xxxv. compare & contrast

urban relativities

paris: streetside crepes and paninis
los angeles: streetside bacon-wrapped hot dogs

paris: bitterly cold rainy days
los angeles: the beach during winter

paris: fabulous old bitches wrapped in fur and heavy make-up
los angeles: blonde young bitches with ostentatious sunglasses and uggs

paris: smoking hash by the seine
los angeles: smoking weed at the habitat

paris: metro bums smelling like pee
los angeles: metro hookers smelling like cigarettes

paris: metro bums imploring for coins with a heartfelt speech
los angeles: vagrants popping paper bags in your face

paris: the singsong sound of french ladies' "bonsoir!"
los angeles: the singsong sound of bullets destroying your roommate's car

paris: le marais
los angeles: silver lake

paris: montmartre
los angeles: venice

paris: crowded neck-to-neck train rides
los angeles: clogged artery freeways

paris: everyone over 15 smokes
los angeles: cough, cough, 'scuse me?

paris: grimy streets and dog poop
los angeles: living in a brown cloud of air pollution