Entre Les Murs

The Sales

It's possible that what seems to we North Americans as Parisians' pushy, me-first attitude has arisen from centuries of living in narrow streets and tiny apartments, where you simply can't avoid stepping on strangers' toes. At some point in history the step-shuffle-sidestep-step-step-dodge-hop -step needed to win five metres of headway must have seemed like just too much effort. The attitude became one of "hey, I'm just going to move at my own pace, and to hell with you." if you trip over my shopping bags, dogs or children, well, bad luck." The price may be that one occasionally collides, trips or gets wrapped in a leash; but in fact people adjust and somehow the worst imbroglios are avoided. The only practical difference is that people are much more in each others personal space.

What that means, though, is that when Paris has its biannual re-enactment of the medieval marketplace, i.e. when everyone converges on les grands magasins for the sales, navigation on the streets and in the stores makes Christmas at the Eaton Centre look like, well, a stroll down the Champs Elysées in January. But since they are only twice a year, and things are so expensive to begin with, it seems foolish to avoid them. With Janet in the lead, and M along, who as a tourist can take some delight in the experience, I spent the afternoon dutifully holding the shopping bags.

posted 8.7.06