As we talked in Montpellier, she said she might not go to Paris with the group. My heart dropped. This was not the plan! The excitement and anticipation I held about the upcoming weekend in Paris with her could not process this news. Lucky for me, she changed her mind, and we soon found ourselves on a train towards Paris speeding past fields of lavender and isolated stone villages. We were going to Paris. I would finally see the cities of my dreams with the one soul that I already knew I wanted to stay beside forever.
We'd been in France almost a month and we'd saved this trip until the end. Our studies were winding down; we left early Thursday morning and arrived in Paris by noon. We hit the ground running as it were. Because of expenses, our train ride home was Saturday afternoon. I had not imagined my debut encounter with Paris to be so brief, but this was it. We had fifty-two hours to get to know one another.
After dropping our luggage at the hotel, we headed to those streets in which I'd longed to lose myself. Paris had provided a beautiful, but cool day to meander. The bicycle-lined streets, the colorful cafe awnings, the rod-iron, the stone structures that drew my eyes, they were all as I had imagined only brighter and clearer than my dreams. As we made our way up the Rue Montmartre, I could hardly believe this dream had materialized. Later that day, as a friend of a friend so graciously gave us a tour of the Le Palais de Luxembourg, I could scarcely take it all in--the golden arched ceilings, Napoleon's throne, and the French senate meeting just behind those massive closed doors.
As breathtaking as all of this was, I was most anxious for the main event of our evening, the Eiffel Tower. It is funny to me that one of the most iconic symbols of this majestic city is one to which the French are said to hold no particular endearment. (Although, I think I've met just as many Frenchies who like it as who hate it, honestly.) I, on the other hand, had lived for this exact moment; and just like everything else in France had so easily done, it surpassed my expectations.
As my now-wife-then-friend and I and talked on the grass under the Tower, I was acutely aware of the fact that this one of the happiest moments of my life. I think I was lucky to realize this in the actual moment; it made me want to freeze this moment and, in a way, I did, for it is still so vividly cherished. And then at ten o'clock, against the darkening sky, the tower lit up, and reflections danced in our eyes as we sat in silence taking in such a sight as I had never imagined.
A perfect first day in Paris drew to an end with a midnight cruise on La Seine. The lights of Paris shown brightly on all sides as Edith Piaf's La Vie en Rose played in the background. Although I am not usually keen on such touristy events, I must admit I enjoyed every touristy second. This was a dream fulfilled; my heart was happy. The next morning we would be up early without a minute to spare. There were the majestic bridges that must be walked, Shakespeare and Company, Notre Dame, all of these wonders connected by random streets just as mysterious and powerful. There was to be another night spent on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower; this time we were more prepared with our own bottle of wine.
When you get the chance to spend time in a place that you love as much as I love France, it changes you forever. To a certain degree, it settles a restlessness within, but at the same time, it leaves a longing ache in its place. Being a bit of a gypsy-soul, I have traveled and experienced many places. I have appreciated all of them, even the ones in which I didn't particularly enjoy, but France left a permanent mark. A mark I shall cherish always.
As my now-wife-then-friend and I and talked on the grass under the Tower, I was acutely aware of the fact that this one of the happiest moments of my life. I think I was lucky to realize this in the actual moment; it made me want to freeze this moment and, in a way, I did, for it is still so vividly cherished. And then at ten o'clock, against the darkening sky, the tower lit up, and reflections danced in our eyes as we sat in silence taking in such a sight as I had never imagined.
A perfect first day in Paris drew to an end with a midnight cruise on La Seine. The lights of Paris shown brightly on all sides as Edith Piaf's La Vie en Rose played in the background. Although I am not usually keen on such touristy events, I must admit I enjoyed every touristy second. This was a dream fulfilled; my heart was happy. The next morning we would be up early without a minute to spare. There were the majestic bridges that must be walked, Shakespeare and Company, Notre Dame, all of these wonders connected by random streets just as mysterious and powerful. There was to be another night spent on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower; this time we were more prepared with our own bottle of wine.
When you get the chance to spend time in a place that you love as much as I love France, it changes you forever. To a certain degree, it settles a restlessness within, but at the same time, it leaves a longing ache in its place. Being a bit of a gypsy-soul, I have traveled and experienced many places. I have appreciated all of them, even the ones in which I didn't particularly enjoy, but France left a permanent mark. A mark I shall cherish always.
America is my country and Paris is my hometown.
~ Gertrude Stein ~
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