Okay, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but it's a very unique experience, one no thrillseeker, no adrenalin- junkie, no expat mom -with- 3- kids -in -the -car - should ever miss.
Especially on the Champs Elysees at 4 pm and in the rain.
You get a brief space on either side of your car to share with other drivers - I'm unable to process the terror caused by the proximity of the bike rider, as the car goes into wild beeping, then it's all a blur- and a few important rules to learn,since I started driving in Paris.
Keep going ! Don't try to share! Ignore pedestrians unless forced to by red light!All children forbidden to speak on pain of death-bleeding or not-until we cross the roundabout at the Arc De Triomphe. These rules of survival go against every humanitarian impulse drummed in over my driving career. Exhilarating stuff
And lest we forget.. Parisiens are very considerate.
Whilst inching the car into our excruciatingly narrow driveway, my face literally frozen with alarm, the 18 yr old lounging beside the door very kindly pointed out my side mirrors - which need to be turned in or they will part company with the car - in time for me to fix the problem. Vive le France I say.
I am here in Grenoble with my wife who had never been to Europe before. She has still not dared to drive in the city. We hear of horrible traffic death rates in France. Bravo for your daring!
ReplyDelete