Five Days In Paris

(Rue Cler)

Sometimes it feels so cliche to talk about going to Paris and how much I loved it, but it's true. When I was there I was just amazed with the beauty of it all. Even the parts that were not so glamorous I sill really liked because it was different from the American cities that I know. The streets were narrower, the city was clean, cars were smaller, the food was much better, most of the people we encountered were kind, and all in all they were a much more relaxed society (except for cab drivers).

Even though I only made it to French III in high school, it really did help to have the limited vocabulary of an ordinary French 3rd grader. Ordering food certainly came in handy, as well as being able to understand the limitations on my warranty for the swatch watched I purchased. The clerk even asked if I wanted to hear it in English, but I just wanted to hear her speak French since, after all, I may never be back.

(Scooters in Montmartre)

The journeys I had with my dad, step mom, and cousin were quite entertaining: we took loads of pictures in front of the Moulin Rouge only to find that it was only the gift store (I knew the big windmill was missing...), learned about St. Dennis who holds his decapitated head in his hands in most works of art that he appears in, used our right not to tip a rude waiter, wandered into Pigalle (the red light district) and were approached by two men who would only say "good morning" and "how are you" in English once they found that we didn't know much French, and watched a 20 something yr. old stumble off of the metro and throw an empty bottle of booze onto the tracks who then continued to urinate against the wall and then greet his mates (who showed up a minute after) with some good old hugs.

Then there was sight seeing! The Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower, Pont Alexandre III, Notre Dame, Montmartre, Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and various other historical places. I, however, favored the museums. We saw the Musée Picasso, Louvre, and (my favourite) the Centre Pompidou.

(Musée Picasso)

The tiny part of Europe and France that I was able to experience was one that I know I will never forget and will forever be captured in the hundreds of pictures that I took. It was fun to experience a different way of living with almost everyone around you speaking a different language, and it wasn't always just French. Even though it's been almost a year since my trip to Paris (week before Easter, 2009) I still love to reflect on it like it was yesterday.

Who knows, maybe I'll get to go back.
Sarah

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