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| Cannes, Hotel de Ville (City Hall), busy bus stop |
I’ve always had a car. Probably most of you have a car. But now I take the bus and my driver license just sits in my wallet, ignored. I’m used to going where I want, when I want. I like listening to my own music, maybe singing along (you know you do it too!) and I guess I’m used to sitting while traveling.
I’ve lived in France for about 3 years. and in that time I’ve generally traveled by foot, bus or train. For the first time in my adult life, I don’t have a car. This is difficult to say.
Looking back at how life has changed for me in this way…OK, I guess I’d have to admit that taking the bus hasn’t been all that bad. I suppose that I can deal without a car. Am I crazy for saying this? And the walking...SO much walking now. That's why everyone here has beautifully sculpted calves. The walking. There are just stairs and hills everywhere!
I’ve done more errands by foot in the past 3 years than I did in my whole life living in the US. Scary, but true. I live within a 10 minute walk from 3 grocery stores. They’re so close that it doesn’t even make sense to take the bus to get there. On average I go to the grocery store twice a week, which means that I’ve walked to the supermarket about 104 times in the last year alone. Do you know how hard it can be to carry your groceries home instead of just putting them in the trunk of a car? This may have something to do with losing some weight without even really trying.
Having a car means independence, sitting while traveling, listening (and singing!) to your own music, and getting where you want when you want...not arriving 45 minutes early because it was either that or arrive 10 minutes late with the bus schedule. Being dependent on the bus schedule requires patience and efficiency. You do a lot of waiting, you stand while traveling, listen to what the teens next to you are playing on their musical device, and you arrive at your destination when the bus finally gets there. As far as efficiency, well that's like reading the wrong times for the wrong day because you think it's Friday when in fact it's Saturday, and of course the bus has a different schedule for both days of the week-end. Good grief.
But having a car also means car payments and insurance payments, accidents, and needing money for gas and maintenance. For the bus, I just have to buy a monthly pass for about 28 euro (38 USD). That’s it. That’s less than I’d spend on gas in one month! I hate to admit it, but by not having a car, I’m saving a lot of money. It was hard for me to let go of my independence (there may have been a tantrum or two) and embrace the idea of taking the bus. But now I’m used to it, and used to making plans according to the bus schedules (which I keep ALL OF in my cell phone). Appointments and English lessons with my students are made based upon when I can get there, because no longer am I just grabbing the keys and heading out the door.
But like having car trouble, it is possible to have bus trouble! Maybe there’s a strike (a national sport here) or the roads are too icy where you’re going therefore service has been suspended, or maybe the bus came early and you missed it. And sometimes the bus is late, which can make you late if you’re already cutting it close. A lot of people travel by bus which means the buses can be packed. And in the summer with tourists, make that sardines packed. Yes even the tourists take the bus. More tourists visit France each year than any other country in the world (67 million annual tourist arrivals, more than the country’s population!). Traveling by bus saves the tourists from getting lost by car and dealing with the joys of finding a parking space. The buses are plentiful, run often and are a lot cheaper than a rental car.
Where are all the yellow school buses? In general there are no school buses here. School kids in France take the public bus. So, you don’t always get a seat on the bus. If you do it’s nice, but always offer your seat to an elderly person. It infuriates me that teens and 20-somethings today have a total disregard for this politeness. They just continue texting insignificant messages while the old lady clutches on to the pole for dear life.
And if the bus is full...oh, this is a horrible sign to read on the front of the bus, above the windshield: Ce Bus Ne Prend Pas de Voyageurs. Nooooo! Miserable. And so you wait for the next bus and call whomever you were going to meet to say you'll be late.
Speaking only for the buses in the Cannes region, I can say that for the most part, they’re very clean and nice. They have heat, A/C, sunroofs that open and windows that open. And a lot of jolly drivers. You get to know them a little and many of them tease me...although I don't really know what they're saying. I know a lot of French, but whatever they're saying, I haven't learned!
