Le métro

So D and I had a little complaining session tonight. Both of us are just overwhelmed with the price of plane tickets, the plummeting dollar value, the amount of cat puke at N's, and the lack of organization at my school, and the French. We were feeling pretty down and out about living in Paris. I left N's apartment (where D has to say to care for aforementioned puking kitties) at 11:30. Suddenly, my feelings for Paris were completely changed.

I made it to the métro station right when the train was there. I heard it as I was trying to push my way through the turnstile and figured my luck was not good today and I probably would miss it by seconds. So I didn't really hurry down the stairs. But as I reached the third to last stair, I heard the buzzing sound that announces the doors are about to close so I picked up my pace. I jumped onto the platform just as the train doors closed - but only halfway. (The métro doors here shut about halfway and then all the way, all of this in matter of a second or two, so when the doors start to close I usually don't risk my life.) But this night, the doors stayed open halfway for a good three seconds. So I jumped in and right after I was through, the doors shut the whole way. Ok so this turned into a real deep explanation of the door closing process which I'm sure isn't the most interesting read, but I was amazed - I really think the train driver saw me and kept the doors open for me. They have mirrors that reflect the whole platform. Then two stops later, almost the same thing happened for another guy. But every other station, the doors closed much faster. So, my deduction is that this was the perfect time for a Frenchman (or woman) to be nice. Whoever it was completely restored my faith in France and the Parisians.

After that, on my way home, I passed an ultra busy bar playing some Spanish music, which typically puts me in a good mood, and then I looked down the hill over a clear sky and saw Paris lit up in all its "city of lights" glory.

For me, alot of the time Paris can be too much, with its size and smells and amount of French people, but some times it's very easy to remember why Paris is such a great city to live in.