Parisians are ALWAYS late. I think New Yorkers run the gamut, but Parisians are late. They always have a good reason: traffic, the weather, kept at work, the Métro, the dog, the kids, garbage truck. But late. I am in a period of adjusting to this. My tendency is to be on-time. I call it the German in me. Helmut, who was born in Germany, is Parisian now and so I am alone in this bit of frustration. For the most part, people are 15 to 30 minutes late but for some it can be a bit extreme.
For instance, meeting my friend Laure means scheduling a 1/2 hour (at least) for this arrival time. I want to emphasize, this is my issue, not Paris'.
BUT
There are extreme cases. One time Helmut and I were supposed to meet someone for dinner at (let's say) 8 (16h). She called and was going to be late. About an hour and a half after our original meeting time, we left for dinner. She knew where we would be, so she could meet us. At this point I had my doubts if she was going to come at all.
We finished dinner and at about 10:30 (22h30) we were walking home. On the road back home we run into her with a friend coming to meet us. Two and a half hours late! I laughed so hard and said, "Nooooo! This is impossible!" We had a good laugh and they came back to the apartment for a drink. I can't recall the reason (I actually don't think there was one).
At times, though, it can be a bit frustrating. Recently we had plans to go to the Opéra. Laure and Helmut had never been and wanted to see what it was all about. I chose Tosca which was to start at 7:30pm (19h30). Our plan was to meet at 6:30 (18h30) for a drink and some nibbles at the China Club which is about a ten minute walk from the Opéra (Bastille). Laure was coming from work; Helmut and I from the apartment. Keep in mind, I like to get to my seat about 10-15 before curtain, to be sure I can find it and we can leisurely take in the sights and prepare.
Well, it was a busy day for Helmut. A client had called and wanted him to go to London the next day, so there were things to arrange. So it is coming to 6:00, which is when we need to leave. Uber will be about 10 minutes late, which turns into 15 minutes. So now, it is 6:20 and we have 10 minutes for a 30 minute ride. I ping Laure (she is running late as well. Surprised?). As we drive around the driver and Helmut have the realization that neither of them know where the place is. I pull out Google Maps, but can't find a "China Club" (I think the name has been changed to "Le China."). We find it, but now it is 7:00 (19h) and we only have 15 minutes. I announce this but am told I am being too American. This may be, but unless the Parisians have time travel worked out, we still only have 15 minutes. Hrmph!
A drink and the bill (which arrives late) and we have 10 minutes to get there and be seated. I think, well, we should be OK. We walk and talk. We get there just at 7:30, but every performing venue doesn't start exactly at the time. I think we still have time.
BUT, we need a quick cigarette. And a picture. AND we can't find the entrance. Now we are in the auditorium and the bells are ringing that the performance is starting. We should still be OK. Our tickets are marked for Balcony 2, Door 12, Row U Seats 40-44. How hard can that be? Three flights of stairs and we are in Balcony 2. Now to find door 12. I see door 15. Should be 3 doors down, but the next door is door 17. Ah, they must have odd/even layout, so I go in the other direction. The numbered doors stop at 13. Now we are the only ones in the lobby. I am on the stairs. Helmut goes down a flight and Laure continues on this level. Both say they have found the place. I am alone on the stairs. I am frustrated. Finally, I get Helmut on the same level as Laure, we find someone who seat us in just any seats after the performance has started.
At the first intermission we found the seats and the numbering system of the doors makes no sense. The door was on the Balcony 1 level.
We did enjoy the performance overall. I still hate being late.
For instance, meeting my friend Laure means scheduling a 1/2 hour (at least) for this arrival time. I want to emphasize, this is my issue, not Paris'.
BUT
There are extreme cases. One time Helmut and I were supposed to meet someone for dinner at (let's say) 8 (16h). She called and was going to be late. About an hour and a half after our original meeting time, we left for dinner. She knew where we would be, so she could meet us. At this point I had my doubts if she was going to come at all.
We finished dinner and at about 10:30 (22h30) we were walking home. On the road back home we run into her with a friend coming to meet us. Two and a half hours late! I laughed so hard and said, "Nooooo! This is impossible!" We had a good laugh and they came back to the apartment for a drink. I can't recall the reason (I actually don't think there was one).
At times, though, it can be a bit frustrating. Recently we had plans to go to the Opéra. Laure and Helmut had never been and wanted to see what it was all about. I chose Tosca which was to start at 7:30pm (19h30). Our plan was to meet at 6:30 (18h30) for a drink and some nibbles at the China Club which is about a ten minute walk from the Opéra (Bastille). Laure was coming from work; Helmut and I from the apartment. Keep in mind, I like to get to my seat about 10-15 before curtain, to be sure I can find it and we can leisurely take in the sights and prepare.
Well, it was a busy day for Helmut. A client had called and wanted him to go to London the next day, so there were things to arrange. So it is coming to 6:00, which is when we need to leave. Uber will be about 10 minutes late, which turns into 15 minutes. So now, it is 6:20 and we have 10 minutes for a 30 minute ride. I ping Laure (she is running late as well. Surprised?). As we drive around the driver and Helmut have the realization that neither of them know where the place is. I pull out Google Maps, but can't find a "China Club" (I think the name has been changed to "Le China."). We find it, but now it is 7:00 (19h) and we only have 15 minutes. I announce this but am told I am being too American. This may be, but unless the Parisians have time travel worked out, we still only have 15 minutes. Hrmph!
A drink and the bill (which arrives late) and we have 10 minutes to get there and be seated. I think, well, we should be OK. We walk and talk. We get there just at 7:30, but every performing venue doesn't start exactly at the time. I think we still have time.
BUT, we need a quick cigarette. And a picture. AND we can't find the entrance. Now we are in the auditorium and the bells are ringing that the performance is starting. We should still be OK. Our tickets are marked for Balcony 2, Door 12, Row U Seats 40-44. How hard can that be? Three flights of stairs and we are in Balcony 2. Now to find door 12. I see door 15. Should be 3 doors down, but the next door is door 17. Ah, they must have odd/even layout, so I go in the other direction. The numbered doors stop at 13. Now we are the only ones in the lobby. I am on the stairs. Helmut goes down a flight and Laure continues on this level. Both say they have found the place. I am alone on the stairs. I am frustrated. Finally, I get Helmut on the same level as Laure, we find someone who seat us in just any seats after the performance has started.
At the first intermission we found the seats and the numbering system of the doors makes no sense. The door was on the Balcony 1 level.
We did enjoy the performance overall. I still hate being late.
This would make me crazy. And I'm not even German!
ReplyDeleteI had a mental picture of you coming undone while reading this post. I'm curious: have you introduced your Parisian friends to the iCal yet or is it a "foreign" concept to them? :)
ReplyDeleteSome use it but I have yet to have anyone accept or reject an invitation. In fact, having looked over Helmut's shoulder at the organization of his phone, I am not surprised. Contacts in his phone have no discernible pattern. The calendar is not used, but he doesn't have a paper one either.
ReplyDelete