Friday, November 27, 2009

Paris underground


I know, this is probably the least glamorous photo I've ever posted here, but this is also typical Paris ;-) It's one of the many parkings that you can find underneath buildings - well the ones that have been built after the invention of automobiles obviously! The funny part is that now, it is forbidden to build new parkings underneath buildings as the Paris town hall wants to discourage Parisians from owning a car... BTW, if you're crazy enough to drive a car when you come to Paris, here is a useful sites to find a place to park.

19 comments:

  1. That is quite interesting Eric. If ypu don't own a car or motorcycle, etc. how do you get around? Paris is a big city.

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  2. Opps!!! If 'you' don't... This darn computer is always spelling things wrong. lol....

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  3. I'm not taking my car with me when I move to Paris. Will someone who wants to live in TinyTown, Texas instead of Paris, France trade with me? What am I saying, who would not want to live in Paris? Curses, foiled again!

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  4. Looks kind of scary. I wouldn't be keen on parking here then walking out of it at night. Eek.
    I have been crazy enough to drive in Paris a few times. Most scary time of my driving career. Brr.

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  5. This is cool and very typical! My mother in law almost bought a parking place when she lived in Paris

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  6. Oh,Eric, I love this photo. Its a part of Paris that's so typical but that I've never seen! Its like the first time I visited and stayed in a hotel, knew no one, and so never got a chance to go inside any of those great big double doors I walked by all day long. I never saw a Parisian courtyard. This is awesome! Merci!

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  7. I like it, too, and I might never get a chance to see it otherwise because I know I'd never drive a car in Paris! Merci, Eric.

    Gramma Ann, the public transportation in Paris is superb. You don't need a car because you can take the Metro train or bus absolutely anywhere. It's fast, efficient and fun.

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  8. I love this photo Eric, and agree with Lynn, it's quite scary.

    But.....let's not deceive people either. Many of the parking lots in Paris are owned by a company called Vinci and look like this. They even play classical music over the sound system to keep people calm.

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  9. I suspect that any big city has creepy, film noir parking facilities as well as spiffy, bright ones. This one really is creepy, but I can think of a couple here where I live just like this.

    It's a great photo. Aren't you glad there is a fire extinguisher? I feel much better about the place now.

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  10. You know what? I love driving in Paris ;-) True!
    As my plate number is not a parisian one, I can "play the tourist" who doesn't know his way, and who takes care of the pedestrians!!!!

    But I agree: parking in Paris is either very difficult or very expensive ;-(

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  11. These shots tell you as much about a city as anything of the big tourist sites... it's atmospheric, it stirs an intangible 'feeling' that you have for location and culture. Perhaps strangely, when I visit a new city, my memories are shaped as much by the transport, the smells... or the underground car parks (!) as by the famous sites.

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  12. I couldn't imaging not owning a car and just coming and going as I wanted, but I guess if your city has great public transportation it would be ok. I'm just thinking of all the sports my kids play and having to get them from point A to B all the time, that's the majority of my driving!

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  13. So do you keep your scooter in such a garage, Eric, or do you park in on the street? Petrea is so right, Gramma Ann, public transport is the way to go in Paris—and let's not forget the Velib bikes and my fave mode of getting around the city: walk, walk, walk!

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  14. Love driving in Paris, Thib!? Wow - now I'm intrigued. I love to drive, but I've only driven in Paris when I got off the highway by mistake and then got promptly lost. Everyone knocks driving in Paris, but now I'm game to try it!! I've driven in many other big cities in the US, Mexico, Portugal, and France, so maybe I could navigate Paris, too. I think it would be lovely - a totally different city.

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  15. Once we are able to get ourselves together and move, it would be nice to be able to own one car that you really wanted....instead of two here in the US that you need to rely on to take you everywhere. Knowing you could use the Metro and buses and your bike, the one spot you rent could be for that classic car (as we all talked about the other day with the Mustang photo) for weekend jaunts and out of town use....




    Sean

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  16. Looks very citebeur to me... I love it!...;))

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  17. yikes Eric! take a new picture quick...my beautiful vision of Paris in my mind is fading.......:lol!

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  18. Great picture Eric, I love your blog ♥! .
    Parking in Paris is very expensive for me, LOL.

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