Paris cycling

While we've followed the growth of Velib here over our past three visits (and noted its influence in several other cities which have since adopted similar systems), we have not yet felt motivated or brave enough to contend with Paris traffic except with two feet solidly on the ground. Plus we're not sure we're up to the sartorial standards of Parisian cyclists. This is just a small, random

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paris stealth style,

The other day in Bordeaux, eating lunch near the Grand Théatre before heading to the Gare St. Jean, I challenged Pater to find me a well-dressed woman -- or just any woman -- wearing colour. We watched for twenty or thirty minutes, checking out each wave of passers-by released from the tram at nearby Quinconces.  Almost no colour at all. Everyone was in neutrals: blacks, greys, taupes, mushroom,

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Parisian chic, of a certain age . . .

I can't imagine what nerve one has to muster to ask strangers if it's okay to photograph them for one's blog. I don't think I could do it. Instead, I pretended I was immensely interested in architectural details such as those above in order to capture such certain-age inspiration as thisAnd yes, once she'd strapped her helmet on, she motored away on her bike, an elegant woman probably in her

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