So I live in Fredericksburg, and I pretty much never go more than three miles away from my apartment in downtown. Fredericksburg has a population of roughly 28,000 people, and I know a lot of them! You can easily go outside and see only a handful of other people on the street at any given time. First Fridays are usually the busiest I ever see it and that absolutely pales in comparison to what I have just witnessed here.
This level of population density is completely foreign to me. I’d been to just about every major U.S. city by the age of 16 and it just does not even come close. Personal space is not real anymore. A man fully shoulder checked me in the left tit the other day (but I’m pretty sure that one was intentional). There are twice as many people per square mile here than there are in the entirety of the city of Fredericksburg.
In Barcelona, it was a lot easier to move around as a pedestrian. Completely different vibe than Paris. Very laid back, people walking fast but not in a rushing kind of way, cars driving in a somewhat confusing manner but not aggressively, no honking. It was easy to get into the flow of it and not stressful.
In Paris, people are constantly honking at each other. The sidewalks are virtually nonexistent on some streets (gotta love that medieval growth), but cars are still driving down them. Bikers almost never stop for any lights. It feels a lot more uptight. I do enjoy the walking style though. It’s just a big game of chicken and I will never blink first.
I could get away with my crunchy granola patterned patchwork hippy pants in Barcelona. Not here.
One of the big things that has surprised me is that I actually see way more alt/goth people in Fredericksburg regularly than I have seen here. They’re around, maybe I just haven’t hit the right neighborhoods yet, but I swear I see more punks at home than in this major city. I know Paris has a strong DIY scene, so where is everybody hanging out and how do I get there?? This warrants further investigation.
I know this is one thing everyone talks about, but it really is wild to go outside and no one is wearing sweatpants and athleisure. Also, no one ever looks sweaty somehow, and their hair remains smooth and un-frizzed. I am determined to uncover these secrets to take home, because I feel like a mess.
I do love how much of life here, and in Barcelona too, seems to be centered on simply hanging out. Everyone is constantly just hanging out at the cafe, along the water, in a park. It feels so much less socially isolated.
It is also so weird to me to not see any gas stations. In Fredericksburg, everyone has their preferred gas station that they are loyal to. My one friend is firmly committed to the Wawa life. At work, people are always running across the street to the 7-11 for Redbull and cigarettes. There’s the gas station in my neighborhood that I walk to for a quick snack. They’re such a routine fixture in my daily life.
This barely even scratches the surface, but it’s only week one. I will end it here for now.