J'adore: a 'Velo' for Sightseeing in Paris

My American friend Laura Wenke is one of the 1.7 million Parisians navigating the cobblestone streets of this eternally beautiful city on her bicycle … her ‘velo”.

The Vancouver Sun reports that: French women ride bicycles in high-heeled boots and miniskirts; they ride bicycles wearing flouncy shifts and platforms, overalls and gladiator sandals — and that’s just what I’ve noticed this week.

Watching Laura stride towards me, wearing those high-heeled boots, I marveled how the city suits her, accentuating the glamour she’s always projected. Apologizing for being tardy, my friend removed her shades and French-knot scarf, shook her long blond hair and explained that she had arrived by bicycle.

“You’re kidding”, I laughed. I couldn’t imagine myself competing with French drivers for the road. Paris is the only city in the world where I refuse to drive.

As always, we must give credit to the French for promoting “la dolce vita” in our modern world. Solutions to sustainability and global warming aren’t always high-tech. J’adore la “velo” will buy one for Carversville. In Manhattan … I don’t think so. But I am on mass transit these days.

Love,
Anne