Why do you love Paris?
Jan 24th, 2010, 09:12 AM
#21
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I love Paris because of how completely content I feel when I am there. I am taking trips 4 and 5 this year (5 days with my daughter in May and 17 days with hubby and friends in September) and I know that ever after 38 days spent over 3 trips, I have barely begun to scratch the surface. I love being able to walk everywhere and know that even when we get lost, we will be rewarded by beautiful scenery, a new cafe or bistro discovery, friendly Parisians who will be happy to point us in the right direction and a happiness for just being here, wherever we are at that moment, because it's always seems to be the right place to be.
We love the walks by the Seine, the little parks discovered by happenstance, the blooming gardens of late May, the markets where we can walk for hours happily looking at the unbelievable selection of fruit, veggies, meats, pastries, bread, cheese, spreads, etc, etc, the great house wine in almost every bistro, cafe and restaurant we try, the new foods that I wouldn't dare try anywhere else, but that seem to call my name when we are there, the apartments we have rented that let us pretend we live in Paris for a short while, having a glass of wine with the most wonderful cheese and bread in the late afternoon after a full day of walking, the Eiffel Tower twinkling for us every night (never fails to draw a huge inward sigh and a tear), the museums that share their precious treasures with us, walking back to our apartment with Paris all lit up around us after a wonderful meal, the many different arrondissements, each with their own treasures and character, Luxembourg and the peaceful Medici fountain where we can rest our render tootsies and enjoy peace and quiet in the middle of a bustling city, the unbelievable churches, the architecture, the small and winding roads, the grand boulevards, and the kindness of the people who live here and put up with millions of tourists every year, graciously sharing their city with all of us who can only dream of living here.
I love Paris because she loves me back unconditionally. She is like a beautiful woman, showing us just a little more of herself with each visit and giving us a deeper understanding of what she has to offer with each extra day spent admiring her.
I love Paris..............Jo
We love the walks by the Seine, the little parks discovered by happenstance, the blooming gardens of late May, the markets where we can walk for hours happily looking at the unbelievable selection of fruit, veggies, meats, pastries, bread, cheese, spreads, etc, etc, the great house wine in almost every bistro, cafe and restaurant we try, the new foods that I wouldn't dare try anywhere else, but that seem to call my name when we are there, the apartments we have rented that let us pretend we live in Paris for a short while, having a glass of wine with the most wonderful cheese and bread in the late afternoon after a full day of walking, the Eiffel Tower twinkling for us every night (never fails to draw a huge inward sigh and a tear), the museums that share their precious treasures with us, walking back to our apartment with Paris all lit up around us after a wonderful meal, the many different arrondissements, each with their own treasures and character, Luxembourg and the peaceful Medici fountain where we can rest our render tootsies and enjoy peace and quiet in the middle of a bustling city, the unbelievable churches, the architecture, the small and winding roads, the grand boulevards, and the kindness of the people who live here and put up with millions of tourists every year, graciously sharing their city with all of us who can only dream of living here.
I love Paris because she loves me back unconditionally. She is like a beautiful woman, showing us just a little more of herself with each visit and giving us a deeper understanding of what she has to offer with each extra day spent admiring her.
I love Paris..............Jo
Jan 26th, 2010, 12:34 PM
#22
Great post ParisJo. As I read your last paragraph it made me think of MDH's quote---"Paris is like a Faberge egg. The first time all you see is the beautiful outside. As you return, you discover the jeweled interior."
Jan 26th, 2010, 05:40 PM
#24
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oh wow ... this is totally a pick-me-up right now! (i'm stuck in a small town on business and kinda going stir crazy in my hotel room).
thanks for the posts everyone ... DH and i went back to paris this past october to try and 'get it out of my system'. the obsession was curbed (only somewhat) but the yearning still exists.
so, moi aussi.
thanks for the posts everyone ... DH and i went back to paris this past october to try and 'get it out of my system'. the obsession was curbed (only somewhat) but the yearning still exists.
so, moi aussi.
Jan 26th, 2010, 07:34 PM
#25
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When I was five or six, my aunt was in high school French and sang the praises of Paris to me and anyone who would listen night and day. Somehow, even so young, I was completely enthralled. I took three years of French language and customs in high school and saved my money for a trip. Unfortunately, the economy went into a tailspin, dad got laid off, and I had to use the money to help out my family. Maybe the long wait has something to do with it, it was another 16 years before I got to go. One night, just for grins and giggles, I put DFW to CDG into AA.com and got back a rate of only $275 if I flew out before the end of February. I got permission for my daughter, then 11, to miss school and fly with me. The oddest bit, a friend tried to book the same fare the next day and couldn't get it. I must have confirmed that flight every way possible - phone, email, website - about a thousand times!
Finally, we got on the plane. When we got off it was a gray drizzly day in Paris, an improvement after having snowed every day the previous week. By the time we'd checked into our hotel and used the metro to travel to the Eiffel Tower, it was raining big, fat drops and turning darker, almost like night though it was pretty early. There was no one waiting for tickets, but we had to wait for a car to pick up the small crowd gathered to go up. As we hit the halfway point, the whole car let out a collective "oooooh" as big, fat, lazy snowflakes fluttered in the light breeze. As we stepped out at the top, everyone gasped as the lamps and lights came on, illuminating those fat, fluffy flakes so that they looked like snow faerie's dancing in the lights. As we peered out over the city, more and more lights were winking on, reflecting in the puddles, making the perfect twinkling background for our plump snow faeries.
The rest of our trip it was dry and sunny. Most days were warm enough we only needed a sweater very early in the day or after dark. I had taken a refresher and found my French was good enough we managed everywhere we went quite well, and everyone was just so nice to us. I honestly can't say I have been treated consistently as well in Dallas as we were in Paris. Now I am looking forward to visiting with the man of my dreams and I can't wait. Even back on my first trip, I could just feel the romance of a boat trip on the river or sitting on the benches and in the grass in the parks.
Finally, we got on the plane. When we got off it was a gray drizzly day in Paris, an improvement after having snowed every day the previous week. By the time we'd checked into our hotel and used the metro to travel to the Eiffel Tower, it was raining big, fat drops and turning darker, almost like night though it was pretty early. There was no one waiting for tickets, but we had to wait for a car to pick up the small crowd gathered to go up. As we hit the halfway point, the whole car let out a collective "oooooh" as big, fat, lazy snowflakes fluttered in the light breeze. As we stepped out at the top, everyone gasped as the lamps and lights came on, illuminating those fat, fluffy flakes so that they looked like snow faerie's dancing in the lights. As we peered out over the city, more and more lights were winking on, reflecting in the puddles, making the perfect twinkling background for our plump snow faeries.
The rest of our trip it was dry and sunny. Most days were warm enough we only needed a sweater very early in the day or after dark. I had taken a refresher and found my French was good enough we managed everywhere we went quite well, and everyone was just so nice to us. I honestly can't say I have been treated consistently as well in Dallas as we were in Paris. Now I am looking forward to visiting with the man of my dreams and I can't wait. Even back on my first trip, I could just feel the romance of a boat trip on the river or sitting on the benches and in the grass in the parks.
