I’m going to own up to something here that may or may not affect my credibility with some of you. I love Sex and the City. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. Except for this: You know the scene in season 6 when Carrie steps onto her hotel room balcony in Paris and sees the Eiffel Tower? She clasps her hands to her chest and squeals. That feeling right there is the reason everyone should go to Paris.
I didn’t feel this way before coming to Paris. I really couldn’t have cared less about all the things that were supposed to excite me about this city. In fact, I’m such a contrarian I wanted to come to Paris and not visit the Tower. But then I got here.
Paris is like 80s music – you’ve got to take the good with the bad. The tourists lining up to climb the tower are just as much a part of this wonderful city as the freshly made croissants you can smell from your apartment.
Speaking of apartments – I’m in love with ours. It’s a two-bedroom in the 13th arrondissement. It’s very quaint and the large windows, open all the time because of the heat, give us a good view of the activity on the street below.
So back to Paris. Our first few days were what on paper sounded like my worst nightmare. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, Moulin Rouge – nearly every big-ticket tourist drawcard the city has to offer. In reality, visiting these sights led me through a city I’ve fallen in love with.
I did find the Tower underwhelming. Perhaps because I’d already seen and climbed the Tokyo Tower – which looks very much the same (except it’s orange) and is taller. Perhaps I find it difficult to get excited about an elaborate TV antenna. Whatever the reason, I just could not see what all the fuss is about. And I certainly wasn’t going to part with any amount of money to go inside it.
But there were other parts of Paris that helped me understand its appeal: a walk along the River Seine to Notre Dame, browsing through vintage books and art on the riverfront, the electricty in the air outside the Moulin Rouge, and devouring a Nutella-soaked crepe.
It would take several lifetimes to discover Paris. And a tourist – no matter how long they spend here – will never really know Paris. The best I can hope for is a basic comprehension of just how wonderful this place is. I’m getting there. The art, the history, the culture, the food, the buildings, the people and just the city itself. “Oh that doesn’t look like a nice thing to photograph” – said no one in Paris ever.
Looking at the buildings made me realise just how young Australia is as a country. Most of the time I don’t have much of an idea what I’m looking at, but this place just oozes history.
And the people – well. They are Paris. Their sophistication and flare is mesmorising. The way they drink their coffee, walk down the street, and ride a bike down a bumpy, cramped city street with all the grace of enjoying a sunset pedal through a field of sunflowers. Sure, they come across as slightly arrogant, but then they live in one of the best cities in the world- and they know it.
1 Comment
Sounds like a fantastic first day in Paris, Megsy!! I'm a bit jealous … but you would have known that already!!! Have fun!