6 November, 2013

“If Paris did not exist, the world would have to invent her.

If the world did not exist, Paris would not care.”

Hemingway

I arrived yesterday afternoon Gare Montparnasse, and after two different metro lines settled into my hotel. As nice as it was to finally arrive in Paris, it was one of my best friends popping up on a chat message that really made my day. The day was cold and grey, but chatting with her filled my heart with sunshine and joy.

I have wanted to come back to Paris since the day I left in early July of 1998. There is something about this city that is just fantastic. Everything seems better here. Perhaps it is two thousand years of being settled, perhaps it is the sense of fashion, perhaps it simply the je ne sais quoi of it all. There are things I want to see while I am here. This afternoon was the architecture museum near the Eiffel Tower and then a brief visit to Notre Dame. Tomorrow will be the Musee d’Orsay. Perhaps the Catacombs and the Rodin Museum on Friday. Then, I think the weekend will be for the Louvre. Monday will be the last day here, and I believe I will allow myself to simply be in Paris. Soaking it in on the Champs Elysees before I leave this great city again. It will not be fifteen years before I return, and I don’t plan to come back here alone.

Last night, after chatting, I headed into the city. My first stop was the Trocadero and the famous view of the Tower. All around there and closer to the tower the temptation to photobomb again and again was nearly overwhelming. I was good and didn’t make funny faces or do silly things in anyone’s vacation pictures.

From the tower I rode the regional express subway (Paris actually has two subway systems – the Metro and RER) to the Latin Quarter (Rive Gauche, as they say) to find something to eat and have a look at the Cathedral. After wandering around the district called La Sorbonne, I ended up having a simple baguette panini and sugared crepe from a storefront vendor. The monuments in the city are all wonderfully lit at night, and the streets are still full here at ten pm. I was out for a few hours, walking around, basking in the beauty, and taking pictures. When I returned to my room, I was able to video chat with the same friend back home. That ended my first day here with a huge smile.

Tonight, after walking what feels like several miles in the last two days, I am tired. Additionally, for the first time on this trip, I am a bit lonely tonight and wishing for someone’s company.  If you know who you are, you know that I wish you were here with me. I enjoy the freedom that comes with traveling alone, but in this city I wish I had someone to share the experience with. I don’t think I can come back to this city again by myself. This is a place to be shared.

Time to parse through the pictures. It appears that in four weeks time, I have captured around two thousand frames.  Of those, six hundred twenty six have made it onto these pages.   Enjoy!