Last week, I went to Paris. Now, those of you who know me have probably either just fallen out of chair in shock, laughed into your drink, or something similar. "Jim Robson willingly in Paris?!" I hear you cry, "Perhaps this is the beginning of a whole new era in international relations in which even those countries with the most deep rooted of disputes can learn tolerance, perhaps even acceptance, and the world can begin taking its first small steps towards an everlasting peace. Or it could be one of the fore warnings of the end of the World..." To be honest I'm not sure which it is because I'm trying not to think of it, but I have at least come back with some observations not just on Paris, but cities in general. And now I hear you surprise turning to fear; "Jim Robson? Observations on the capitol of France? Sorry everyone, that new era of international relations is on hold!"
Well lets just see shall we.
Firstly, I wish to make it clear that Paris really is a beautiful city. Admittedly it helped that the weather whilst I was there really was perfect, but even without it anyone could have seen that the City of Lights really is a stunning place. Architecturally, and I mean this, it is unlike any other city I have seen with the modern touches kept to a discreet minimum and almost transporting you back in time. Almost. The truth is that you will never be able to relax enough to allow yourself to step back in time because if you do, you WILL be run over.
This brings me on rather neatly to my second observation; the traffic is mental. Not mental in the London sense of the word, which is stationary, I mean head bangingly, full straight jacket and foam padded cell level mental. No gap is too small to squeeze a car through, even if you're in moving traffic and there's a buss closing in and you're in a seven seater taxi, the cabbie WILL get through that gap even if it costs him his rear headlights. Similarly, no light is too close to changing from green to red, and the accepted speed limit is 50mph...in 2nd gear! London cabbies are often criticised for being surly, but on balance I'd rather have a surly driver than a homicidal one, especially when I've gone somewhere to relax and don't quite fancy playing Russian Roulette with my travel arrangements
My third and final observation is on the famous Parisian dining that everyone whoever goes to Paris always talks about, and its a brief observation. The food is indeed delicious, the beer is the same as I drink here in the UK, and the bill is astronomical.
And with all that in mind I now want you to think. If had not specified that I was in Paris throughout this post would you have been able to tell that I was describing it? Beautiful architecture? I could have been describing Rome. Mental traffic and insane cabbies? Well that could be anywhere on the Sub-Continent. Expensive eating? That could have been any city in Western Europe or America. Anybody who watched the Olympics could tell you that London is a beautiful city (in the right light), similarly the New York skyline at night really does make you wonder why they call Paris the City of Lights.
The point I'm trying to make is that, beneath the love and pride we feel for our native cities, underneath their different skins every city is essentially the same. Ultimately they all follow similar lines, and when you peel away their unique looks you will find the same things within them; endless activity, faces from all over the world, and a never ending supply of shops selling expensive and tacky tourist titbits.
So, all cities are the same. Apart from London obviously, London is unique....London's ours.
