THE FIRST TIME behind the Iron Curtain Part 1 I want to share with readers of the site impressions from a trip to Paris and Nice in 2000, Someone may seem boring to this story, someone will not work (no doubt, terrible) image quality, but for me this trip was interesting because it was the first. First look at the fact that many years of my youth was hidden behind the Iron Curtain, and the forbidden fruit, he is known to be extremely sweet. Of course, most of all sorry about the quality of images. Excuse me, are not versed in photographic technique was. Bought the first available "soap-box", low-cost films with a dozen, and I thought that I was ready for the trip. Well did not know then how much will regret this lack of preparation. Composition of the tourist group Our group consisted of beginners tourists, besides me, all those days of my three employees. About them in these articles are not going to keep it for different reasons. The main thing for me - is to share the unique experiences of the former scoop from the developed world, who threw himself on the mind sharp, and once in May 2000. Flight Departure was from the airport "Borispol". Special issues did not arise, the only question was about mobile phones - whether they have had to make a customs declaration. And immediately began communicating with the new. For example, Duty Free Shop. Although, at prices much win was not, contrary to numerous stories and rumors about the possibility of the alleged almost enrichment for those who fall into this intermediate magazine heaven. No, on the eve of store tamoshnego paradise. In the plane gave a completely edible food, I do not remember what I do, that we have used it. And it was unusual that "the ball" offer alcohol. He immediately remembered the product of Voinovich's "Moscow 2042", where he "unwound" stewardess "Lufthansa" on a dozen small bottles of vodka, which, if memory serves, had finished almost in the closet airport arrivals area. The aircraft of Air France is also nothing unusual not stand out against the backdrop of "Aeroflot", but was pleased that nice, it's courteous flight attendants. While this is in sharp contrast with local traditions. But what to say, even now, at the end of 2009, no, no, yes and gets in stores (well, not in supermarkets, of course) some sort hamovitaya "citizen Suslyatina. Flight attendants not quickly knew English, and we do not quickly know, but our collective knowledge is enough to correct the orders for food, drinks and other small aviapassazhirskie needed. Arrival airport landed us in the "Charles de Gaulle." Of course, immediately struck by the abundance of advertising and information boards. Of course, any comparison Borisopol not going to "De Gaulle". And, despite our extensive experience flights to Mother Russia, we managed to go "the wrong way", ie suddenly appeared on the "landside" area, where fro buses, passenger cars, taxis ... And things are something we have not taken out of their luggage! French did not know any of us. English a little known writer of these lines, however, aptly Seva Novgorodtseva, you can learn the language you want, but there will always be a place where you'll find that the language you do not know. Returned to the airport, went to the girl-clerk tried to hand something to explain. And then worked the principle of "BOAD who could not swim to a depth of - once all remember and learn." The word «luggage» Swift flew at a speed and a minute later we were walking towards our things, accompanied by a girl. Phew! After that, everything normal. We met our hired through a friend of one of our fellow local Russian immigrant who specializes just on "walking the" like us, nefrankoyazychnyh Paris beginners. We sat in his minivan and drove to the city on numerous intricacies of local roads. Immediately struck by the bizarre at the time of transport. Look again at the photo in Boryspil. Housing Gains in the hotel. It was not exactly the hotel. It is situated on a narrow street named Richelieu «Rue de Richelieu», near the famous «Opera National de Paris». It seems she was not even a single building, ie She served part of a long 5-storey building. The hotel did not have any problems, my meager enough English to understand instructions is the clerk. We were given general information, from which, of course, the most interesting for us was the time at which you can eat breakfast. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel was not very elegant, but clean and well appointed. Us, freshly baked ex-scoop like dongles, we it was then a novelty. The first walk a rest from the road, we decided to stroll around the hotel. In his eyes ran two things - the French save on matches and lighters and the French look "through you." First. It is necessary to stand with a cigarette (the author of these lines then had the habit) on the street, as there is for you fit the Frenchman with an unlit cigarette and a gesture shows that he wanted to light a cigarette. Do not have time to help him in this case simple enough, as immediately suitable second. It happens, do not have time to smoke, but only you know, what do you give get a light. And, as I thought, if we try to give them a lighter, they