The Paris Traveler

Paris Time - One Hour Later

by Lynn on April 27th, 2007

In many countries we switch from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time back to Standard Time every year. For some reason Parisians run on a time zone all their own, and Paris Time never changes. It’s always one hour later.

When I moved to Paris years ago I soon found out that if I wanted to invite friends for dinner at eight, I needed to invite them at seven. If I wanted to invite them at nine, I had tell them to come at eight. You get the picture.

It got to the point that you just knew to expect them one hour later. If by chance someone did show up at the appointed time, of course you weren’t prepared! Actually, you were really put off by them being so rude as to show up on time! No kidding!

Just the other day, I had a rendez-vous with an ex at the Place de la Contrescarpe at 7:30. Somehow, don’t ask me how, I found myself at the Place Monge at 8:30 wondering which street to take to get me there. (Yes, there are still a few places in Paris where I too get lost.)

I asked the first person I saw on the street to point me in the right direction. She told me to come along with her, that she was also going to the same place.

She was what one thinks of as the typical French Parisian woman; perfectly made-up, coiffed, styled, and a natural beauty.

We started our climb, her moving just as quickly, if not faster, in her open-toed high-heels as I was in my walking boots. I told her I was an hour late meeting someone and she looked at me and said, “Well then, you’re practically on time.”

Of course she was right. When I finally met Jean-Pierre it was 8:45. I apologized for being so late. “No problem,” he said, “you’re just in time.” He had made dinner reservations for nine. I forgot, I was back on Paris Time!

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POSTED IN: Getting Around, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized