semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Driving in NYC is easy. It's driving in Boston that'll get ya.
wgerrard
Veteran
I've driven in Boston, in New York, in Chicago, in San Francisco, in Amman, in Johannesburg and Cape Town, in D.C., in London, and more. Never again.
This kind of question -- Should I drive in London? Should I drive in Paris? -- frequently comes up on travel forums. The simple answer is: If you are on a pleasure trip, no. If a city provides some kind of public transport, use it. If you drive, you'll have the expense of renting a car, buying insurance, paying for scarce parking, the annoyance of actually driving in a strange place, and the certainty of getting lost.
It's different if you live there. Otherwise, forget it.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I completely agree, unless you're just passing through. If you're staying in a city, driving makes no sense at all. That's true whether you're there on business or pleasure.
It's not necessarily different even if you live there, at least in the centre. I know Parisians who don't keep a car in the city, but have one at their second home in the country.
Cheers,
R.
wgerrard
Veteran
One of my unfulfilled wishes is to move to a place that doesn't require a car, and where the winter weather is reasonably mild. Affordability is the decisive factor, otherwise I'd be in London or San Francisco. It's possible in D.C., and marginally more affordable. But, I spent a couple decades there, and I haven't been back since I left.
People, especially Americans paying off a car loan, really ought to tally up how much cash they'd free up if they weren't making car payments, paying for insurance, buying gas, etc.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Oh, nothing, for you, Roger. How long have you been there, though? On our first day out, it was confusing, trying to make our way from Marseilles to Cassis. We were already lost before we got out of Marseilles. Then it got worse. We simply didn't yet understand the art of navigating. We kept getting sidetracked into all the little towns along the way. At one point Sue abruptly slammed on the brakes and pulled off the road. I asked what the matter was. "I just saved your life," said she, as a big truck whizzed by.
Then it got dark. We could not figure out for the life of us how to get into cassis and find our hotel. We saw just about every street there was, multiple times, back and forth, but nothing looked promising. Eventually we wound up at a different hotel. Very helpful clerk!
The next day we tool a walk and found the hotel we had been looking for. It was only 5 minutes on foot from where we wound up. But it was on a street so narrow it did not even catch our eye while we were driving. It didn't occur to us to be watchful for a narrow street--something one quickly learns to take for granted, of course.
After that things got much better. Other towns were confusing, but not too much more than anywhere else one is unfamiliar with. I phoned our hotel in Arles (Hotel de Musee) so the lady could give us final approach and landing clearance "You see a red lantern? OK vous etes ici! Arretez."
God, I miss France. All of it.
Haigh
Gary Haigh
I drove in Paris long ago but would caution against doing so. If you can rent from another town that is not so large as Paris that might be less stressful. You could find all the info on line I expect. Trains are wonderful so that could get you to any town you choose.
Do enjoy Paris. It is almost too beautiful.
Regards, Gary Haigh
Oz
Do enjoy Paris. It is almost too beautiful.
Regards, Gary Haigh
Oz
Mael
Established
Take the bus ! Or rent a WWII 6WD GMC.
Some years ago they retired the last old buses that had an open balcony on the rear...It was so nice for taking pictures, and to see the town...
The mayor policy had been for years to promote the bus and to make car drivers go crazy.
When you walk, be VERY careful when crossing the streets.
Some years ago they retired the last old buses that had an open balcony on the rear...It was so nice for taking pictures, and to see the town...
The mayor policy had been for years to promote the bus and to make car drivers go crazy.
When you walk, be VERY careful when crossing the streets.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Ah... Bear in mind that I spent four of my first ten years living in Malta, where cars were simply unable to pass through many streets. Mere narrowness never occurred to me as a problem.
Point taken about navigating, though. Everywhere has its own eccentricities, and it took me a while to read "Arles [or wherever] straight on" instead of "Arles to the left" (misleading arrow position). Street names in LA often seem to be at right angles to the street, too. I used to get REALLY lost when I first drove in LA, but Frances (whom I had just met) got used to my being late. In those days there was no real public transport option, and besides, I can never figure out where buses go. That's why I like the Metro in Paris or the Underground in London.
Cheers,
R.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Right, mere narrowness was only a problem because at first it didn't occur to us that it was a street to begin with. There is nothing like that in the US, except for back alleys. The narrow streets in Cassis and Arles were a new experience. So at first, they don't look like anything you could drive on. In fact, in many cases, you can't, because they have these hydraulic barriers that rise up to block cars, effectively reserving the street for pedestrian traffic. When a hotel operator, or a delivery truck driver, presses a button, the posts retract and you can drive. If the hotel knows you are coming, they push the button to let you in. A really ingenious idea--a way to adapt--to modern times-- streets that were made long before cars were invented.
There's a street in Paris, in the Latin quarter, that people use as a pedestrian mall; but cars drive on it too. I have a shot of a car progressing down it at about 1/3000 Kph, as all the Parisians, strolling and munching on crepes, take their time about getting out of the way.
What memories! We'll be back next year.
There's a street in Paris, in the Latin quarter, that people use as a pedestrian mall; but cars drive on it too. I have a shot of a car progressing down it at about 1/3000 Kph, as all the Parisians, strolling and munching on crepes, take their time about getting out of the way.
What memories! We'll be back next year.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Meeting up would be great, Roger! We are sure we want to return to Arles; we also want to do Aix-en-Provence, and Avignon, as we have not yet seen either. Maybe Toulon. Several days in Paris. Possibility of Normandy. We will probably be in France about 18 days or so next time.
So I hope we get together!
uhligfd
Well-known
If you drive off the minute after your flight gets in to the smaller cities, countryside etc all will be ok. But if you want to enter Paris center first fro a couple of days of sightseeing, opera, ... send me a postcard if you find a parking spot ... You would not want a car in P central period.
So: if you intend to spend a few days in P first, take the train, bus in, and enjoy, then pick up a car a week later at the airport and drive away from P.
Simple.
So: if you intend to spend a few days in P first, take the train, bus in, and enjoy, then pick up a car a week later at the airport and drive away from P.
Simple.
yanidel
Well-known
well, this whole discussion inspired me this afternoon for a shot as I was wandering around the Arch of Triumph. Click here to see it.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Probably Late May or early June next year. We started out in March last year, but Sue can't leave any earlier than late May in 2011. Besides, it'll be warmer in June! Fewer clothes to haul around.