Paris in the Springtime
Trip Start
Dec 17, 2008
1
15
61
Trip End
Ongoing
Paris, France
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
We had an amazing 3-1/2 days. The weather cooperated nicely for most of it - mid 50s and sunny with spring in the air. Ah... it was lovely. We try not to let weather influence our impression too much, but so far we've had some pretty crappy weather for our trips. It's been cold, rainy, and windy on so many trips that we have wondered if there is anything else. This was it... and we soaked it in.
I won't bore you with all the details of where we went each day. Not this time, anyway. I'll share more of the experience instead and things I liked most, the feelings instead of the sites. We did all the typical tourist attraction stuff because we had to, and wanted to. We couldn't bring ourselves to go to Paris and not go to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. So, we did those things and more, the sites are extraordinary, the architecture is gorgeous and pristine, and the city is perhaps the most romantic and beautiful I've seen.
I have to admit, I didn't try very hard to learn much French before our trip. Mike gave it a good go and tried his best, but for some reason I was more resistant to the idea. I'm not sure why. I found it difficult to even master the basics without throwing in some Italian by accident. I guess my brain can only handle one foreign language, and it doesn't do that very well as it is. I can't tell you how many times I said "grazie" instead of "merci." Simple, right? Yeah... I will make a better effort next time. I promise.... because there will be a next time.
I think one thing we both noticed straight away was how vast the city is. Every site seems to have a huge green garden attached to it, ample opportunities for picnics or throwing a frisbee or just lounging and taking in the scenery. The streets are wide, the green spaces plentiful, and sidewalk cafes abundant. We try and see as much as we can on foot when visiting a new place because it always leads us to something we would never have found in a tour book or on a map. But as much as we try and see the sites, we also really really appreciate relaxing and taking in a bit of the local life. Since the weather was so inviting, the sidewalk cafes were busting at the seams. What I love most about them is they are all set up for people watching and I think this is one of my favorite things about Paris. People-watching must be a national past-time. The cafes all have tables and chairs set up parallel to the sidewalk so everyone sits facing out, all in a line, watching the passersby. It's brilliant, really. There's nothing like sitting down with weary traveller feet, sipping a glass of Chablis, sun in your face, watching the street life. Being a tourist is hard work sometimes....
When it comes to travelling and life in general, I like food. In fact I really love food. Now Paris... Paris has food. For lunch each day all we had to do was walk past any number of sidewalk cafes and see what people were eating. Usually it looked amazing, and sure enough it was. Fresh vegetables and fruit, ham, cheese.... What more is there? Perhaps my favorite meal was on the north bank of the Seine. We gathered up all the necessities - a bottle Cotes du Rhone, a couple of stinky musty yummy cheeses, sausage, jambon, fig preserves, a pear, tomatoes, and of course, a baguette. Oh, the baguette! How I love thee. We sat ourselves, shoes off and feet dangling, on the river bank wall and had the best picnic ever. With the sun in our faces and nothing to do but eat, drink, and relax, that was really the highlight. All we had to do was lay in the sun and take in the view of the river and Eiffel Tower in the distance. It was the perfect ending to the trip, as our flight was later that night.
I think I could live in Paris, no doubt about it. I suppose would probably have to make more of an effort to learn French though... Hmm... It's such a beautiful place and we only scratched the surface. If I can't live there, I'd love to go back again and again to really get to know it better. We shall see what time allows us here, but it is definitely at the top of the list for me... and I think Mike feels the same. That is a good thing.
I feel a bit rude not writing more about Paris. Words don't do it justice. Plus I'm out of words, so that is convenient....
-molly
