For the first time ever, we decided to take a drive through Paris at night (Paris la nuit). The trusty guidebook lays out a nice route and it seemed like a good idea. We left late at night and the sky was clear. To make a long story short – after three autoroute detours (typically French scenario #1), two hours trying to find the right route (and more than the combined total of arguments), we found ourselves in the middle of the famous Champs Elysées. It was all very exciting, and I was rapidly trying to snap off as many pictures as I could like any good tourist would, until the Paris police were hot on our tail complete with lights and sirens after we ran two red lights (no comment here by me, I wasn't driving - oops! sorry I said no comment). An 80 euro ticket later, we finished the drive and went home. Not even a great photo to show for it either!
Next day, we awoke to a strike on the train system (typically French scenario #2). This added some unnecessary “excitement” to the day. Although the trains were still running, there were massive delays and cancellations. All you can do is “wait and not get upset” is what un jeune Monsieur told me as we were crushed up against each other on the Boulevard St. Michel metro. Ah oui, I guess the old standby “C’est la vie” would work rather well here.
I hope this was your one and only encounter with the French police! So, how did they react to Canadian aliens breaking traffic laws? With kindness for tourists making mistakes, or locals who needed a good scare?
ReplyDeleteMore like disdain in fact: "Being lost is no excuse for running not one but two red lights, Monsieur!" When they saw our jaws drop at the amount of the ticket, they asked how much it would be in Canada. Allan said he had never run a red light in Canada before and didn't know and "les flics" laughed.
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