Parislog 70
October 11, 2006

Thank you Flocon! I found the earplugs that have solved my sleeping nightmare. I searched everywhere and finally found them at the pharmacy.

The pharmacy has everything. The pharmacy is a little slice of heaven but I never think about it because it doesn’t match what my brain thinks about when looking for something. To me a pharmacy is the place one goes to get all those things that the doctor prescribes and the big, got it all drugstore is where you go to get everything else.

If you are in Paris, even though the pharmacy is the size of a shoebox, it is still the place to go for it all. You just have to ask for it because most everything is hidden behind the counter somewhere. The stuff out front is just a bunch of cellulite removers and lotions. I exaggerate. Sort of.

When I want the progesterone cream, it was behind the counter. When I wanted dental floss that was waxed, it was behind the counter. The only type available at the grocery store/ department store was un-waxed on the spool or un-waxed bayonets. When I wanted earplugs that wouldn’t hurt and would block the sound, that’s right, behind the counter at the pharmacy. I bought others at the BHV, huge store that has everything, but they were making my ears sore and swollen every night. I would wake up because of the pain and then I couldn’t sleep because of the noise after removing them.

The trick of the pharmacy here is to ask for everything. You either need to know a local brand name or know the latin root for the problem you want solved. Then make sure to pronounce it with a French accent. Failing that write it down and they might be able to figure out what you are referring to.

Parislog 69
October 9, 2006

Oh no, I forgot to mention this lovely little tidbit. While reading a blog called ruerude, I was reminded of this moment.

Parisians are famous for their dog poop on their streets and I must say that I haven’t seen quite as much poop as has been written about but neither has it been a scarcity. I have also never seen anyone actually picking the poop up after their dog does its business. But what I did see was a man reaching down after his dog had left his little package with a napkin. I am getting all ready to thank you for picking up the poop and placing it in one of the conveniently placed trashcans. His hand reaches further and further towards the ground. I get closer and closer watching the progress. I pass by and turn around to see the gentleman wiping the dogs nether region. ? Suffice it say that this is a first for me. He was very careful and thorough in his job and then off they went. Poop left behind.

Parislog 68
October 8, 2006

Last night Paris had a once yearly festival called La Nuit Blanche. The city hosts art exhibitions and many others participate. It is open all night long and the buses and trains are running all night also. Restaurants stay open late and the city lets you borrow bikes to get around.

My roommate and I went to the area of the Grand Palais and walked to Place de Concorde then to the Louvre. At the Grand Palais we found statues colored blue with lights and strange white forms on a structure with ladders going through it. There was a neon light announcing the night and hordes of people out for the sights. The Petit Palais had lights inside going on and off giving a sense that it was a part of a ghost story. The Egyptian Obelisk that Napolean brought home with him was colored blue purple and so were the fountains and statues. We had a full moon that night to add to the ambiance as well. In the Tuileries garden was an oval speed roller rink with 3 people in black going round and round.

The boats for tourists called the bateau mouche plied their trade up and down the river. They gave a special rate for the night and you could get on and off all night long. The river was packed with boats. In fact, the river was more crowded than the streets.

Walking home we found that quartiers that were typically full of people and noise on a Saturday night were nearly dead. Our own street was the quietest that I have ever found it except August.