually get around to writing up my epistle from the Paris Auto Show, but then it was incidental to our (first) vacation to the City of Lights. It’s a bit challenging to think of staying inside writing in the midst of this endlessly stimulating, charming and superbly beautiful city. We rented a 6th floor apartment (no elevator) in one of the most colorful old neighborhoods on the Left Bank, St. Germain de Pres. Many of the streets, like ours, is closed to cars. And when there are cars, they’re inevitably small. Suddenly, the Smart seems brilliant. It’s not uncommon to see five or more of them on any given block. And all of them have dings and tears on the their “fender” corners, thanks to the “parking by feel”. They should just put bumper-car bumpers on them all. BTW, that’s a Ligier micro-car in front of the Smart.
There’s a surprising number of original minis in our neighborhood, which is dominated by art galleries, book stores, and of course endless little cafes, restaurants, bakeries, etc. As is all too obvious, the original mini looks almost dwarfed by its modern successors. And this one sports a boat bumper to help protect its fragile grille.
This old Fiat 500 also looks right at home, and makes the very compact (by modern standards) Mercedes A-Class look positively huge.
Here’s an all-too typical parking scenario; in fact it’s almost ubiquitous . How you’re supposed to get your car out, is beyond me. Needless to say, scooters are enormously popular, with drivers of all ages. Velib rental bikes are available. And of course, the Metro is the practical way to get anywhere beyond walking distance.
Yes, I know this is a car site, but since sex is the theme de jour, let’s just say that the “people” watching is more compelling than the cars. I could generate some superb Curbside Classics very quickly, but my subjects might not be as willing.
And yes, I’ve seen several 2 CVs on the road, but none parked yet. There’s even a tour company that uses old 2CVs exclusively. Compelling, except they don’t have room for four passengers.
Since we’re deviating from cars, here’s a couple of quick shots from our balcony, on the Rue de Buci, taken early this Sunday morning. Normally, it’s jammed with people, and the night life from the sidewalk bars and cafes goes on with a din roar until shortly before the daily garbage and delivery trucks start clattering around six. A bit challenging with our street-facing bedroom, even with the French doors closed; remind me not to come back in the heat of the summer without ear plugs.
But everything we could possibly want to consume or look at is available within a block or two, after a quick trot down the six flights stairs:
Here’s the view to the other direction. Enough of my travel log; time to run across the street to the bakery for some goodies.
Bon jour Paul, comment allez vous? Speaking French yet?
Yes, Paris. Glorious city. But the parking situation will make a car lover sick. Seems like Rio!
Bon voyage!
“Here’s an all-too typical parking scenario; in fact it’s almost ubiquitous . How you’re supposed to get your car out, is beyond me”
Everyone parks with their handbrakes off. You simply push the car ahead of you until you have enought space to get out.
Like I said, just like in Rio. And hell for those who’d like to keep their cars prisitine!
Seems like Rio!
Seems like many neighborhoods around Boston – and numerous other places like Washington DC. Yes, you do find these types of streets and parking in the US. There is a way to protect your bumpers. I’ve seen these things ( http://bumperbully.com ) cropping up around Boston.
Another thought. Can you imagine any of these people owning plug-in electrics?
In Brazil people like to put metal tow hooks sticking out of their back bumpers. Of course it’s not to tow anything. It’s there to “protect’ the bumper, but also to wrip open pedestrian knees and destroy the car that is backended. I mean most don’t follow makers’ plans but imrovise at some shop. And bolt on metal bars to their cars. Can you imagine what that does to the car’s crumple zone?
We rented an apt. in Rue de Seine which intersects with Rue de Buci back in December a few months ago.
Great neighborhood, steps across the river from the Louvre, and greatest density of smarts per sq mi in Europe, we thought. In fact, my wife remarked that even though there are many smarts in Paris, clearly in this old neighborhood smart are more apropos than out in the banlieues.
“Everyone parks with their handbrakes off. You simply push the car ahead of you until you have enough space to get out.” (very slightly edited).
Civil, effective, working for the common good.
Of course that would not work in the USA.
Look at a vato’s conveyance with disrespect can lead to your violent demise, let alone touch it, was my experience from decades within California.
The road-kill imbibing hillbillies are similar but do tend to give a warning before becoming extremely violent.
