Closing up on the second week of my trip, I’ve decided to give some thoughts on the city as a whole. Overall, it might be my favorite metropolitan area, though not without it’s faults.
The more accustomed I become with the layout of Paris, the more it’s charms are presented to me. I find the consistent aesthetic reinforced by it’s building codes (stone buildings pressed up against each other, mansard roofs) to be quite appealing. And while it’s not laid out on a simple grid, Paris consistent use of lining up monuments along axes to be appealing and practical. The large parks that the city features are useful as landmarks and meeting places, while the smaller parks scattered across the area are perfect to stop in to take a break or grab lunch.
I would kill for a train system half as good as this one. Being able to get from our dorms to the center of town in less than half an hour, paying either a flat fee or scanning an unlimited card. Despite some rails being under-construction, we have never had to wait more than ten minutes for a train.
The food experience here has also been wonderful. Even touristy areas consistently have reasonably priced food, and I’ve never had a meal I felt I over-payed for. I can’t tell you the number of crepes I’ve eaten, and often
One issue I have is the hours that the city operates on. The world here runs at a pace different from mine, although I can’t necessarily tell if it’s faster or slower. Trying to find cold medicine at 10pm proved to be a fruitless endeavor.
Another thing I’ve grown to despise are the loud motorcycles that run through the streets. I always assumed the guy who buys a truck for no reason wasn’t a thing in Europe, but I think that same personality manifests in the man who takes joy in making as much noise as possible outside my window while I’m trying to sleep.