Daily Paris Ungrind

The Daily Grind or un-grind as it were...


On work days, rainy mornings in Paris call for a 10 min metro ride. The act of trying to wrangle an umbrella through narrow sidewalks that slope slightly toward the street, lots of glass storefronts, and an obstacle course around other pedestrians, is sometimes too much to take. I have tried it and I'm sure poked out several peoples eyes in the process.  Excusez-moi (excuse me).  Desole (sorry).  Holding my parapluie (umbrella) really high...

So on these mornings in the am on the metro, timing is everything. Since Parisians are late to arrive 'at the office' by most US standards (strolling in after 9 is normal to many), the metro can be quite crowded at this time. Today, as a train approaches the platform, there is a great sigh to see it is already filled and there are 10 people around me all looking and angling to get a leg inside, in hopes the doors will just close on us and carry us the rest of the way.

Today, there I am, vying for position politely as Parisians do. Two train 'waits' later, I get on but my face is flush against the glass door as it closes and I brace my feet accordingly so I don't fall on those around me and create some truly unforgiving domino effect. No one is smiling. A brave few are talking. Mornings in Paris are comical to me in this way, and seemingly only to me. The doors open and I am smiling as I step off onto the platform and make my way to the nearest Sortie (exit). I'll take the sardine ride any day just to be here.

If only I could remember that in the context of everyday in my life no matter where I am!

A Change in View

Last week, I tried the office location in the Grande Arche - La Defense and it was spectacular from floor 15.  It sits at the end of Metro Line 1 which runs horizontally through the center of Paris, past the Champs Elysees, ending in La Defense - a large business district. It is a huge cube that's hard to miss.

Over 20 years ago (give or take), I took a beautiful photograph of these two views below. Now, the buildings have 'grown' up around it and the view has changed. As I stood square in the center at the top of the Grande Arche steps, one thing remained the same - a linear view all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, unmistakably by design, miles away. Hello again I said. It was good to see you after all this time.

Thanks for reading.  Have a blessed day and enjoy your view wherever you are today.