OK -- this is one exciting week!! The Obamas going to London and to France. How do you think they are being perceived? Could or should they have done anything differently? Is this the beginning of a NEW world? Please speak up!

If they ever retire, which hopefully is a long way off, we will not replace them with Digicode, since we have that now.

Karen,

Maybe, I didn't explain myself well. when I said 'in accordance', I was thinking kind, friendly, helpful, etc., but certainly not of the same intellectual (or social) level. But that doesn't matter, IMO.

Well, not exactly. However, our concierge or guardienne inherited the job from her parents who were also from Portugal. As St. Germain says, there are all types.

Sounds great, st.germain!

But what, once they retire? Do you think you'll have a digicode thing installed?

As I may have posted before, our building has as a concierge a very old couple from Portugal who settled in Paris in the 1950s. They are straight out of "Amelie" but wonderful.

Karen,

Don't forget one thing: Your building IS lovely and I can't see how such a building wouldn't have a concierge that isn't lovely as well. Must be in some accordance with the people living in the building, non?

I like to think that many have changed and have lives of their own. Our concierge is lovely and MOST helpful. Her husband helps with my computer. However, there's no question that the size of the tip helps a lot and I always bring them back gifts from the US!

Chuck, exactly what I experienced, but the other way round (BFs)!

I believe, as soon as they heard some steps or voices, they must have gone near their window to see what's up. Usually hidden behind a lace curtain. But, one could still see, they're behind to watch the action.

Ursula, I have to agree with you concening Concierges, particularly the ones in Apt. bldgs. They were a breed by them-selfs. I think The FBI, CIA, etc. should have hired them as a trainer for their novices. When I went down to get my mail from the first delivery, there allways was a comment, (just the thing you need the first thing in the morning, such as "There is a letter from your former girlfried, not the readhead, but the pretty one!", or "Was this a new one last night?" We had to tip here regulalrly, and the comments allways were proportional to the size of the tip.

BP Chuck

Well, we have forgotten to talk about one famous thing:

The concierges!

They seem to disappear completely. I believe, most loved and hated them at the same time.
They were helpful, yes, but they also knew everything what was going on in the building. Who came, who went, with whom, whatever!! What you must do and what you mustn't.

Now, most buildings are equipped with the digicodes. A good thing, incidentally!

St. Germain:

Security has always been tight in Paris. However, it's now considerably more visible. The French government wants people to know police are there and ready to act. France was more aware of potential terrorist threats long before the US.

I have not been a frequent visitor to the C.E. Normally each time I am in Paris, I walk up to the Arch de Tr. fro the Pl. de la Concorde and back. So if you saw regulalrly armed Military there, it definitly is a change.

BP Chuck

Chuck

I have seen heavily armed military or polcie along the C.E. on a regular basis.

Katyie:

At the Grand Central Station I could see armed military, especially after 9/11, but have you seen such military at the C.E.? They may be before an expected demonstration, but I have not seen them.

BP Chuck

Basically, during the summer days, and particularly the evenings, the ourists were the biggest consumers and buyers at the Champs Elyses, and payed often horrendous rates. Both in the cafés and the stores.

BP Chuck

Chuck.....WHAT may be a tourist trap? As I scroll down there is no posting I see relating to this comment??

Another transitory idea in the late 80's was the MTV at all the Metro stations (at least the ones I was on). The video screens for train arrivals and departures are way better than the flipping panneau panels they had, although I only saw them in Europe. Not sure how the riot police act now, but I was there for several labor and student demonstrations, and boy were they mean dudes! Seemed to be proud of the "notches" on the billy clubs.

Karen, now it may be a tourist trap, but than it was an "anybody" trap. Also remember that there was NO Parking on what was then considered the sidewalk, at all, that was so winde that the cafés really put out a big outdoors. Also it had the "High Class" cinemas, that showed th films in V.O. If you did not speak (or at least understan French fluently, you at least understood the American movies if they played in V.O. (at at least double the price than the ones that played in V.F.)

BP Chuck

Sam, as you say they were very cool when you had to remain on the rear platform. It could be a very cool ride, when they crossed the Seine!

BP Chuck

RATP still wheels the old open-rear buses out for a weekend here and there on one line or another from time to time. We've occasionally seen them and rode on one once. Very cool.

Karen,

The ones with the open platforms were used till 2002 on some lines, as I gather from the URL below (scroll down the page to see the photos). But, alas, they ARE things of the past.

I still remember a ride with my sis and that must have been 2002. She wasn't feeling all that well and was happy to catch some fresh air. I believe it was line nr. 29 which we catched on Ave de l'Opéra to go to the Pompidou Center.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c.fuller1/SC10R.html

Ursula:

I haven't seen those open public buses forever. When I first moved to Paris, I used to take them as my way of getting to know the city. I haven't seen one FOREVER. I fear those buses are things of the past!

I am moving on here. Well... back to the public transportation that is.

Who remembers the buses that had open rear observation platforms and I don't mean the tourist buses (Open Tour, Balabus, etc.), but the ordinary RATP ones.

That was kind of fun.

Not too long ago, number 56 and 29 did still have those platforms.
No idea, about right now though.

As I said , you have to be brave. Stacy was!!!