On Wednesday whilst heading to Les Halles shopping centre to purchase a new memory card(thats right--living the dream) the Metro stopped... AGAIN. This must be the 8th or 9th time since I've been in Paris that the Metro has literally just stopped with little or no explanation and doesn't resume for anything from 15 mins to 2 hours.
That France has better public transport is largely a myth, and another slightly 'grumpy old men' esque blog started to form in my head. Although the regional transport can be somewhat of a nightmare, however the TGV, train de grande vitesse is simply fantastic, and this leads me onto a new topic, there is actually some really great things about France.
So heres a list:
1.TGV- This weekend I visited Lille to see the simply lovely Miss Jennifer Rawlings and Miss Harriet Notton. It was so quick, I didnt even have time to finish my movie! I travelled at night so I couldnt see how far we were going really, just kind of turned up in Lille after not that long. It was literally about 50 minutes... 40 euro return and 1 hour, and its over 150 miles away. Never has travelling 150 miles been so easy! It might seem sad, but over the next 2 months I have planned trips to Angers and Angouleme, and its cost me so little and if those two weekends are anywhere near as banterous as this one, its going to be fabby :)
2. Bread- French bread is god. Several times ive bought a baguette, had some with cheese for Lunch and then wacked some salad and meat in it for dinner. Efficient <3
3. Sausages... are sick. expensive. but well good.
4. The randomness... Experiencing new cultures, as I'm sure everyone thats travelled knows can sometimes get you in the most bizarre situations. Last night I was in a beach themed bar, the Dj was mixing Nirvana with Grease lightening onto Placebo, then in barged a brass band, complete with HUGE tuba and started playing basket case by Green day. I was sipping a cocktail which was more rum than coke... You know what, it was just so France, and so funny.
5. Wine... is so cheap. And its almost impossible to buy a bad bottle, the least ive spent was 1,15. And it was nice, and 12%. Thats just so good!
6. Music... the lack of dubstep dissapoints me, although it does have a small underground following! But french hip hop is amazing, heres a sample from Sexion d'assaut::
and electro is huge here... amazing!
7. Sometimes the French attitude, which seems to be that nothing need be done in a rush can be infuriating, however, sometimes the lack of formality is extremely relaxing and refreshing. Kind of depends what kind of mood you are in and how important it is that the thing happening is to you!!
a bientot x
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