I get the impression that they come from all over Europe to enjoy the mild summers and the beauty of the ‘City of Lights’.
The smarter ones lay claim to some of best locations in the city. They set up their make shift habitat on the point of Ile St Louis or around the quais of the Seine. I’ve often agreed with their choices of location as I walked by. I definitely wouldn’t want to be one of them, homeless, drunk and wandering Europe but I will give it them. They do pick a good spot.
This morning as I road by I noticed maybe 5 or 6 new arrivals to the St Paul metro stop in the Marais. It’s a nice small park, with a carrousel, newsstand and several trees. As usual the group had their prerequisite dogs, chains, bottles and hard looks.
But the dynamic of this group was a bit different. They had surrounded one of the smaller members and seemed to be giving hime a hard time. I watched afraid that a fight was going to break out. The dogs grew tense and the gesturing became more animated.Â
The man in the middle coiled back scared as one of the more intimidating characters started rolling up a magazine. Another one with a sleeveless leather jacket grabbed the top of a wine bottle as if he were going to use it as a weapon.Â
Like a driver passing an accident I didn’t want to watch what happened next but I couldn’t help myself. Within seconds the group moved in unison towards the smaller man, now on his knees. Afraid and hesitant but very curious I stretched to get a better angle on the slaughter.
What did I see? I saw the man with the rolled up magazine playfully beating his friend. The bottle of wine was being passed around among laughter. The drunks were celebrating their good fortune of having found a nice park bench in Paris. I smiled.
It’s spring.