Emily Gould posted a video with the view from the subway train as it goes over the Manhattan Bridge and it made me all nostalgic for New York:
Almost every day I get to look out the window at the water and the sky and the advancing skyline from the window of the Q or B train as it crosses the Manhattan bridge. I have heard more than one person say that “The moment I stop noticing this view is the moment I know I should just leave New York,” and when they’ve said this I have fervently nodded my agreement. But of course I don’t always look up and have a magical transformative moment or even a tranquil reflective moment every day.*
So I thought I'd reply in kind. This is the view from the 6 train as it crosses the Seine from Passy to Bir Hakeim, which I used to take when I taught at Nanterre, and which I will take now that I'm teaching at NYU. (Except I go in the other direction, Left Bank to Right.)
(I love the dour-looking woman sitting in the strapontin who's like "mais qu'est-ce que vous foutez avec ce caméra, putain")
*Emily doesn't mention what used to anchor the city at its base, that is now missing from that video, but she posted on September 10th, so I think the connection is clear, if unconscious.
Oh! You’ve made my day. I hadn’t seen this for two years. Thank you Lauren. My heart is warmed. And the sound of the little one chattering in the background more than makes up for the sourpuss at stage-left!
aw, I miss paris…
Yes, that is what I intended, but I didn’t want to be all “hey, you guys, 9/11!” about it. Thanks for posting this.
Strapontin — a faux ami for the kinky set.
Emily: so subtle!
Jay: so not! (but so funny)
Thank you for posting this! I actually squealed when the Eiffel Tower appeared, even though I was expecting to see it. This view of the tower from ligne 6 made my 45-minute trips to the BNF bearable.