Took the emirates flight from Chennai to Paris. The aircraft starting out was changed at Dubai after a halt over of around 3 hours and thankfully it was better and bigger Boeing 777-300 that took us to Paris
Asthe plane started circulated in the air over the city, lot of memories came rushing. How they made me wait for 4 hours for visa interview and how I made a promise that I will not come again to their country.
Anyway, we landed and I must say that it was be of the quickest immigration process that I have been subjected to , please note the usage of word 'Subjected' as I feel it is pure harassment with steely gaze looking at you as some alien coming over to their beautiful country, never to go back and covet their resources. Charles de Gaul airport immigration was breeze, 5 mins only.
As I gathered luggage, I headed towards the tourist information desk to check for the cabs to Robespierre, he you g attendant looked at me and said ,"If I was you on experiencing the city, I would go by public transport".
I took his advise and headed to the RER(B) line. RER stands for fast train. Got down at Gerd du nord and took another train to Republique and then line 9 to Robespierre,smooth as silk. Having seen some of the major metro networks of the world, I must commend DMRC for their wonderful upkeep of Delhi Metro, Paris was a little older & not squeaky clean like London but had far more character in the stations with graffiti is and artists.
One thing I noticed was large percentage of blacks, browns and yellow races. My guesstimate would be around 40% of Paris population would be non Gaul. I saw some African women with colourful headgear, like turbans tied in a different way, wearing their ethnic dresses. I cold hear almost 6-7 languages on that train to Robespierre I.e. Chinese, Janese, Punjabi, English, french and few Spanisheople too
How does a Frenchmen adjusts to this will determine the future of Europe as French have been at the forefront of shaping the ideas and destiny of Europe. As of now, young look more comfortable with the mixed population with middle age and older people scrowling in discontent quietly. The number of African origin residents is overwhelming to say the least and I got down at the station, walked out and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is a very mixed neighbourhood. My host that evening was a person of Morroccan descent. People were warm, gave directions willingly and non- threatening in demeanour. This is far better than my experience with Englishmen who are cold, hostile and ignore you sometime.
May be because this square has only immigrants and they are open, warm & friendly to the other souls coming down. The most important question in my mind is what it means to be a Frenchmen today.
Asthe plane started circulated in the air over the city, lot of memories came rushing. How they made me wait for 4 hours for visa interview and how I made a promise that I will not come again to their country.
Anyway, we landed and I must say that it was be of the quickest immigration process that I have been subjected to , please note the usage of word 'Subjected' as I feel it is pure harassment with steely gaze looking at you as some alien coming over to their beautiful country, never to go back and covet their resources. Charles de Gaul airport immigration was breeze, 5 mins only.
As I gathered luggage, I headed towards the tourist information desk to check for the cabs to Robespierre, he you g attendant looked at me and said ,"If I was you on experiencing the city, I would go by public transport".
I took his advise and headed to the RER(B) line. RER stands for fast train. Got down at Gerd du nord and took another train to Republique and then line 9 to Robespierre,smooth as silk. Having seen some of the major metro networks of the world, I must commend DMRC for their wonderful upkeep of Delhi Metro, Paris was a little older & not squeaky clean like London but had far more character in the stations with graffiti is and artists.
One thing I noticed was large percentage of blacks, browns and yellow races. My guesstimate would be around 40% of Paris population would be non Gaul. I saw some African women with colourful headgear, like turbans tied in a different way, wearing their ethnic dresses. I cold hear almost 6-7 languages on that train to Robespierre I.e. Chinese, Janese, Punjabi, English, french and few Spanisheople too
How does a Frenchmen adjusts to this will determine the future of Europe as French have been at the forefront of shaping the ideas and destiny of Europe. As of now, young look more comfortable with the mixed population with middle age and older people scrowling in discontent quietly. The number of African origin residents is overwhelming to say the least and I got down at the station, walked out and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is a very mixed neighbourhood. My host that evening was a person of Morroccan descent. People were warm, gave directions willingly and non- threatening in demeanour. This is far better than my experience with Englishmen who are cold, hostile and ignore you sometime.
May be because this square has only immigrants and they are open, warm & friendly to the other souls coming down. The most important question in my mind is what it means to be a Frenchmen today.
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