My local is called 'La Gare'. It's lovely. And I've just discovered this being said about it:
'Locally, la jeunesse dorée of the 16th can be found hanging out in the 'm'as-tu vu?' ('did you see me') haven of La Gare.'
So evidently not a bad place: peanuts have been replaced by olives. Although Olly and I got crisps last night.
But, it's kind is under threat.
I've just read an article on the times website with this title:
'Paris does the can’t-can’t as noise laws kill nightlife'
It's here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6936286.ece if you fancy a look. I know; me reading. But it makes an interesting point. A point that says the French know how to control things. Or maybe the British do...?
Paris is concerned as it's nightlife is disappearing. There have been so many noise restrictions put in place, that the noisiest location in the city is now the Perifpherique! Some may say this is a good thing; putting up noise restrictions: 'people that need to work' says one comment on that article. I for one had the old woman below me bang on my front door at 23h30 the other night as my shower was making too much noise and keeping her awake!
This is hardly the Paris the Mairie wants to portray, but if it carries on the way it is, that's the Paris it'll have to put up with.
Having lived here for just under two months, I shall tell you something I have worked out. The French mock me for being English and the fact that my economy was buggered during 'la crise' and that there's was (relatively more) healthy. The money in France comes not from the French, but from other nationalities working longer hours and propping everyone else up, and from tourism.
If the noise restrictions carry on, the nightlife will move, as it's doing already to other European cities, and the French will be in the merde. I think the party in the UK will noisily last long into the night and the last train will have left La Gare.
Ouxh that's rather damning
ReplyDeleteI guess it's deserved though
....but La gare is rather nice though! And it's not that noisy. As to money and wealth creation, remember most of la jeuness doree have decamped to London and are still making a mint in the City - perhaps sending some home to poor relatives.
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