Big City Charm

I realized this past week how much I miss big city life. Since traveling to France, I've said that I prefer the French countryside and small town environment over the Parisian experience. I'm not sure why, but I think I was the only girl on this Earth that wasn't mesmerized by Paris upon my first visit. It's not that I didn't find the city beautiful and historically fascinating, I just never felt a huge rush when in the city as I do when I'm in New York. I also just really like the down to earth nature of small-town France and have found learning French much easier in an environment where English speakers are few and far, forcing you to speak in French, scared or not. 

      Well this past week, I gave Paris a second chance.  I still wouldn't label myself that die hard girl who is obsessed by everything Parisian, dreaming of a honey moon in the city of love nor a girl who feels romance carried by the looming clouds that pass by.  However, I can now say that I really enjoy Paris and it was quite a fresh of breath air from my simple life in the "West Virginia of France" (I've just realized that the Franche-Comte is sort of considered the boonies of France even if it is one of the most beautiful regions of the country). 

I met my PSU friend Luke up in Paris to celebrate his birthday in a city he absolutely loves.  

      After rescheduling my work hours so I could travel more leisurely, I made my way to Paris Tuesday night, a 4 hour trip.  I was greeted by Luke at the gare de l'est and so pleasantly surprised to by guided by him after hosting him for a week and a half back in my neck of the woods.  Within two days Luke had the city down pat, not a surprise if you know Luke. The entire time I had my own little tour guide through all the smaller more rustic streets of Paris. 

Of course I'd done all the sites on my previous visit to Paris two years ago when I arrived in France for the first time. But at that time, I was majorly jet lagged and like most travelers tried to pack centuries of historical visiting into two days of touring. I've realized now, that you should never judge a city on its airport, bad idea. 

    So for two days, Luke and I leisurely walked the winding streets, picking up cafés and crêpes when hungry and visited the major sites staying as long or as little as our hearts desired. One must do in Paris, is to take a couple of hours on your OWN and wander the streets turning at your own volition. Take a map just for safety, but between the signs and the towering monuments, it's quite easy to find your way back from anywhere. I suggest wandering around the Latin Quarter, but that's just my personal favorite. Also don't forget to stop for a refreshment or a nice sobering meal. Try to sit outside and enjoy the national pastime of France, people watching. Paris has to be one of the best places to dine solo. (I can't believe it, but I had the chance to lunch outside in mid-January with what might call the luck of good weather or others may warn as global warming)

    Nonetheless, it felt so great to be back in a city with bustling people, eclectic styles, culture partout (everywhere) and simply the vastness of the city scape around you.  It's always great to get up on the top of a building, whether it's the top of my aunt Ingrid's apartment in Manhattan or the top of Nôtre Dame or the Eiffel Tower and pear down and around at the vast enormity of the city that encapsulates you between its winding streets and towering buildings as you walk its streets. 

Note: Almost all the photos from this trip were taken by Luke since my camera has been MIA since New Years Eve.