This is going to sound a little strange (how unusual for me) I miss the smoke from cigarettes in Paris cafes bars etc..I miss walking into a cafe or bar and not seeing the room full of blue smoke...in fact not seeing anything.I miss my eyes stinging from the dry fug filled rooms. I know the pitfalls of smoking and all that stuff.I don't and never have smoked, but I think it was a French institution to have bistro's etc full of smoke.Those days are gone now and I know Americans and my clothes are very happy to hear that (but what can we complain about now) I feel we (they) have chopped a huge part of french culture off at the knees.So when I pass a TV station called NRJ (energy) I see this outside ashtray always full...always.
The French cant smoke in the cafes anymore but they still smoke, they smoke like chimneys, in the freezing winter as well as the hot stinky summers.I shot this photo (above) when it was 11 degrees below freezing.There were maybe 21 people standing outside NRJ trying to enjoy a cig.They looked stiff and maybe a little frozen ...but god bless them for making the outside ashtray a little work of art and maybe a small revolution against..??? Well what? Are we all becoming health freaks at the expense of national institutions , are we not allowed our little vices anymore.The next thing you know, the Parisians will start treating people with manners and courtesy..God forbid!!!
4 comments:
it is an odd thing to miss...but my lungs feel better...M
its odd indeed.........But I am
As non smokers in Paris, we had no choice but to freeze outside on a terrass go avoid the smoke
Now the terrasses are filled with smokers and cafes owners pamper them with mushroomlike
gaz heaters
Smoking outside became the ultimate cruising place : borrowing a fag, commenting the ostracism...
this is all good to hear
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