Jumping Metro Turnstiles in Paris

We were in a metro (subway) station in Paris recently. Our paper tickets were efficiently sucked up by the turnstile machine, but the turnstile would not budge. My repeated attempts to get through the turnstile only resulted in a long line behind me. We stepped aside.

The French family behind us had the same problem. The mother promptly jumped the turnstile and held the second barrier open for the rest of her family, and each jumped over the bars.

In the spirit of global citizenship, this family stayed to encourage us – in our 70’s – to jump the turnstile while they continued to hold the second barrier open for us. They looked after us with warmth and cheer.

We jumped. We managed to clear the bars and avoid a face-plant on the concrete. I will thank my gym trainer for this surprising feat.

When we first met, the trainer asked me about my goals.  My main goal:  Don’t fall!  So my sessions focus on balance and strength.  Who knew a benefit of gym workouts would be jumping turnstiles in the metro?

Our daughter says we are delinquents for this act. Our son congratulated me and assured us that “It’s never too late to become a scofflaw.”  I had to look up that word. In the future, if I commit criminal acts, I prefer to resist trends toward authoritarianism more than simple infrastructure flaws.

Jumping the turnstile was a big win. We got our metro ride (that we had paid for). We had a new experience. And I applied my weight training in the real world. By now you know that we were not apprehended. Does that count? Is my character still intact? Will you still be my friend?

And now a little about Paris

Paris is known as the most beautiful city in the world, has excellent food, and plenty of art. We agree.

The Eiffel Tower stands as an icon of the city and receives 7 million visitors each year. But when the tower was built, some Parisians found it hideous.

French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850 - 1893) ate lunch under the tower every day for years -- not because he loved the great iron monument but because it was the only place in Paris where he could sit and not see the tower itself.

We were excited to see some of the art and visited the Musées d'Orsay, Louvre, l'Orangerie, Marmottan Monet, and Cluny. There are many more we missed, but our hearts were filled.

We also went to an immersive experience with 3 artistic programs. I posted some videos and photos here:

Immersive Experience"The Orientalists"art

Immersive Experience "Pharoahs of Egypt"

Immersive Experience "Foreign Nature"

Click on each image below for full view of a few paintings we love.

Thanks for sharing our journey. Your comments and messages are appreciated.

Love from Tim and Penelope