One of the perks of living in Paris is that you can count on having lots of visitors. Most days of the year, I avoid anything touristy, but then it’s always fun taking friends to the major spots (especially when they’re like Angie and have never been here before). I warned Angie there would be lots of people selling Eiffel Towers and overall crap when we were there, and boy, oh boy, they were out in full force. I thought you meant like one or two, she said, not a hundred!
The police were out too, and this “Pharaoh” got busted. The holidays are nice too because there are Christmas Markets all over the city. Sadly, they are all the same, and have the same things (every fourth stand hand the same hats). It left me pretty dumbfounded, and made me feel like the spirit that these markets were founded upon was completely lost in mass-produced generic goods, or stalls with interesting goods, but no basis for a story. Somewhere over time it seems that these markets switched from being for the locals to for the tourists. (The one at St. Germain is just the same – the same “chain” producing baked goods, donuts and vin chaud – and Abbesse may have a couple interesting stands, but otherwise more of the same).
Even a trip to Notre Dame (too cold and rainy for my hands to take pictures) left us feeling like jaded tourist rather than spiritually enlightened. It’s been years since I’ve set foot in this church, but the flat screen TVs, glass encased confessionals, and “make your own Notre Dame smooshed coin” machines behind the church alter were a bit much for me. But still good to take it all in, discuss and reflect and top it all off with a yummy hot chocolate at Pâtisserie Viennoise, the least touristy place of all. Mmmm.