are almost offended, as this seem to underline your arrogant attitude. Second. Any resident of the scoop, well, at least the Ukrainian part of it, knows that walking on our streets, we are constantly experiencing a glimpse of the abandoned brief glances of passers-by coming to meet you. The girls look at guys, guys on girls, grandmothers and grandfathers on etc. Hard to say what is hidden in these views. Probably different. In every age its interests and goals. But together, these views seem to be grafted to us for decades (well, maybe centuries) indifferent attitude towards other members of society. Examples will not lead, if young people do not know, it may ask the parents about the methodology of the party with the Soviet people. To cause jealousy and intolerance, especially. That was the soviet "engine" of society. And this attitude is largely left. However, why shovels? And until 1917 was a "mutual responsibility" when you're dependent on other members of the community and therefore you were not anyway. Now I am become clear that in Western Europe is not so. There - every man for himself and a business (work) every little dependent on strangers. Understandably, employees and partners do not count. That's why I think people in Paris (I think not limited to) the streets look "through you." If you do not threaten them with anything, they will care for you. No. What we once more disappointed that the famous opera house was under construction in forests. Photos will be in other parts of the narrative. In the evening went into a cafe snack, but these institutions will talk about later. Breakfast at the hotel the morning we had breakfast. Immediately went to a good impression. 1.Publika much more intelligent than in Ukraine. (Well, here I am America, of course, did not open) in the dining room quietly, we like hot oriental guys have created the most noise. 2.Personal very kind, despite the fact that we almost did not know English, especially in the cooking part and the staff in the dining room was also not strong in that language. 3.In the dining room clean. In those years, yet there was little in Ukraine decent catering, so we celebrated with joy. 4.Shvedsky table. For remembering more recent lean years shovel it was manna from heaven. 5.Produkty cooked well, many related - rolls, cheese, etc. Particularly liked the famous blue cheese. Excursion to cars Our local assistant, who met us yesterday at the airport, drove us to the hotel and we headed to avtoekskursionnuyu trip to Paris. Because the case was long ago, forgotten experiences, I would be a start in his story from the pictures. The key benefit of a tour that our guide answered our common issues, which, of course, there were plenty. After all, the remaining 9 days before returning to Kiev, we almost no one talked, except some of my private conversations with English-speaking "peresichnymi" foreigners. In addition, our guide responded to urgent practical questions such as what to see in more detail "and" where it is profitable to exchange dollars for francs. So, what we saw from the window of a car? Architecture course, the general form of the buildings and sculptures with a victim of stagnation in the primeval inescapable shock. Born and raised in stone hruschobah huge city with a variety of beautiful buildings to show if not a paradise, then a fabulous soulful place. Were here and the Church: And even a circus (as we understand): We are particularly surprised buildings of unusual shape. Structure, acute and obtuse angles are left on the crossroads, which, in turn, were the complete opposite of the Soviet model square-breeding quarters. We wandered through the central narrow-preuzkim streets, from which and breathed the spirit of the musketeers and the cardinal's guards. If not mistaken, at one of these streets is a pointer to the center of Paris. Cars In addition, the moral consciousness of a former prisoner of totalitarianism was struck by the abundance of cars, because in 2000 in Ukraine there was no such diversity. Particularly struck by the driving habits of local "car enthusiasts and professionals. At first glance they seemed to go entirely without rules, constant signals to other drivers, and keep each other "undercutting". However, for all four days in Paris we have not seen on the streets of the consequences of any accident. Maybe they were quickly eliminated urban services, and perhaps an internal culture of the Parisians guard them more than us from this trouble? Of course, not all the streets were clogged with cars, which adds to the positive notok in the overall picture of the city. Layout was everywhere neat and even designated by the rules, yellow buses. All bus shelters are equipped with detailed maps of the area where a large circle denotes the location marked this particular card. As it was convenient! For all the days in Paris we never lost. And in our area are only now beginning to do the same. And yet. Even now, seeing the abundance of advertising on our streets, wonder what then in Paris it was not much. Come across advertising tables (we now also have some such place): Many signs, cafes and restaurants, where do without it: and the famous casino "Moulin