In spite of its untidy and rarely a piss-like smell, I still find my underground travels in Paris quite enjoyable. I remember taking a train (RER B) for the first time from Charles de Gaulle airport to my residence near La Defanse and how much I enjoyed an accompanied sound of violin strung by an old man. There are many real talents out there both under and on the streets of the city, and I quite like them as far as I don't end up tipping involuntarily.
I was in St. Michel metro station the other day, and a recognizably Southeastern European lady stood just after the yellow line on the opposite side and started to sing a supposedly her traditional folk song loudly. Though understandably pestered by some in the crowd, I found it rather intriguing - hence stood watching for some minutes and missed a couples of trains as a result. In the train moments after, I managed to have myself comfortably seated and started to read a newspapers I grabbed from the campus. There, I again heard a familiar song sang by a lady. As she walked closer did I recognize her to be one of the Roms begging for money. Shunned by almost all the passengers she was trying to solicit from, I, also, felt contemptuous towards what was happening at first. But as she went on begging sadly, I started to felt sympathetic for her. I don't want to carry on talking about the whole Gypsies situation in France, but I simply think they deserve some space and acceptance from the people, especially the Parisians. We really live in the capitalism, don't we?
Just yesterday when I was walking down the metro to catch a train home, again, I was struck by an assembly of happy musicians who were musing their instruments and singing in harmony. It's seemed to me that there is no better way to travel to and from Paris than descending down its busy underground.
I was in St. Michel metro station the other day, and a recognizably Southeastern European lady stood just after the yellow line on the opposite side and started to sing a supposedly her traditional folk song loudly. Though understandably pestered by some in the crowd, I found it rather intriguing - hence stood watching for some minutes and missed a couples of trains as a result. In the train moments after, I managed to have myself comfortably seated and started to read a newspapers I grabbed from the campus. There, I again heard a familiar song sang by a lady. As she walked closer did I recognize her to be one of the Roms begging for money. Shunned by almost all the passengers she was trying to solicit from, I, also, felt contemptuous towards what was happening at first. But as she went on begging sadly, I started to felt sympathetic for her. I don't want to carry on talking about the whole Gypsies situation in France, but I simply think they deserve some space and acceptance from the people, especially the Parisians. We really live in the capitalism, don't we?
Just yesterday when I was walking down the metro to catch a train home, again, I was struck by an assembly of happy musicians who were musing their instruments and singing in harmony. It's seemed to me that there is no better way to travel to and from Paris than descending down its busy underground.
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