Gare du Nord
Another lesson in French systems and manners today. I was running an errand across town, and got off at the Gare du Nord. For some reason, where I came up there was a turnstile which appeared to require a ticket to exit. Well, this is not normally a requirement of the Paris metro, but it is in other places, so I inserted my used ticket and attempted to exit. I got a tone and an 'X' lighting up, and the doors wouldn't budge. I tried this in a couple of places, with no luck. Others were leaving without difficulty, but many were also forcing their way out or coat-tailing. In frustration, I approached a security guard and asked, maybe a little angrily, how one gets out. He gave me a patient look and said: "Bonjour, Monsieur." I throttled back and greeted him properly. "Comment ça va?" he continued, and I responded. Only with these pleasantries properly exchanged did he address my question; which he couldn't answer, but he directed me to the kiosk, where rather than explain the system the official just had me exit via the wheelchair gate.
posted 2.8.06
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