by Pierrette Komarek

Created on: July 15, 2008

When Heminway wrote that "Paris is a visual feast", he spoke of his time there during the thirties bewteen the two world wars,of the glorious (and cheap) years that the so called "lost American generation" enjoyed in France..Of course times have changed since, but thankfully Paris did not!
My husband and I were priviledged to live there for a year after he retired in the eighties, and I can tell you that Paris is not only a visual feast, it is a feast for all your senses! Whether you are walking the neighborhood and pass a Patisserie (Bakerie) where they are still baking the croissants, and the heavenly smell makes you want to go inside and buy, or walking the outdoor march, where the vegetables are still fresh having being brought from near by farms...while the flowers stand invites you to go home with a bouquet...it all helps to make for the joie de vivre that is so essentially french!

Few people realize that Paris is a collection of small villages called "Arrondissements".Each with it's own city hall, where you are registered when you are born ..get married and die!Some are of course more chic then other, as for instance the sixteen -where the Parisian crme de la crme lives, or La goutte d'or , the Arab quarters where few non Muslim dare to venture.
One of the nicest thing about living in Paris however, is it's transportation system! Thus not too many people need to use cars, the subway is easy to get around on, once you understand it's system, well illustrated in every station; you need'nt even to speak french to do so..The Paris railroad stations also can take you to every parts of France (and Europe) and they themselves are a visual delight, as is the Gare d'Orsey, or St lazar (recently renovated)for they were build in the beginning or before the last century, with the french eyes for the pleasing... but especially to the glory of their country..For it is said "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" and many buildings, streets especially like les Champs Elys
built in the 17th century! or the lovely Place Vendome or rue de Rivoli, many of whom still have the original stores there of like CHANEL or GUERLAIN the parfumor.
Many Americans have lived in Paris going on for some three generations now, and there are Churches that cathers to them like the Cathedrale of the Holly Spirit that was built in 1814.
Yes indeed living in Paris used to be most pleasurable, before they invented the "euro" that is..now of course with the dollar at it's lowest..(1.57) for a euro as of today so living and visiting there today is une autre histoire!

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