paris.

the city of love.

...

i know i wrote briefly about our first day in paris; however, i experienced so much in my three days there that i feel it only respectful to write more.

first of all, when people tell you that paris is the city of love, they are telling the truth. public affection can be seen everywhere: restaurants, park benches, school playgrounds, shoe stores, coffee shops – you name a place, and you can be sure there are people kissing. however, as crazy as it sounds, i think something can be said for this reckless affection. to me, although it seems a bit indiscreet, it also seems highly romantic. kissing the one you love in such a beautiful place without a care in the world doesn’t sound all bad, does it? these couples were behaving the way couples in girly movies behave, and i’ve always wanted my life to resemble that kind of movie.

is that so wrong?

along with its reputation for romance, paris also has a rich history of art. angelique got us up early one morning, making us one of the first groups to greet the mona lisa for the day. she is so beautiful, so simple and elegant, and so very small. angelique warned us that she would be slightly smaller than the picture she was sure we were imagining, but i was still surprised to find her as tiny as she was. we explored the rest of the louvre on our own in small groups, although it was a bit overwhelming. it would take weeks to fully view and appreciate all the art, while we had a mere couple of hours.

i was excited to be at the louvre for another reason as well. one of my favorite books, the davinci code, takes place in paris, and the story begins in the louvre. in fact, the opening scene takes place right in front of the mona lisa. it was so surreal being in the same world as that story.

another highlight of paris was the notre dame cathedral. not only were we allowed to sing as a part of the mass, but we were also allowed access to the altar, and asked to process out of the sanctuary behind the priests. the structure itself is exquisite – every bit as breath-taking as one would imagine, and still in such wonderful condition. following the mass, after the public had been dismissed, we were thanked personally by the priest and given total access to the empty cathedral. we were free to explore as we pleased, undisturbed by pushy tourists. it was a truly unforgettable night.

as imagined, shopping in paris was simply delightful. a few of my friends and i traveled to a near-by flea market during one of our free afternoons, which was similar to the street vendors in italy or new york. most spoke little english but were excellent hagglers. the flea market unfortunately didn’t hold any treasures for me, but my eyes certainly feasted.

speaking of feasting, paris’s cuisine definitely influenced the size of our waistlines. i enjoyed some of the best meals i’ve ever eaten there. mushroom soup, smoked salmon, gobs of pastries, and of course, french fries. our hotel breakfasts alone were enough to keep us full all day. i came away from the city with a greater appreciation for meal time. not just the food itself, but the fellowship – savoring every bite, every conversation. parisians take two hours on one meal, three if you're lucky. it’s all about enjoying the experience, which was so new for us. we eat and dash in america, and the glamour of a well-prepared meal is lost, as well as the patience it takes to really appreciate it. i loved being allowed to take my time.

it’s such a magic city paris is, so brimming with electric chemistry. from those lovers on the park bench to the white lights strung across every alley street, it oozes a sense of beauty that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. it is dream-like and romantic – the perfect place, the only place, to really fall in love.