Paris Through The Window

Croissant number one was in fact purchased in the UK but enjoyed with that unforgettable French joie de vivre en route to Paris, so I have included it in the overall croissant count for the weekend, which was not nearly as high as I had originally imagined. It seemed my ambitions were larger than my stomach....

I did eat quite a few delicious pastries though, and wine and cheese and some delicious homemade French liqueurs...but that's another story...

On Saturday I met up with my friend Scott who was travelling through Europe and his French hosts, which was certainly a treat. We wandered the streets of Paris and made our way to Montmartre, the artists' district of Paris, where Moulin Rouge is situated and also that Really Big Church (also known as Sacre-Coeur). Definitely some spectacular views in that city to behold, and the weather was stunning for the rest of the weekend.

Then I ate another croissant.

I enjoyed that this visit was spent mostly walking around and just taking in the city. There is an atmosphere (at least for tourists) of romance and beauty in the city, and the chance to simply be there and try to take it all in was wonderful. At one point, Scott and I were having a cappucino at a little cafe on the streets of Montmarte and a couple of newlyweds came running up the streets taking their wedding photos. How romantic can you get?

 

We climbed the Eiffel Tower, of course, and saw Les Catacombes, the underground tunnels/quarries/graveyards of Paris. Very creepy - they used the old quarries as "graves" in the 1800's when the cemeteries of Paris began to overflow and they were running out of space. Then a cruise along the river Seine to view all those historic buildings that Paris is filled with.

 

By the end of the weekend I was in love with Paris again, even though I think it is dirtier and smellier than London. I love how French people are so incredibly French that the stereotype may actually be true in some cases. I love that there is so much good food and wine and art in the city, and that I was on holiday walking around for three days! I love nutella, crepes, and red wine, and that everyone everywhere is selling you something. I won't soon forget my stay at the aptly named "Young & Happy" hostel, the flash mob of MJ dancers in the park who were so bad they were good, and running into a London pal at the lifts on the Eiffel Tower proving just how small the world really is.

 

I was glad just to allow myself to be there and practice all that "in the moment" stuff everyone is always talking about.

 

As a wonderful songwriter once wrote about the City of Lights:

 

"Nothing that happened/and nothing we saw/in the week that we stayed could compare/To simply being there..."