Observations from France

Here’s some quick points about my vacation in Paris last week. I’m back but still technically on vacation, hence the bullet points.

• Everyone users Deezer. It’s by far the best streaming music experience I’ve come across. I used it to preview the new N*E*R*D album before buying it. Search for any artist and just press play, you don’t even need to register. If you do register however you can create custom playlists and ’smart playlists’ that are based on your listening history
• Parisians are very functionally stylish people. No one wears shades unless it’s blindingly sunny and never indoors. Ladies only wear running shoes if they’re running. Shorts are worn with style (no cargo shorts) if at all and it’s pretty much blasphemy to wear flip-flops or sandals; Summer shoes only and leave the socks at home, thank you very much.
• There’s Wi-Fi everywhere - except Starbucks oddly. Speaking of Starbucks…
• Parisians don’t understand the concept of Starbucks. The idea of getting overpriced, low-grade coffee just for the ‘experience’ of walking down the street with a mermaid-branded cup in hand is somehow lost on them
• They love Obama and are shocked that there are Americans that have the capacity to back a bi-racial candidate for the Presidency
• Metro tickets become invalid if you keep them in the same pocket as your cellphone (learned that the hard way) but other than that they have one of the most efficient Metro systems in the world
• Their bike share program is something every Metropolitan city should have. It’s easy to use, free for 30 min rides, costs $40 for an annual membership and most importantly, you can pick up and drop of your bike at any docking station, each within 300m of each other (and they are literally everywhere)
• Last time I visited I had a shaved head and all the guys had spiked hair. This time I had spiked hair and a lot of the guys went for the shaved look, what’s a guy to do?
• I saw maybe 3 iPhones the entire week I was there despite it being carried by France’s largest mobile company, Orange
• Cars are an object of utility. If you’re wealthy enough, you have a nice car and driver. Very few middle class people have a fancy car for the sake of appearance
• The best shot of the Eiffel tower is from the bridge near the end of Rue de George V, some 2km’s from the tower itself
• Despite continuous reports to the contrary, the French are NOT rude people. Everyone says ‘pardon’ if they bump into you and they will forgive your terrible, terrible French. Unless you’re American, then all bets are off