There are times I miss the Paris Metro.
When it's cold, or rainy, or I'm too tired to drive,
I wish for a metro (subway) system where I live.
A system like the Paris Metro linked
to a high-speed rail system to whisk me away
to Austin or, even better, to New Orleans,
as well as transporting me to nearby groceries, church, shopping.
In truth, the main reason I miss the Paris Metro
is because it is in
P * A * R * I * S
Now, I'm missing the Paris Metro another way.
I miss the 3'x3' metal Paris Metro 3-D map I sold in my last
French Country Christmas Event.
Have you ever given away or sold something you miss
after it's gone and you wonder if you should have kept it?
With a black background, white lettering, and metal wires
bent to form three dimensional routes of the Paris Metro,
the artwork made a perfect board on which to hang cards
and vintage French documents.
I envisioned it above an office desk holding
notices, pamphlets, maps, and design ideas,
after the holiday cards were taken down.
Or above a chest of drawers in a living area without
anything hanging on it, just an uncluttered piece of art.
Wouldn't it be wonderful for the map to be within sight for close studying
and then to gaze away to reminisce about those
beguiling Metro stops in Paris?
Solférino, Saint Germain des Prés, Luxembourg, Tuileries, Pyramides,
Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, Madeleine, Opéra, Concorde, Cité
 |
| Source - Wikipedia |
Solférino was the Metro stop I took on my first visit to the Musée d'Orsay.
Solférino opened November 5, 1910 and is one of the last Metro stops
to retain the original Nord-Sud Company design.
Later Metro stops are identified with street lamps and billboards.
Ledru-Rollin is a small stop, first opened in 1931.
Across the street is a papeterie where I spent many happy hours.
In the background is winged Liberty in the Place de la Bastille,
the most symbolic place for Parisian political protests.
Underground, the Metro stops are beautiful, and I love looking at their designs.
There may be graffiti, but I do not remember seeing any in the
more than 25 years I've traveled to France.
I remember the first time I saw the Metro stop beneath the Louvre
in which there were museum-looking pieces in recessed niches
all along the wall of the station.
All of the Metro stations have individual personalities filled with
designs connected to their namesakes and arrondissements.
Clad in copper, the Arts et Metiérs station is designed to resemble
a submarine reminiscent of the science fiction works of Jules Vernes.
Opened in October 1904, the Arts et Metiérs stop was redesigned in 1994
as part of the bicentary celebration of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.
The city of Paris Coat of Arms located throughout the city are similar, but not
exactly the same to each other or to this one in the Hôtel de Ville Metro station
located underneath the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).
Tuileries is the first station that I remembered how to get to without help from a guide.
It is probably my single favorite Metro station because the exit leads to
the sidewalk adjacent to the Tuileries gardens that lead to the Louvre.
Seeing the left wing of the Louvre as soon as reaching
the top of the exit stairs is always exciting.
Reading the names of the Metro stops and running my fingers along
the metal lines bring memories of beautiful Paris and its
beautiful Metro system.
Memories of traveling with students, friends, and family
are filled with laughing, nervous boarding a Metro car,
counting the number of stops, and watching the
diagrams of the Metro line's stops above the doors,
and then anxiously getting off the car before the doors close
and the Metro zooms off to its next destination
as we checked our group to make sure everyone
made it off.
Missing the Paris Metro, both the real thing and
the 3-D metal reproduction...
Missing the way the 3-D Metro map holds cards for the season...
The raised metal lines outlining the Metro system are the perfect place to clip
cards, photos, French postcards,
and mementos of Paris found at a flea market.
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If you enjoyed this Moment in France about
the Paris Metro, you may also enjoy more
Moment in France posts.
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