Commentaires sur : Paris – New-York

Par : Miklos

Miklos — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:30:35 +0000

Thanks, but Paris is definitely not this way, really, nor was it 30 years ago. It is an intentionally romanticized version of what Paris must have been before WWII (and a bit afterwards, maybe), as the view of NY is also definitely a b&w imaginary one.

Par : James Woodward

James Woodward — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:23:20 +0000

I loved reading this tounge in cheek work of yours. I was born in 1979, and it’s nice to read the description of Paris and know that it truly hasn’t changed in those 32 years. I agree about new york and that it hasn’t changed either. Even after such tragedies as have occurred a decade ago. Paris and it’s culture remains my most adored city in the world, and again I thank you for writing in such depth about the city I cherish, and miss desperately.

Par : Miklos

Miklos — Sat, 21 May 2011 17:23:11 +0000

In the same vein, there is this great tirade in Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach:

When considering the best liked cities on earth, Paris looms large among them. Paris is one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions. And not without reason, for Paris has much to offer. Paris does not have a multiplicity of skyscrapers like New York, but it has much beauty and elegance. And Paris has an illustrious background of history.

In Paris there is a number of young men who are very beautiful, very charming, and very lovable. Paris is called « the city of lights ». But these young men who are very beautiful, very charming, and very lovable, prefer the darkness for their social activities.

One of the most beautiful streets of Paris is called Les Champs-Elysées, which means the Elysian Fields. It is very broad, bordered with trees, and very pleasant to look at.

One of the most beautiful things of Paris is a lady. She is not too broad, bordered with smiles, and very, very, very pleasant to look at. When a gentleman contemplates a lady of Paris, the gentleman is apt to exclaim : « oo la la », for the ladies of Paris are very charming. And the ladies of Paris are dedicated to the classic declaration, expressed in the words : « L’amour, toujours l’amour ! »

A Russian man once said that the eyes of a Paris lady are as intoxicating as good wine, and that her burning kisses are capable of melting the gold in a man’s teeth.

In Germany, in Italy, in Congo, in China, and in the United States of America, there are men who say : « If you’ve never been kissed by a lady of Paris, you’ve never been kissed at all. »

Par : Miklos

Miklos — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:24:12 +0000

Thanks.

This is a text I wrote tongue-in-cheek 30 years ago, much under the influence of a wonderful text by Dylan Thomas, Reminiscences of Childhood. Anyone who has been to Paris in the last 30 years knows this is not the City of Lights which is described in this text, as anyone who knows NYC should realize the same about the Big Apple: both here are clichéed views of the real ones.

Par : Inga

Inga — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:18:47 +0000

Miklos – How could you! Write such a negative review of NY City! It almost make me want ot write all the negative things about Paris which I have experienced over the years…
What made you write such a disppointed portrait?

Par : Penet

Penet — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:20:14 +0000

Excellent!