In Paris, We All Drive Caddies
04.21.2012 
A photograph of centrist presidential candidate François Bayrou adorns a supporter's caddy at the Bastille marketplace. Bayrou is expected to get around ten percent of the vote in the preliminary round of voting April 22, and could be a spoiler in the May 6th second round, if he endorses the right-wing Sarkozy instead of the Socialist Hollande.
When we lived in Los Angeles, where we had to drive to get anywhere, Richard would refer to our car as the two-ton backpack. We'd strap on the two-ton backpack to go shop at Whole Foods in El Segundo, or schlep to Home Depot on Jefferson Boulevard, or to bring home a stack of books from Small World Books on the Venice boardwalk.
Here in Paris, we have no car. Don't need one; don't want one; don't miss one.
But we still go to shop, at any of three long-established local fresh produce markets that are within walking distance, or either of two supermarkets, any of three local pharmacies, any of three hardware stores, the shoe repair shop, four good bakeries, three butchers, the dry cleaners, etc. The neighborhood survives here, and so (fingers crossed, Paris is also being gentrified) do the small shops that help give a neighborhood character and convenience.
And, like everyone else here, we drive a caddy.
If you've been where the urban poor and aged live in the United States, you've seen these caddies, sort of a laundry hamper on wheels, used to tote necessary goods if one doesn't have a car. And in really sad cases, some people's caddies are large stolen metal shopping carts that serve to hold the only possessions they own.
Here in Paris, there's no social stratification; caddies are not the sole preserve of the aged, the poor, or the homeless; we all drive them, rich, poor, male, female, old, young, Muslim, Christian, Jew--name your demographic, and you drive a caddy.
Many come in Henry Ford's basic black (our choice; we're not flamboyant), but you can find one at the department or hardware store to suit just about any taste, from polka dots, to Tartan plaid, to laminated posters of Ganesha.
Even postal service letter-carriers drive caddies.
And, reflecting another social difference between Paris and Los Angeles, we don't lock our caddies when we go to the store. People leave them outside, or queue them up at the market entrance while they shop. Yes, we leave them unattended, in a city of 2.5 million people.
caddies, elections, fashion, shopping in Paris Life
Reader Comments (19)
Dear Kaaren and Richard:
Having grown up in the center of Manhattan, car culture was so foreign to me when I became a resident of Los Angeles. I love your Caddy entry. There is something so liberating when petroleum prices are not part of your immediate concern. In a way "Caddies" are an "opt out" of sorts. Buying local is a necessity. It is funny that how we shop and commute can define us.
Until then.. Love Jon
Ah, the pictures!
I can feel Richard's joy as he spends his hours finding the visuals to go with the words, and giving us all a sense of what life is like now for dear friends.
Beautiful photographs, Richard, and a new perspective on your city. I wonder if this is true for all of urban France or perhaps even all of urban Europe. In my travels, I have not paid attention to this detail of life and appreciate you bringing it to our awareness. I will be visiting New York soon and will take a look around at their caddies.
Our Rolser! You did a post on our Rolser! How perfectly delightful. In Paris several years back we saw them everywhere. Loved the idea of them. Hence, on leaving, we packed one for the trip home to Philadelphia PA. We're in-city people. Condo. No car. And, Philadelphia is also a city of neighborhoods. We take it whenever & wherever we shop. People sometimes look at us funny. We just say, "Bon jour!"
Anna and tous le monde:
My only regret is that I didn't react quickly enough to get the Ganesha cart I saw. I chased the cart's driver, but she disappeared into the Metro. I'm trying to figure out a way to have a camera grafted into my eyeball, so all I need to do is blink to get the shot.
Yes, the neighborhood is key to all of it. Small is beautiful; shops and markets are plentiful, and we can eat the fattening cheeses because we walk them off.
Hugs,
Richard (and Kaaren)
And if people in the USA walked as much as the French, we'd be in better shape.
Susan,
That's the truth. It's ironic that these photos show two hefty Parisian men. Yet we almost never see anyone overweight who lives in Paris (tourists, yes). It IS the walking, also regular meal times, with not much snacking in between.
