18 May 2013
On a train from Paris to Marne le Vallee
I am sat here wondering how, aside from using it in the title of this piece, I can work in the line from the Tenesse Williams play:
“I have always relied on the kindness of strangers.”
I guess I just did.
I am in Paris, home to the maligned Parisians, who some would have you believe are the most arrogant citizens in Europe. Some of those who hold that belief are British so the hypocrisy is thoroughly on display as I think we English hold records in the stuff.
I don’t hold that belief about Parisians or the French in general. Aside from knowing many nice French people I have also stayed in Paris more than once and find them easily as polite, if not more so, than Londoners.
So I guess I shouldn’t visit London for a while.
Today was a typical example. We have two small children and are hopping buses in Paris. We have had people help us onto the buses with the pram. Hold open doors. And the one moment than strikes the best, sat waiting at a bus stop and a gentleman gave Ben and Elliott a banana to share.
I don’t rely on the kindness of strangers. I usually plan ahead. But I do so like it when I experience it.
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