BONJOUR PARIS!!!!!!!!!

PARIS!!!!!!!!

Is there another word in any language that is as enticing, romantic or seductive?

Perhaps not.

The very sight or sound of it conjures up images of bodies draped in exquisite apparel, feet shod in divine creations, commonly known as ‘shoes’, a word which does no justice whatsoever to their importance  in the lives of women.

They stride around the city, mobile phones often pressed to their ears, laptop bags gripped in the other, on their way to places of work or just going about their daily lives, all the while seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are walking past the ancient. 

        Big cities are the same all over whatever the language.   People of all shapes and sizes.  Yes, despite the ‘French women don’t get fat’ fallacy.  The traffic pushes the boundaries although they are much better behaved about stopping at amber lights than the Australians.  Just as well as the green walking man is displayed at almost the same time and Parisians surge over the road, rarely giving way to those coming in the opposite direction, sometimes with a ‘pardon’
       
The sound of sirens abounds as in any city but these have that same noise you hear in the movies that are set in Europe.  Why does that make it different?

The workmen who are replacing the guttering on the old building of the apartment where I am staying, cheerily wish you ‘bonjour madame’  or ‘bon appetit’  if they see you at a meal and proceed to saw, hammer and sing.  I’m sure they are just asking their workmates to pass the wrench but in French, it sounds so much more interesting.  At least when you don’t understand it that is.    

Perilously high heels are worn by women of all ages whether appropriate or not and they do it with panache.

  Of course. 

 Everyone seems to have a mobile phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

        Despite being November the weather has been extraordinarily mild but they still wear scarves, heavy coats and sometimes gloves.  The shops are so hot that you need to peel off the outer layers as soon as you walk into them.  I leave mine off!

Autumn blessed us with two perect days but the rest has been overcast and drizzly.  Yesterday it appeared winter had set in as the air turned bitter and today continues to drizzle.  Common in November according to the information I've read, with a usual top of 10 degrees.

Accessing the internet has been nigh impossible in the apartment, probably because it is free, so I am at the Macdonalds down the road, also free but more reliable although I've already lost one post when it cut out! 

It won't allow me to put any photos in either so that will have to wait.  In the meantime I also will wander past the ancient, admiring the buildings and their wrought iron balconies while also including the shops so they don't feel left out.

Au revoir
Jo

VIOLA!