Love to you,
Kaaren (& Richard)
I agree about the walking. Our Portuguese NEEDS lots of walking--three miles a day--in order for her to be satisfied with reality. She wants lots to do and walking is the best answer. So, we have trimmed down a lot and increased our energy, too. We are able to have more and varied exercise now that we aren't working and we agree it is a great privilege to be able to do this. Of course, it is also a great privilege to spend so much time with the brainiac Nikita
Eloise & Colleen
Dear Eloise and Colleen,
You two have always been trim, but then we seem to recall that you've always had dogs. And a feisty dog like Nikita may be the answer for those who live in a drive-everywhere city. Dogs lead you out into the world and insist that you walk a lot. Whereas our cat, Marley, sets a good example for us... of sleep. Though we did take him on his first Paris jaunt the other day. Unfortunately it was to the vet. Fortunately there was nothing wrong with him.
Of COURSE Nikita is a brainiac. She's the muse of two writers!
Wonderful to hear from you.
Love,
Kaaren (& Richard)
Made me smile to see all these folks with their Caddies.
Are they actually called Caddies, or is that your own name for them?
I live in a small factory town in the Bay area, from which have disappeared Dry Cleaner, Druggist, Jeweler, Shoe Repair, Bike shop, Laundry, everything. We have one grocery store left. That's it. All the shops are empty now, because of the huge chains 8 miles away. Fortunately our town is un-boutiquable.
So it is refreshing to see Richard's jolly pictures and Kaaren's trenchant commentary.
The walking alone tempts me to move there.
Your Paris series would make a neat picture book, you know.
Love ya,
Bruce
I loved this! And loved that I was surprised... this post was not what I expected! And I envy your ability to gather what you need for daily sustenance within walking distance. So much healthier! Plus you're among other human beings, not cooped up in a vehicle and circling for parking. We were somewhat able to do this in West Hollywood (I walked uphill to Trader Joe's every other day), but where we now live - more typical L.A. suburb - it's drive, drive drive. :(
And I love the different "caddy fashions" - how people's personalities come through in the design choices. Thanks, Richard, for capturing these. Maybe some day you and the elusive Ganesha caddy will once again cross paths. (And also was surprised, Kaaren, that people leave them queued up outside the market! Ha! Just try that in L.A.!)
Thanks so much for another delicious taste of your wonderful city...
Love!
dawna
Cher Bruce:
Oui, they are called caddies here. So sorry to hear of the destruction of your town. The inevitable result of planning for the automobile, and not the human.
Perhaps someday, a Best of Paris Play book. But that would force us to choose.
Hugs, and thanks for your always-trenchant comments.
R and K
Dawna!
Come to Paris and we'll hunt down the perfect caddy for your great taste and style. And we'll do it sans voiture!
See you soon.
R and K
Unbelievable series of photos! Incredible, and funny too. I remember being amazed when I first came here to see young girls going out with these things. From where I come from they equate with only one thing - grannies - and are the epitome of uncool... Have I ever gone out in the street with one, after 20 years of insidious pressure (and practical advantages)..? No, I don't think I have!
Sab:
I got over "uncool" in about five minutes, in favor of "practical." You can wheel ours up and down the block on a trial run, if you like.
Merci for the photo compliments.
R (and K)
Another great collection of photos!
How wonderful it must be to live without a car. I can't even imagine it, having lived in Los Angeles most of my life. I love it that you keep coming up with these themed tours of Paris, via words and photos! I wish I could have seen Los Angeles through your eyes, but I'm sure it is the love you have for Paris that inspires these short essays. That love shines through each and every post, making Paris so tempting... Just think how many people you've seduced into visiting! xo Diane
Nous sommes entrés dans l'ère des bras et mains à rallonge... Joli reportage qui laisse rêveuse, le sourire aux lèvres.
We have jumped into a new era with longer arms and hands... Nice report that offers a smiley dreamy mind.
Dear Patricia,
What a lovely response. We are pleased when a report inspires a smiley dreamy mind!
Merci bien,
Kaaren (& Richard)
Dear Diane,
There is something wonderful in living in the city in which you were raised. I just wish I'd been raised in Paris (and I said this recently to a French friend who was).
Tonight at dinner I heard an American man say wonderingly to his wife, "We've been all over Paris the last two and a half days, and what amazes me is how close everything is." She nodded in agreement.
This IS one of our favorite things about the city, that you can walk just about everywhere, for everything.
As far as seducing people into visiting, it's the city that does that and has for centuries. We just mirror it.
Much love,
Kaaren (& Richard)