And in France, not only are dogs allowed in most restaurants, but are allowed on buses as well! This I found out one day when a wet nose was dobbing my leg. I looked down to see a Jack Russell looking up at me, or perhaps he was just letting me know he was there so I wouldn’t accidentally squash him. Purse puppies are everywhere in the South of France, so I see dogs, mostly the beloved Yorkie, on the bus all the time.
I’ve never lived in a place where you didn’t need a car to get around. And I never thought I’d live without a car. But I must admit that taking the bus is more economical, and I guess I'm doing my part - going green for the planet. So I suppose that until I truly need a car, this former car owner is just fine taking the bus! Wait, did I just admit that?
I’ve lived in France for about 3 years. and in that time I’ve generally traveled by foot, bus or train. For the first time in my adult life, I don’t have a car. This is difficult to say.
Looking back at how life has changed for me in this way…OK, I guess I’d have to admit that taking the bus hasn’t been all that bad. I suppose that I can deal without a car. Am I crazy for saying this? And the walking...SO much walking now. That's why everyone here has beautifully sculpted calves. The walking. There are just stairs and hills everywhere!
I’ve done more errands by foot in the past 3 years than I did in my whole life living in the US. Scary, but true. I live within a 10 minute walk from 3 grocery stores. They’re so close that it doesn’t even make sense to take the bus to get there. On average I go to the grocery store twice a week, which means that I’ve walked to the supermarket about 104 times in the last year alone. Do you know how hard it can be to carry your groceries home instead of just putting them in the trunk of a car? This may have something to do with losing some weight without even really trying.
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| a typical bus schedule, which I live by |
But having a car also means car payments and insurance payments, accidents, and needing money for gas and maintenance. For the bus, I just have to buy a monthly pass for about 28 euro (38 USD). That’s it. That’s less than I’d spend on gas in one month! I hate to admit it, but by not having a car, I’m saving a lot of money. It was hard for me to let go of my independence (there may have been a tantrum or two) and embrace the idea of taking the bus. But now I’m used to it, and used to making plans according to the bus schedules (which I keep ALL OF in my cell phone). Appointments and English lessons with my students are made based upon when I can get there, because no longer am I just grabbing the keys and heading out the door.
But like having car trouble, it is possible to have bus trouble! Maybe there’s a strike (a national sport here) or the roads are too icy where you’re going therefore service has been suspended, or maybe the bus came early and you missed it. And sometimes the bus is late, which can make you late if you’re already cutting it close. A lot of people travel by bus which means the buses can be packed. And in the summer with tourists, make that sardines packed. Yes even the tourists take the bus. More tourists visit France each year than any other country in the world (67 million annual tourist arrivals, more than the country’s population!). Traveling by bus saves the tourists from getting lost by car and dealing with the joys of finding a parking space. The buses are plentiful, run often and are a lot cheaper than a rental car.
Where are all the yellow school buses? In general there are no school buses here. School kids in France take the public bus. So, you don’t always get a seat on the bus. If you do it’s nice, but always offer your seat to an elderly person. It infuriates me that teens and 20-somethings today have a total disregard for this politeness. They just continue texting insignificant messages while the old lady clutches on to the pole for dear life.
And if the bus is full...oh, this is a horrible sign to read on the front of the bus, above the windshield: Ce Bus Ne Prend Pas de Voyageurs. Nooooo! Miserable. And so you wait for the next bus and call whomever you were going to meet to say you'll be late.
And in France, not only are dogs allowed in most restaurants, but are allowed on buses as well! This I found out one day when a wet nose was dobbing my leg. I looked down to see a Jack Russell looking up at me, or perhaps he was just letting me know he was there so I wouldn’t accidentally squash him. Purse puppies are everywhere in the South of France, so I see dogs, mostly the beloved Yorkie, on the bus all the time.
I’ve never lived in a place where you didn’t need a car to get around. And I never thought I’d live without a car. But I must admit that taking the bus is more economical, and I guess I'm doing my part - going green for the planet. So I suppose that until I truly need a car, this former car owner is just fine taking the bus! Wait, did I just admit that?
