Even on the wintry days, people gathered at the local eateries with friends.
Often the menu was on a chalkboard, using the freshest seasonal produce.
Surprising how healthy French fast food is! I ate well and still
I lost a pound or two on this ten day vacation.
The waiters were friendly and helpful--and they practiced their English with me. The hours they worked were long but there was a sense of camaraderie among them and pride in their work. Meals were taken together family style in the least busy part of the afternoon. Being a waiter in Paris looks like a good life.
I wish there were time enough to sample them all. I can imagine how crowded they must be in the long evening hours of summer. Seeing older couples sharing a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, deep in earnest conversation, seeing young families walking to the park with stroller and youngsters full of energy or just watching rush hour go by on foot and bicycle--I realize how much we miss cocooned in our vehicles. I think I would live a healthier lifestyle if I lived in a city like this. This is what travel is about--seeing new ways of doing things, seeing life from a new perspective. Thank you, Paris.