Paris je t'aime. What a cliché you may think. But this city of wondrous romance, color, lights and allure - is riddled with clichés. But unlike most these are very welcome. Yes there is a charm to this European nerve centre for fashion and the arts. But every two years the haute couture makes way for the horsepower!
The Porte de Versailles exposition centre in Paris, has been the venue for the biennial motor show for several years now. Its well appointed, but is a royal pain to get to. Of course everyone in the traffic jams around you is also probably trying to get to the motor show on the first press day. Of course you left your hotel thinking it will take you about half hour to get there. Of course it takes over an hour. And of course it is frustrating. It harks back to the other biennial show that had a similar traffic nightmare experience associated with it - the Delhi Auto Expo - as all roads leading to Pragati Maidan would be super clogged.
While that situation has changed thanks to the wise move to Greater Noida, the Paris Show remains where fit has been residing for some time now! But while you may want to fault the authorities for not streamlining the traffic - which is hardly a surprise - the Porte de Versailles itself is ideal for the show. Large halls, with plenty of breathing room, and unlike the past years - this year there were no exhibitions in halls which were very far way. So it meant lesser walking than usual this time. Thats is what I always have associated with Paris - comfortable shoes are a prerequisite.
So what is it about Paris that keeps us coming back? Sure its one of the major global motor shows that we count amongst those necessary to attend. But even though it is largely Europe centric, it is the charm of the city that gets you. Ots captivating. The fact that you may walked down the Champs Elysées several times, or seen the L'Arc de Triomphe over and over, or photographed the Eiffel Tower from every conceivable angle - doesn't stop you from doing so again anyway!
And that is why I believe many of us are happy to flock back to Paris. Detroit (held in January) is cold, Frankfurt (held every alternate year to Paris at the same time) can be dull, Shanghai/Beijing (held alternately as well) are crowded and mismanaged, and Geneva - though a great show from the point of view of the show itself, is also held as winter hasn't quite let go of its chilling grip on the climate. Tokyo was the other show - held in the same year as Paris - that I would always look forward to, as that city too is vibrant and culturally rich. But sadly the Tokyo Motor Show has lost its steam and sheen, and is no longer considered as important as the others.
So as I say au revoir to Paris yet again, I am already looking forward to being back here in 2016 next. Hopefully the weather Gods would be just as kind as they've been this year, giving us plenty of sun, great temperatures and blue skies - and well, hopefully my destiny will be too,and allow me the chance to be back to the French capital! Paris - a bientot!
