An American in Paris
Ah, Paris! I know what you're thinking...Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, romance, artists on the street corners, musicians playing La Vie en Rose or Bella Note on the accordian...
Well, that's not what Paris is like. Sorry.
Obviously, the buildings are there. And I'm sure it can be romantic if you are there with a significant other. And probably somewhere in the city you'll find artists and musicians. But unfortunately, Paris has this reputation from movies and tv shows, and if that is what you are expecting, Paris will let you down. I don't blame Paris as much as I blame Hollywood.
I have to say, my first experiences of Paris four years ago, while they were good experiences, left me indifferent about the city. I really didn't care if I ever went back. I'd seen what there was to see (and more that I didn't care to see again...one visit to this city's Metro system will leave you feeling the same). Paris is, first and foremost, a city, and I am definitely not a city girl. It is home to close to 9 million people on a daily basis. As a tourist, the areas you will visit are littered with...well, litter. And other tourists who walk into your pictures. And obnoxious men selling key chains and postcards and purses and thingamabobs.
This second time around, though, I was determined to give Paris another try. Let her change my mind for me.
And you know what? Paris came through. Sure, there are dirty streets and gross Metro stations and creepy guys. But there is something about being in Paris. You're there, in the place that thousands of people dream of visiting every day. People decorate their homes in a Parisian theme, never having been there before. You're there, where countless movies have been made, seeing things you thought you'd never see in real life. You're there, in a place so old and historic that you can't quite comprehend the things you're seeing.
You stand on a bridge, looking at the Seine. Thinking about how many people thousands of years ago used the river for food. Thinking about how the vikings used the river to take Paris. Thinking about how the city was torn by revolution--twice. Thinking about how Hitler once stood in that city, taking in the Eiffel Tower the way you are, and yet thinking completely different things.
You stand there, in front of the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous and recognizable structure in the world. And you think about all the people standing with you, who have traveled countless miles from any number of countries around the world. All wanting to see the same thing, to experience the same city. You stand there, watching the sun set, seeing the lights on the tower become visible. You watch the light at the top circle around and around as the last strains of daylight hover over the horizon.
And then Paris steals your heart.
And you want to come back again, with someone new, to experience it through your new eyes, wondering what new mysteries she has for you to discover. Because if you've learned anything about Paris, it's that there's more to her than meets the eye.
~Stay Gold!
Well, that's not what Paris is like. Sorry.
Obviously, the buildings are there. And I'm sure it can be romantic if you are there with a significant other. And probably somewhere in the city you'll find artists and musicians. But unfortunately, Paris has this reputation from movies and tv shows, and if that is what you are expecting, Paris will let you down. I don't blame Paris as much as I blame Hollywood.
I have to say, my first experiences of Paris four years ago, while they were good experiences, left me indifferent about the city. I really didn't care if I ever went back. I'd seen what there was to see (and more that I didn't care to see again...one visit to this city's Metro system will leave you feeling the same). Paris is, first and foremost, a city, and I am definitely not a city girl. It is home to close to 9 million people on a daily basis. As a tourist, the areas you will visit are littered with...well, litter. And other tourists who walk into your pictures. And obnoxious men selling key chains and postcards and purses and thingamabobs.
This second time around, though, I was determined to give Paris another try. Let her change my mind for me.
And you know what? Paris came through. Sure, there are dirty streets and gross Metro stations and creepy guys. But there is something about being in Paris. You're there, in the place that thousands of people dream of visiting every day. People decorate their homes in a Parisian theme, never having been there before. You're there, where countless movies have been made, seeing things you thought you'd never see in real life. You're there, in a place so old and historic that you can't quite comprehend the things you're seeing.
You stand on a bridge, looking at the Seine. Thinking about how many people thousands of years ago used the river for food. Thinking about how the vikings used the river to take Paris. Thinking about how the city was torn by revolution--twice. Thinking about how Hitler once stood in that city, taking in the Eiffel Tower the way you are, and yet thinking completely different things.
You stand there, in front of the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous and recognizable structure in the world. And you think about all the people standing with you, who have traveled countless miles from any number of countries around the world. All wanting to see the same thing, to experience the same city. You stand there, watching the sun set, seeing the lights on the tower become visible. You watch the light at the top circle around and around as the last strains of daylight hover over the horizon.
And then Paris steals your heart.
And you want to come back again, with someone new, to experience it through your new eyes, wondering what new mysteries she has for you to discover. Because if you've learned anything about Paris, it's that there's more to her than meets the eye.
~Stay Gold!
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