I had never been to Paris, but doubt I’ll return.
It’s easy to drift about the City of Light in a dreamlike state, absorbing the sites, enjoying the cuisine, and soaking up culture. That dream, however, is bound to dissipate in a puff of smoke, literally when some pretentious types exhale the residue of their addiction in your direction.
Although smoking is officially banned in Parisian cafes, restaurants, museums and trains it would appear that enforcement is woefully lacking. So while most other First World urban centers have branded those who smoke in public as pariahs, it appears that Paris has embraced them.
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| Hey Paris, the 70's are over!!! |
There are few things more repulsive than trying to enjoy a meal while a haze of carcinogens wafts through the air. A short trip using public transit is bound to involve an episode of breath holding as fellow travelers puff away seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. And a romantic stroll down one of Paris’s characteristic narrow streets yields results that are no better as the smokers are everywhere.
When it comes to culture, the French are perhaps second to none. It’s too bad that smoking remains an entrenched part of that culture.
