dimanche 8 juin 2008

Blazin' saddles

I was down to a lovely, and rather fetching (in my opinion) pair of underpants while I painted the bedroom wall in the Paris apartment yesterday afternoon.

Despite the heat and the mess, I still felt like I should have a bit more on, especially as the windows were open and the building opposite isn't far away. This isn't exactly how I'd like my new neighbours to see me for the first time.

I needn't have worried. An hour or so into painting and there's an almighty row coming from the street below and the sound of some kind of 'manifestation'.

Now, this is Paris - the capital city of the home of the demonstration - so I wasn't exactly surprised that there was a march going past the house. I was surprised when I looked out to see what the demo was about.

I'm still not sure what the theme was, but there were a couple of hundred of naked cyclists going past, all looking rather uncomfortable in the saddle.

There was much in the way of, well, flesh on display.

The men looked like they'd taken the strings of onions from round their necks and put them in their laps....The women looked they were on an anti-pubic hair trimming campaign - these were some hairy marys, let me tell you.

In reality though, I have no idea what they were demonstrating about - maybe just about their right to cycle naked through the streets of Paris?

Anyway, the tourists had a fine old time snapping away at the parade of human flesh. And the police escort seemed to be quite happy with their lot, too.

As for me, well I went back to my near-naked decorating.

Welcome to Paris.

25 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

I've just laughed myself silly at that - brilliant. I'll pack lightly when I come visit then :-)

Lola a dit…

This is the second 'naked cycling' blog I've read today - it isn't just Paris, the other one was in Brighton, and can be found here if you're interested! Apparently celebrating bikes and bodies, demonstrating our vulnerability, protesting against car culture. So there!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Conortje, it's right up your street (well mine actually) - we all know you cycle every day and enjoy a bit of naturism...

Lola, you're right - 'tis a worldwide phenomenon.

And as protests go, it's better than blocking the seaports with cabbages.

Daryl a dit…

I must go wash my eyes out .. I must rid myself of that image .. images .. bless their demonstration obsessed hearts

Its 91 here right now and I am wishing I was in fetching lightweight undies ..

:-Daryl

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Daryl you poor thing - 91 is hard work. The city turns into human soup at that temperature.

Probably the right sort of temperature for a naked cycle ride...

Anonyme a dit…

Well, if you had the same weather as we did over here, it was quite the day to go cycling in the nude. Nice and airy.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Oh Marjolein, you and your Dutch liberalism...

Swearing Mother a dit…

Please tell me they weren't using those free-bikes that you can borrow for the day, or if they were they at least have disposable saddles.

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "you don't know where it's been" - or in this case, you do.

Bletch.

A Lewis a dit…

I'll expect pics of you in the undies in my email inbox within the day. Seriously, I'm giving you 24 hours or I'll have to hurt you.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Sweary, some of them were in fact on those rental bikes. How truly foul is that?

Luckily there's a troupe of little men who come round each evening and wipe them down (as well as reparing broken baskets, etc...).

Still, it's most unsanitary.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lewis, oh Lewis. You know I'd go for the pain, anyday.

Hurt me, baby!

Anonyme a dit…

Glad they werent where I am - here you have to have a mountain bike.All those gears, now that could have had a sado M edge.
I think cyclists look daft when they are dressed in thier lycra and funny hats. Naked could be one up on that

travelling, but not in love a dit…

VM, they looked largely ridiculous - I can think of many things where being naked would be acceptable, and could maybe be convinced to try a few of them....

But cycling? Just nasty.

aims a dit…

I knew it! I just knew it! Get the keys in your hand and you're prancing around in your man panties!

Hairy Mary and onion boy on a rental - oh dear! They would have loved trying that here. It was snowing.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Aims, I spend my life in my man panties - it's the benefit of working from home!

Alas, my neighbours don't think much of it....

Anonyme a dit…

You should move to Amsterdam next - people there don't seem to mind prancing round their apartments totally naked (and with the curtains open, natch).

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Catherine, that whole dutch thing about curtains open - with a strip of translucent film covering eye-level only - really makes me laugh.

They've got to be one of the oddest nations going - but lovely with it.

And they say that the english are eccentric.....

Anonyme a dit…

There was a similar parade of naked cyclists in San Francisco at the weekend. That was a protest against oil dependency and the lack of action on global warming. Maybe your parade was related?

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Nick, I think it was all related too - see the comment from Lola above, she has a link that explains all, me thinks.

It just struck me that on a hot, sticky, sweaty day, the last thing anyone should be doing is naked cycling.....

Daryl a dit…

Its grossly hot outside ... and in our apartment this weekend ... Husband was supposed to buy a new AC but 'didnt expect' it to get this hot so soon ... oy oy oy .. BUT he decided after I slept on the couch - a long story sure to be told eventually - last nite that putting the old AC in was a good idea ....

I was considering not leaving the office ... which is FREEZING .. okay I will stop complaining now ...

:-Daryl

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Daryl, you poor thing. Too too hot!

I'd have stayed in the office, me thinks.....

Swearing Mother a dit…

Now there's a job I'd like to see the advertisement for - "Cleaning operative wanted for wiping down free-bike saddles which have been up a nude cyclist's intimate crevices. Please bring own cloth and Dettol."

There's just not enough money in the world for me to want to do that, even in Paris....

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Sweary, you know how wrong it is..!

But bless the Parisiens, they'd just say we were being too sensitive. Then they'd let their dog crap in the street and refuse to pick it up.

Tra la la....life in Paris is going to be sooooo much fun!

Megan McGurk a dit…

Eeep.
Most people don't look good naked, especially hunched over on a bike.
Although it's so stinking hot here I understand why they'd want to peel the clothes off.
Bleurgh.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Medbh, it was gross. Too gross.

I like the wind beneath my wings as much as anyone, but on a bike? On a rented bike?

Filthy.