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Tugboats And Barges In Paris

There are boats tugboats and barges on the river, and they may serve very well as a lesson in French. At Paris, a Seine barge may be anything from a berrichon, a mar-gota, a flute, to a chaland. It all depends upon the size, and the sizes range from those a hundred to those one hundred and fifty feet long, from fifteen feet broad to twenty-five; they range from two hundred and fifty to six hundred tons, and the tugs from one hundred to two hundred and fifty tons.

You will discover a numbered series of tugs called Guèpes (Wasps); at Rouen they are called Abeilles (Bees). There is a series named for birds. One amusing series of barges is named for the cities of the world, the clumsiest I have yet seen being called Carthage. Then there are those named for French provinces, and others which show sentiment : Fructidor, which suggests historical admiration; Alea Jacta Est (the die is cast), with only a canal waiting to play its rôle of Rubicon.

The Solitaire denotes an attitude of mind; the Oxus and the Aetna must be of foreign breed. Jupiter seemed to be out of the running when I saw him, but not so the tug Neptunus which had as so often happens in Paris Phoebus in tow.

There is a great deal of sentiment in anything which floats, and the slower it floats, the greater the sentiment.

Quotes About Paris

  • Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air; And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair; And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome; But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.

Paris Facts

  • Yes, you can certainly encounter rudeness and downright unfriendliness by Parisians but it has been our experience that generally people are kind, helpful and friendly. Upon first meeting, Parisians can appear to be less casual and reserved, however this does not translate to unfriendliness. Be aware that often what you put out is what you get back, so if Parisians are approached in the right way from the beginning, chances of a more pleasant interaction increase.

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