Café culture

We touched down in Paris and a gate agent picked up Joe and whisked him away. At this point we had no idea where we were going, much less where they were taking him. 

We had instructions on how to take the subway to our AirBnb, but after discussing it we opted to use Uber. Actually, John made the decision as he was weary of all the traveling and schlepping our bags on and off various modes of transportation. We were all equally tired of it but it was his moment to vocalize it…strongly.

We followed the signs to the Uber pickup spot and there sat Joe and Alan. Joe was certainly not planning on taking a subway.

We were in the process of requesting an Uber when a man parked there in the Uber pickup area told us he was an Uber driver and was already there and ready to go. He had a nice sized mini van that sat all 6 of us easily plus luggage so we hopped in and away we went. 

I told him the address and without even jotting it down he knew where to go and he dropped us off at exactly the right spot. He gave us his number to schedule a return trip when we were ready to fly home. 

The apartment was on the second floor. There was no elevator, which didn’t go over so well with us, but it was a pretty nice apartment. We had to pass through three doors, each with a different combination lock, in order to get into the apartment. 

The first door opened into a shared courtyard. The second door was to one of several buildings accessible from the inner courtyard. The third door was to the apartment. 

Each door automatically locked when they were closed. So as for security. It seemed exceptionally safe. 

I personally enjoy seeing how locals live, and that’s one of my reasons for preferring an AirBnb over a hotel. Hotels can look virtually the same no matter where you are, which is precisely why other people prefer hotels. I’m all about seeing how the world lives. 

After getting settled, we went out in search of dinner. We looked for several options online and ended up at a bar/pub/café sort of place that seemed to have an acceptable menu. And by menu I meant food, howbeit there were only two pages of food items and 14 pages of all sorts of mixed drinks, beers and wines. 

When the food arrived, John pointed out that he ordered a sandwich with toasted bread and fries, and all the meals were served with bread.

So his first meal in France consisted of French bread, French toast and French fries. And he commented “just like home!”

On the way to the restaurant there were quite a few people out on the streets. It was noticeably colder here than anywhere else we had been on the trip, and as for both Bryan and myself, it was the first time we got to wear our warm jackets. 

But the temperature didn’t deter the night life. People were bundled up and out on the streets everywhere, bustling to and fro. But there was a noticeable change by the time we left the restaurant. The streets were basically empty although every sidewalk café was packed. Many of them had patio or outdoor seating and still they were full.

We’ve seen plenty of other cities, including at home, where restaurants may be full but so are the streets. But not here. It was as if everyone went out, went to one spot, and stayed all night. 

We were wanting to do what we Americans do; eat and go home. But it looked like the Parisians find a spot and move in for the evening. Makes me wonder about the TV habits of the people here. Maybe their entertainment is to actually socialize with other real live people. How intriguing!

It’s also interesting to note that many restaurants were not even open for dinner until late. I started doing some investigating and found that in Paris, dinnertime tends to start later than in other parts of the world. 

Most Parisians eat dinner around 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Many restaurants don't even start serving dinner until 7:00 PM or later, aligning with local dining habits.

Lunch times are different also. In the U.S., a typical lunch time is about an hour and customarily at noon, but in France lunch often runs for a couple hours. 

It's also common for the French to enjoy a drink at a café or bar before heading to dinner, they even have a special word for it: apéritif. This pushes dinner time even later.

Cafés are integral to Parisian culture. They're more than just places to grab a coffee; they're social hubs, meeting spots, and often the heart of neighborhood life. 

Historically, Parisian cafés have been centers of intellectual and artistic activity. There are famous spots like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, where legends like Hemingway, Sartre, and Picasso gathered.

For Parisians, visiting a café is part of their daily routine. Whether for a quick espresso in the morning, a leisurely afternoon tea, or an evening apéritif, cafés offer a place to relax and socialize.

Many people use cafés as informal workspaces, enjoying the ambiance while working on their laptops.

Cafés often host events, from live music to book readings, fostering an additional sense of community.

Cafés appear to be a vital thread in the fabric of Parisian life, reflecting the city's spirit of camaraderie, creativity, and leisure.