So, where do the homeless reside in Paris? I presume that one’s conveyance is not an option for those, for whatever reason(s), lose their conventional abode.
And the stair climbing.
Pondering the stress and strain upon the building if blubbery behemoths of the ampleness of so many local denizens sloooooowly wending their way up and down the groaning steps, the quarter-ton monstrosities so common here in the land of consuming more-than-immense quantities of foodstuffs.
Of course, the possibility exists that regularly ascending the stairs would prevent the amassing of such prodigious rotundness from the get-go.
I do wonder how the local all-you-can-shovel-in eating joints stay in business, however. It appears it requires multiple semi-loads of food deliveries daily to sate the human herd of lardos flooding the buffet-style ten bucks for wolfing down enough calories at one sitting to feed a family of four for a week in many countries on the planet.
During the very rare treks I make to the smorgasbord (another term for the all-you-can-shovel-in joint) my two plate’s worth of grub with one plate mainly salad and steamed veggies receives stares of amazement while the typical imbiber’s multi-plate piled-high with veggies noticeably absent repeated trips to the trough are the unnoticed norm.
I just feel so thin and svelte at the smorgy-board. Even though I am 30 pounds over what “normal” folks may consider thin or, the “proper” weight.
Relativity at work, I suppose.
Perhaps I should break out the new-fangled digital camera device and preserve for posterity some of the eye-catching sights I, the shanty dwelling Disgruntled Old Coot, espies here in Hillbilly Heaven.
However, doing so may lead to the banishment of my blog by the provider for being so repulsive and lacking in common or uncommon decency.
I would still enjoy visiting Paris to observe how life is lived there.
Tokyo and environs was an eye-opener.
Kobe was cool but I didn’t see a single cow wandering around.
Maybe they were all eaten that week?
Paul,
I don’t walk out my front door unless I have a pair of earplugs in my pocket. We live in a very LOUD world.
There is a guy here in town who drives a 2 CV around sometimes. Smart cars make even a 2 CV look large.
My hotel was in the 2nd, near Etienne Marcel. Costs only €72 for a double including breakfasts in bed. Windows to the back, so it’s very very quiet. In Paris, I sleep like a baby (and I don’t mean I wake up every four hours and start crying).
One of my favorite parking memories from Paris is of seeing a Chrysler 300 Touring (i.e., a Dodge Magnum) boxed in by a little army of Minis and Smart Cars.
Saw one 2CV in all the 6 hours I walked around Paris.
The best part part of scooters in Paris are scooter babes. They are complete opposite of your average USA biker chick.
If I lived in Paris I would have two wheels so I could split lanes.
Left the airport in a Renault Modus (one gets what one pays for but what a gutless wonder) on a Saturday at 14:00 headed south to Lyon. Two hours later I had traveled 34 miles before traffic started to open up. No wrecks/stalled cars, just traffic.
The best part part of scooters in Paris are scooter babes.
+1 When I worked in Nice we had plenty of them as well. In Nice, they used jump the scooters onto the sidewalks to get around traffic!
Mr. Niedermeyer, the Smart can be parked in many other ways, for example perpendicular to the kerb.
In the 4th-5th pic, is that a Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 207 or Citröen C1?. I really liked those tiny cars.
Hi Stingray!
The 4th photo top to bottom is not a 107, if you mean the dark blue car is a 206 XR (has not aluminum wheels but covers) probably a 2004 model for the taillights.
It certainly looks big next to the smart behind it.
Saludos!
Stingray: it’s a Peugeot 107
Ay-dentical-go reviewed here:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyota-aygo-review/
Thanks. That’s a Toyota I could buy.
And IIRC, some Chinese company already copied it. I think it was Chery, but not sure.
It´s interesting how common the Aygo is, but i very rarely see a 107 or C1 around here. Considering they are basically the same car and the French versions are cheaper, it´s weird. Or maybe it says something about what non-French people think of French cars in general.. Even though it’s just a bagde in this case.
Anyway, nice pictures. And im sure it’s a much more interesting city when you are an adult and not 10 years old as i was when i was there :) I remember that inflatable chairs and penis-shaped pasta was hilarious. And when it rained it really rained, 15cm of water in the hostel lobby was also really fun!