Today I got a break from the guy behind the window at a Metro station. I asked for a carnet of (10) tickets. He had just cheated the guy in front of me, who bought four tickets—he only got three. The buyer busted him so I was prepared to pay attention to my transaction. I slowly (like everyone else who stands in any line in Paris) counted my tickets to be sure there were 10. And I scooped up my pile of change from the 20-euro bill I gave him—cost for the carnet was 10,90 so I knew that all those 2-euro coins looked pretty good (I hadn’t put on my glasses but I’m getting better at identifying the different denominations by their size, as in the US). When I got home, I realized that he had given me two extra 2-euro coins! Voila! For once I win the lottery!
Friday, March 2, 2007
I Win 4 Extra Euros!
I really miss my little Metro pass—one side of the plastic holder shows my photo and the other side includes the single orange ticket for the month (Carte Orange—get it?). I think I could continue to flash it at the bus drivers and get away with using it until I leave—they don’t seem to pay much attention. But I won’t. Today I got a break from the guy behind the window at a Metro station. I asked for a carnet of (10) tickets. He had just cheated the guy in front of me, who bought four tickets—he only got three. The buyer busted him so I was prepared to pay attention to my transaction. I slowly (like everyone else who stands in any line in Paris) counted my tickets to be sure there were 10. And I scooped up my pile of change from the 20-euro bill I gave him—cost for the carnet was 10,90 so I knew that all those 2-euro coins looked pretty good (I hadn’t put on my glasses but I’m getting better at identifying the different denominations by their size, as in the US). When I got home, I realized that he had given me two extra 2-euro coins! Voila! For once I win the lottery!
Today I got a break from the guy behind the window at a Metro station. I asked for a carnet of (10) tickets. He had just cheated the guy in front of me, who bought four tickets—he only got three. The buyer busted him so I was prepared to pay attention to my transaction. I slowly (like everyone else who stands in any line in Paris) counted my tickets to be sure there were 10. And I scooped up my pile of change from the 20-euro bill I gave him—cost for the carnet was 10,90 so I knew that all those 2-euro coins looked pretty good (I hadn’t put on my glasses but I’m getting better at identifying the different denominations by their size, as in the US). When I got home, I realized that he had given me two extra 2-euro coins! Voila! For once I win the lottery!