Rouge" can not exist without the proper clearance: However, without a doubt, the advertising was not evident that does honor to the city authorities. Here, for example, is designed as the entrance to one of the hotels (as I understood). Only one city-light: I think anybody would not be surprised if I will tell you how in Paris are to pedestrians. All the CIS know about this difference us from Western Europe. But the ex-shovels drivers unabashedly continue to kill fellow citizens in the zebra crossings. Eeeeehhhhh! Parking, of course, in the center of a big problem - is parking. You've got to admit the greatest gap between the Parisians in the skill of parking from the Ukrainian drivers. But what can I say, if still (!!!) I've never seen in Ukraine, the driver parked in reverse, and yet it was much easier and more efficient! True, the local drivers when parking not shun touch bumpers of adjacent cars, and sometimes even move them slightly from place to squeeze. Where a close parking, and tow it. Now we have these things have already become familiar. And then I made the picture without even knowing why you need this monster. Bicycles and motorcycles separate topic - motorcycles and scooters. Them in Paris was a great set! It is not surprising, since, as said our guide, the temperature of 10 degrees Celsius here rarely, and 5 - it already almost universal freezing. Drivers of motorcycles dashing maneuvers between rows of standing at a traffic light vehicles. More motorcycles in parking lots, which are often located on sidewalks, along with parked by the side of cars. Almost all motorcycles and scooters - with bagazhnichkami. We have and are now rarely seen. It's obvious that there - it's a necessary thing every day, and we have more - let go before the girls pofarsit. We were particularly struck by the fact that many Parisians have a motorcycle with air conditioning. This was explained our guide, and we seem to have seen such a wonder in the streets. It was especially fun to pass around the Arc de Triomphe, surrounded by bubbling a stream of cars and motorcycles. Respectively, are not deprived urban streets and cyclists. They, understandably, less than a motorized two-wheelers. One cyclist I took at the focus of the car window of our guide, pre okliknuv it. In reply he received a hefty portion of the obstruction, and rightly so. God forgive me this cute girl that I violated her prayvesi. Well, where was getting away from the reflections of the aboriginal tribe of Mumbo-Jumbo, caught in the center of world culture and civilization! Metro This is a separate story. Here's what one of the inputs: Unfortunately, my "soap box" made it impossible to make shots there. But the words tell. Metro in Paris, there is already a duplicate. Actually metro and RER (most likely stands for "rapid transport system). Subway is located much closer to the surface and its stations are much closer together than the station RER. Often with one station, looking into the tunnel, you can see the platform of another station. It is clear that at each station RER have the opportunity to get up and go to the subway station. All the more clear that not every station is a transition in a depth of RER. In the subway cars, if not remind us, they essentially do not differ from them. RER also has a fundamentally different cars than the subway. Decker carriages there, and almost always et vacancies. However, in the metro areas in the coaches enough. Such ugliness, as in Kiev, where the underground will save on the comfort of passengers, tightening the timetable, in Paris, no. Another fundamental difference between the RER from the Metro is that on the outskirts of Paris RER train reaches the surface and can deliver you to the suburbs. I do not remember now which of the two species we went to Versailles, probably on the subway, but in Disney Land, we went to the RER. RER platform equipped with TV screens (this is the year 2000, when the widespread use of LCD and plasma screens in theory says). The image is a table on which real time is clearly seen up to second when the next train comes. And residents scoop so far satisfied with information about when the previous one left ... the Stone Age! In addition, indicate the terminal station for each train, as the RER lines branch out beyond the city limits, as was done in Moscow. An interesting technical details are given two. The first is that some, even many subway lines instead of metal wheels fitted with rubber, to a tee as a car, or maybe it was car. Anyway, tread on them was the same as in the usual "import rubber", as our motorists. It's clear that this train makes almost no wheel noise and generally a lot quieter than usual. Well this is necessary, as in the rich live! I wonder how often they change these wheels? Have you ever had punctures, "bumps"? And pass it in winter to the winter "tires? Joke. The second feature some of the cars is that they have, in addition to ordinary wheels, rotating, as expected, around a horizontal axis, there are a few wheels rotating around a vertical axis and positioned "flat", parallel to the floor and resting on the wall of the tunnel on the right side and a vertical wall of the platform on the