Awakening in Paris

Going to Paris was never really my dream. It was my friend’s dream (She blogs at The Wayfaring Hearth, and I just rediscovered her post about How to Knock Out a Cold or Sinus Infection. Perfect timing).

Back in our university days (shoo. Am I getting old?), we would lounge across our old couch dreaming about the future and all the places we would travel. Paris was her specific dream. Mine went more like, “I want to visit the world.” In time, I realized that kind of goal ended you up still sitting on that old couch so I’ve made my list a bit more specific.

I had grand Paris expectations.

I’d arrive early in the morning and see all the things with the amazing focus and map studying of a 20-something, empowered young woman. Independent. Strong. Go-getter.

What I didn’t expect was to arrive in Paris and be overwhelmed by another culture. A new city. Another language. More things I don’t understand or know. But hey, at least the money was familiar. That trusty euro.

So that first day in Paris, when I should have been out and about, soaking in that magnificent city…well, the reality was that I had holed up in the flat that I was renting for the weekend. I took a three hour nap. And so yes, this life I live is amazing, but I just want you to know that I’m not superwoman. Different cultures and travel exhaust as well as excite.

I learned a lot about traveling and myself when I went to Paris. It’s a gorgeous city, and the Parisians were so wonderfully nice.

“To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

I slept so well in Paris. Deeply. Restfully. Soul-Healing Goodness.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

I discovered within myself a strength to roll with whatever happened when I was in a different city. If things didn’t go right, then it was up to me to fix them. I realized that I am capable.

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye

That quote there sums it up perfectly. Seeing Paris and being in a new place for a long weekend changed my life in some signature yet miniature ways. Any time you remove yourself from whatever is your “normal”, you open yourself to new discoveries about yourself.

And so I saw Paris, and it’s an amazing city. You should go. But the best part is what you’ll learn along the way. Whether you have to work your butt off to arrive at that destination or your travels there are different than your expectations.

Go with open hands and receive new insights of the world, yourself, and the people around.

If you’ve stuck around till the end perhaps wondering if I actually had a favorite place that I saw while I was in Paris, I’m glad you did! Because I do.

One day, I took the time to wander the streets of Paris. And I found Coltrane Bar on Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth where I sat and read for a long while and enjoyed a meal. It seemed to me to be the truest brush with Parisian life that I had while in Paris.

And, there are some naked statues near the carousel from which you can see the Eiffel Tower. For some reason, I just loved these huge, naked statues. I suppose for that I should show you my favorite picture from the entire trip. These cement figures never knew clothes looked so good. Right?!

 

What About You?

Have you been to Paris? What was the one thing you loved the very most?