Moi le flaneur

This may be my natural profession. Flaneur. (There's a circumflex over the A, sorry I can't show it on the BB.)

A flaneur is, to translate loosely, someone who loafs around all day, frequently pausing at cafes to nurse a coffee or a glass of wine, etc. People watching. Thinking his own thoughts, whether they be deep or shallow; the true flaneur knows the difference is neither discernible nor lasting.

As Edmund White wrote in his charming book about Paris, Le Flaneur, flanant is not only tolerated, it seems to be an acceptable job description. "Excuse me, Terry, what are you up to these days?"

"Oh, I'm really getting into flaneuring. I guess you could say I'm already a flaneur."

"Bravo! It is my highest dream to flaner tous les jours! Que belle existence!" (Paris reaction. I tend to think the news would be less warmly received at home, eg, "Must be nice. When are you gonna get off your lazy ass and pull in some money?")

So here I am drifting around with the Pretenders blasting my ears, looking at the tourists of the world waddle by, observing the French (btw, most of those famous thin ones must have migrated to New York) and enjoying a major world city go about its business.

I wonder how many of these "world cities" there are, really. There are hundreds of big cities in China and India, but how many fit into the cosmpolitan ranks of Paris, London, Istanbul and New York. In Italy Rome might qualify. But that's it.

See, ladies and gents, there's a flaneur in action.

For a mighty contrast, tomorrow we leave well-ordered, -functioning France for its cousin country, which is neither of those things. A race across the peninsula to Abruzzo, then in 2 days another race back to Napoli.

Meanwhile, this old flaneur is feeling sort of epuise' from all this dolce far niente.

Later, fellow flaneurs--you who are reading this at work, which is most of you. I know you by your ISP and IP address.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Comments

[Sharon]

Hi Terry - Please let me know when you are visiting back in your original point of origin in MA, and perhaps we can co-flaniate some time.
Cheers, Sharon

[Jeremy Parzen]

Jacques Derrida must have written something about the flâneur somewhere. Vive la differance!

[Marco]

Palermo