left side of the train. Ie These wheels provide additional stability to the composition, when it comes to platform. I do not know why it's done. According to my observations of our in the sense Mytishchi production cars, swinging a maximum of one to two centimeters, and even then, when a large crowd of passengers makes a sharp move in the car or out of it. That's really, truly, wasteful capitalism. Fare on the subway go to the underground cost 8 francs, then, something about 7 USD for our money. In those days 14 times more expensive than in Kiev! But 8 francs worth traveling only within the same zone, a hair's breadth, as we have on commuter trains. Accordingly, the fare is calculated by multiplying eight francs to the number of crossed areas. Tokens where I have not seen, most likely not, but we bought a ticket in hand. Ticket are small, with narrow longitudinal magnetic strip on the center. Charge ticket in the turnstile, he swallows it like an ATM card, and gives out, then you can go. You should be sure to buy a ticket from a trip, because the output is also necessary to use a ticket to exit. Done so because the machine needs to know on which station you're gone. And if the fare does not match the route that you traveled, you will not be released! Before the trip to Paris we specifically warned about this, because many of our luckless fellow-citizens, in an attempt to save to buy a ticket for one zone, go to the desired station, and then suffered a failure on exit, forced to return empty-handed. And the turnstiles they will tell you posurovee our will, because of lower population of discipline. Not all can jump the turnstiles, because instead of moving handrails-byltsev there movable door in the man's height. And yet another type of turnstile is used for one-way traffic of passengers, mostly on the inputs / outputs of the subway. We once tried to go "against the grain", zhulnichaya and cheating machine. Eight francs saved, but risked being arrested, because they do not have time to two of our offenders "on the ball" to go to the station, as immediately appeared alongside of the four police officers with a dog. Conditions in the Metro ordinary people, as everywhere, quiet, beggars can not be seen, not as we do, when soon on each passenger will account for a few impoverished and "runners" with a plaster skin color. Once it was quite fun. We got into the car with the musician, who clearly was not playing for money, because he did not go to car, as we have, so that more "coverage" of potential buyers. He had a battery, amplifier and speaker. He played the electric guitar and harmonica simultaneously. When not playing the harmonica, then sang. Jamaican musician was the type played reggae. And I had read before the trip that many native French singer in the Paris Metro Other Trams, trolleybuses, we do not vstrechalis.A here buses are actively moving around the city, with electronic scoreboard showing the route. Is only in recent years have begun to appear, and even then not a rapid pace. Alas, the photo bus I did not. But caught the eye of sightseeing double decker bus, while all cruise - one floor. On the River Seine, in addition to barges caught excursion water "trams", I think some of them got the shot in the photo with the Eiffel Tower, see the following sections. Little embarrassing when the guide said that we are coming to the Place de la Bastille, I perked up and asked him where is the prison itself ... And then he laughed for a long time to learn that it was dismantled for souvenirs a huge number of years ago. And now, here now a monument. Pure or dirty? I can not say that Paris is absolutely pure. In the big city life can not be purely on the whole territory around the clock. Especially given the availability of a huge army of immigrants, mainly blacks - from the former colonies. However, in this collection was just one shot with a clearly unharvested papers on the sidewalk: In addition, quite often catch the eye team of cleaners, composed mainly of afrofrantsuzov. Methods of cleaning them original - are allowed on the roadside water flow and sweep debris into the stream. So, we can conclude that the purity of the Paris order. By the way, I noticed that the cleanliness in the streets of European cities has been steadily getting worse the farther away than the south is the city. Montmartre on a photo can be seen as we're out of luck. For in such bad weather could just nearby homes. And here is the famous basilica. Praise be to God, even though it looked at. Despite the weather, tourists missing. Paris after all! In Montmartre, as expected, exhibited artists: And here is some sort of plaque. If memory serves, it is relevant to the Russian Cossacks, who once took the city. Maybe I'm wrong, I'll be glad to prompts, write a comment on this article. Alas, nothing else other than a cup of hot coffee in the damp weather, this hill is not remembered. Read more: See also: Surprising features of the French capital and its people first, here selilas know, then the lower classes, but today the Jews live a worthy replacement of Montmartre and the Place Pigalle most beloved town of mankind
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