The Métro

My friend, Pounette, told me she hardly ever rides the Métro in Paris. She prefers the bus above ground.
But I'm a Métro girl.  I think it is fabulous!

This is the metro station right outside my door.

Paris's rapid transit system opened its first line (#1) during the Worlds Fair, on July 19, 1900.  Now there are 14 main lines and 2 little lines.  They have 301 stations in Paris, with 62 transfer stations. 

Métro is an abbreviated name of the company which originally operated the system. Today it carries approximately 4.5 million passengers a day between 5:30a.m. and almost 1 a.m. on weekdays, and an hour later on weekends.

I take the metro to French class two days a week - it's 17 stops and takes about 30 minutes.  The location is on the opposite end of Paris.

I've had lots of time to study the people on the Métro.

On the Métro the French:

• talk on the phone and text - constantly
• listen to music - almost everyone has their iPod
• read - they read books, business publications, and the paper. In fact their is a free daily paper, Direct Matin, that you can pick up when entering the Métro
• kiss - and sometimes SERIOUSLY Kiss - I think they are saying good-bye after a good night
• beg - there are two types. Some just get on the train and ask for money, but others get on with a karioke machine and play music to entertain, and then pass their little cup.
• Sleep
• Eat snacks
• Look at others

There is some formalitiy on the metro when it is crowded.  If you are sitting on a jump seat near the exit and the metro gets crowded, it is best to stand up so the seat flips up and makes more room for the crowd.

I'm a believer. It is so easy to get around this city!