Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Drive the Metro


Have you ever dreamt of driving the Paris Metro? Well, here you go! In the Paris Metro, most of the trains have got a driver (there is only one fully automated line) and if you travel in the first car there is a little two way mirror which allows you to see exactly what the driver sees. That is where I was when I took this photo this morning...

43 comments:

  1. Makes me feel a bit dizzy! It's the first time I see the Paris metro like that.

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  2. I'll definitely look forward to that experience when next in Paris.
    Can't wait.

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  3. Amazing photo. I never knew the Paris Metro has this two-way mirror. Will definitely check it out the next time I'm in Paris.

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  4. I rest my case!! Great shot, Eric! Thank you, I absolutely love it!!! And look at the speed in that picture! Totally cool! :-D

    This one just might make it to my desktop and replace the beautiful iron cast red "Metro" sign I have on there now ;)

    PS. I just know that KPGallant is going to offer you a little Eau de Metro to go with that shot ;)

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  5. No, I can definitely say, I never dreamed about driving the Metro - too much time spent underground! Must be a male thing ;-)

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  6. Driving a Metro must be a weird job... too dark most of the time, but i'll try it anyway!
    That's a great movement pic

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  7. Amazing shot, Eric. It has a surreal quality to it. (But think I'll pass on driving the Metro and just be content to sit)

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  8. Great shot, love the motion. I will look for the mirror next time I am in Paris.

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  9. Looks like we're in speed light! cool! I wish I could stop at the prochaine arrête and take a walk in Paris!
    Eric how do you do it?! Taking great shots of the most mundane things. Well, I guess that's what they call talent.

    Lynn, good to hear from you!

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  10. Where ever you go, there you are!

    Eric, great capture of momentum.

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  11. Great shot - I hope to see that mirror someday.

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  12. we do not have automated line at all...and I have been dreaming always about driving the metro one day..or at least sitting there while its moving. You are lucky Eric:)

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  13. I Feel - the Need - for Speed! (anyone remember who said that?)

    Case rested Tomate and yes Isabella, it must be a "male thing".

    Now, another chance to put a plug in for my company (well not MY company, but you understand), the one I work for... ALSTOM.

    Here are a few pics from our Transport website:

    Paris Metro Line 14, Paris Metro Line 1, Trams, and of course...the famous TGV bullet train & tilting trains!

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  14. Tom "Maverick" Cruise needed speed.

    When I used to take my school classes on trips, we always went on the El which ran above ground for two stops after we got on and then went underground. Of course we all stood in the first car so we could watch it go underground and stood there on the way home so we could watch it rise from underground. So your picture brings fond memories, Eric. Merci bien.

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  15. As a kid I loved to stand behind that mirror.
    Kind of "Goldorak go !" feeling, avant l'heure !!!

    Fulguro-poiiiiiiiiiint !

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  16. I read at the paper some time ago that one of those big airplane companies( maybe Airbus) are going to put the view what the pilots are seing during the plane is climbing and landing. So as a passenger, you will be able how it looks like to be a pilot.

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  17. What excitement! I don't think I'd get off... Cheers Eric

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  18. Or driving the metro alone, just with friends. One night. For discovering an other Paris, and stop for glancing about a full of crazy details. Like that, yes !...

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  19. Wow, I feel like I am rocketing along the Metro!

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  20. That's a grand photo. I love it. Good morning to all. We are back in Kentucky after a fantastic visit to Paris. Juliette Greco is the greatest and the most incredible woman..read about her in Wikipedia and IMDB.

    There aren't enough superlatives to describe the personality of the one and only "Eric of PdP". What a grand guy! We found him utterly delightful.

    The metro in certain areas was crowded beyond belief but if you need to get somewhere in a hurry, and we did, you can't beat that mode of transportation.

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  21. wow that is a great perspective Eric. it looks like fun =)

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  22. So everything we've been thinking about Eric is confirmed as true then Johnny. Great news. When on earth can i get there?

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  23. Looks...just like our Metro, or as we call it the Metrolink. I suppose the reason this picture kinda makes me go "ugh" is because I had to ride the Metrolink every day to go to college in my pre-car days and the areas I had to ride through weren't the prettiest! Of course that could just be my upset stomach talking...

    Darned, Ujima beat me too it! I love Top Gun! One of the coolest movies ever. In fact, I might even say it's cool as Ice, man! (Go ahead, you can *groan* now!)

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  24. Whooooosh! Anything with speed sounds exciting to me. I would love to try one of those Airbus/pilot views for sure!

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  25. great shot!~i lived in paris for 4 years - never knew about the special view from the first car. is it on a specific line? i used to live between the metro stops Wagram, Place des Ternes and Parc Monceau. sigh. i miss it all!

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  26. Oya and Stef...this camera view already exists on some flights and some routes, but I forget where I saw it. Really cool to see (unless you're crashing of course!).

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  27. Sorry I missed you Johnny and Dave! Maybe next time I'm in Kentucky...er...I meant next time you're in Paris ;-)

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  28. What fun. I can feel the motion, swaying, lean into the ride, communters bumping, that lovely woman's perfume (is she getting off at my stop?). I like the idea of viewing from an airplane cockpit. I love the feeling of acceleration at take off: reminds me of twisting the grip on the bike, but my old Triumph 650 couldn't match that kind of acceleration.
    Ah, Monsieur Michael, vous travaillez pour ALSTOM? Maybe you have some tips for the Nice to Paris TGV ride in April? I've already offered Eric lunch for his blog award. (I suppose he'll want hot dogs, recalling that he likes junk food.)
    And, yes, Johnny, Eric is a pip, ain't he? Hope you had fun.

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  29. What a great shot! I believe I once took this metro to the Bibliothèque de France in May 1999 but perhaps I'm wrong.
    Do you by any chance have an account in Flickr, Eric?

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  30. Go to Feb. 18 PdP and click on link entitled Two True Visitors. This tells "all" in my comment on Eric. What a scoop! LOL

    We still are so sad because we had to leave Paris but we shall return to France in May and Paris in June. Can't wait! I was amazed at how many Starbucks are in Paris. Great for Americans who want a taste of home.....we prefer to go native when in Rome or Paris. Everyone must see "la Mome"......Marion is wonderful as Edith.

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  31. il est prevu pour ma part que prochainement je serai avec la securité civil pour les photographier alors attention attention...
    mais sinon ton cliché superbe mec j'apprecie, on trouve l'esprit du metro, la vitesse, le rythme une sorte d'hommage a Subway de Besson...

    au faite à pParis il fait 16° a Bastia je te laisse deviner...
    je t'envoie un cliché de cet apres midi...

    a prestu...

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  32. Wowee-Zoweee...Love it!! My new wallpaper on desktop!! ;-)

    I don't know about driving it though!! The photo is making me a bit dizzy with my "morning after Mardi-Gras" head!! Ouchhh!! ;-)

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  33. Had a look at your Eric comment, Johnny. How i envy you! One day,... sigh......

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  34. How fun! I'm trying to guess the station and not having much luck. I love the shiny blur of the tiles whooshing by.
    -Kim
    PS, I never noticed before, but the BART train tunnel in SF is perfectly round, and the Metro is an arch. . . interesting.
    -Kim

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  35. Mmmm...good memories! Thanks!
    ~AliciaInAlaska

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  36. Jeff, the only advice I have for your journey is that there is no direct TGV between Nice and Paris so it's a longer journey than necessary. The trip between Marseille and Paris however, is only 3 hours now. WHY can't we figure out a way to make this mode of transport work in the U.S.?

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  37. I like this shot...with light and movement..
    very good...

    Kiss

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