A Lady In France

Paris, By Car

I decided to drive into Paris today. And for my debut, I decided to drive to Montparnasse where I was meeting my friend for lunch.

Montparnasse is not the land of free and easy parking, but I was feeling bold.

Plus I wanted to wear these shoes

and not have to walk to the train, then transfer a couple of times to get there.

I had butterflies in my stomach starting out, and I found myself yelling at the GPS after exiting the tunnel of La Defense because the GPS was sending mixed messages.  It was saying one thing and meaning another.

“What do you want me to do? Just say it!”

Because I clearly thought she wanted me to take the Boulevard Périphérique like I usually do to go in that direction.

But no. She wanted me to turn around in the Bois de Boulogne and then head towards the Arc de Triomphe roundabout.

Are you kidding me? Do you know what it’s like around the Arc de Triomphe? It’s a total madhouse!

I tried to take a picture at the stopped light but my Lumix copped out. It was overwhelmed by the thought of traveling around the Arc de Triomphe.  Or it ran out of batteries – not sure which yet.

So I missed photographing the drive entering the roundabout (which was perhaps best) and I missed photographing the drive down the Champs Elysées, and then across the bridge towards Les Invalides with those huge gold statues mounted high up.

Then just before smoothly parallel parking on the streets of Paris as if I’d done it all my life, I remembered that I had a camera on my iphone!

To catch the streets of Paris

and to snap the Eiffel Tower as seen by car

and the broad lanes of the Invalides bridge

where you cross the Grand Palais on the left,

before zipping up the Champs Elysées.

Oh shoot the light is green! People are going to honk at me.

Luckily there are a lot of lights

to take a lot of pictures.

The thing about the Arc de Triomphe roundabout is that it’s probably about 8-10 lanes wide but there are no lines drawn so you have to forge your way and stake your territory like a pioneer.

And those entering the roundabout have priority (so you have to be bold) while those already circulating have to give way (so you have to be patient – and be cognizant of the fact that there are actual rules that apply to this madhouse).

And the GPS said it so casually, “Enter roundabout now” as if there was nothing to it.

But as it turns out – during non-rush hour in the month of August – there really is nothing to it. Nevertheless, the fact remains that I conquered Paris by car and I’m proud.

I may be a stay-at-home mom, but I’m still an adventurer.

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  3. Kristin Hackman says

    That is a SERIOUS adventure … we toured Paris by bike and were a little on this side of terrified of the cars…well done, mama. And great pedi & shoes – hope you had a great ladies lunch out..IN PARIS – ahhh, jealous.

    • ladyjennie says

      The pedi is leftover from BlogHer. And you were right to be afraid on bike – I learned from my driving instructor that there are so many more deaths from bike accidents now that they have those velibs (I think it’s called).

  4. Jackie says

    Love the shoes!!!
    Congrats on conquering Paris in the car! It’s beautiful there but I’m sure that you already know that!

  5. Lauren Schexnider says

    I too, love the shoes! Thank you for such an exciting post today! I felt as though I were right in the car with you. I especially appreciate the tour of Paris’ main attractions, without the credit card bill! Lastly, kudos to you, for tackling such a harrowing adventure!

    • ladyjennie says

      Thanks Lauren – I keep meaning to do more touristy posts in Paris. I know that would be a treat for some people who haven’t yet gone. Hugs!

    • ladyjennie says

      I’m really glad I don’t have to feel inferior to you regarding the camping. These old bones just won’t take it. Plus I’m afraid of animals with only a flimsy tent between me and nature.

  9. deborah l quinn says

    when I was in college, our family took a driving trip in France that started in Paris. with my father at the wheel of our rented peugeot, we entered that roundabout. i’ve never heard my father curse so much and so continuously — never before, and never since. Reduced my brother, sister, and I, in the back seat to tears of laughter. Round and round and round and ROUND we went. My father, oddly, did not see the humor in the situation. Still makes me giggle. So bravo, you!! (And those shoes are perfectement!) (is that a word en francais?)

    • ladyjennie says

      I don’t see how he couldn’t have seen the humor in that! I can’t remember if I posted this or what, but my Dad’s french horn student once abandoned his rental car in the middle of the arc de triomphe and dodged cars on foot to get out.

    • ladyjennie says

      Manhattan made me nervous too, and I even knew the streets well when I drove there. I’m much better at parallel parking now since I do it every day (although I suppose you would have parked in a garage).

    • ladyjennie says

      It helps, I suppose, that LA is usually in standstill gridlock. 😉 No just kidding – I have never been more frustrated and ready to move back than when trying to get my driver’s license here. Total nightmare. But at least the 30 mn exam didn’t include the Arc de Triomphe like my friend’s did.

  13. Rachel says

    Oh how I miss France! But the driving….not so much. I hope you are well. Stay adventurous! How was lunch?

  14. Maggie S. says

    This SAHM would love to be nagged through the most famous points in Paris by that GPS Know-It-All Gal!

    I went with a friend to try out her GPS for the first time. It didn’t know how to get where we were going, even though we did. She missed the turn and got hysterical when we turned in at the destination.

  16. tj @ any given moment says

    yay! well done Mama! I love love love the photo tour of it since i will never ever be doing that myself- perhaps because of fear, but i will say due to the fact that I live in vermont 😉

    hope your lunch was scrumptious!

  17. Abbey says

    I actually loved driving around the Etiole once my husband taught me to aim for the inside lanes on my way in. I usually dreaded Porte Maillot instead. Not hard to drive, but all the traffic lights were an annoying live demonstration of the French inability to queue. My Mom tackled both in one day during our last year in Paris. She had to drive me to the Embassy to apply for Clara’s passport- I just had my c-section and couldn’t drive. She said after driving in Chicago for so many years, it was nice to put her city driving skills through a real challenge. 😉

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