Paris
If you had told me that one day I would come to Paris and be captivated by its art and museums, I would have probably nearly choked from laughing then turned around to crank up 'Master of Puppets' so loud it could strip paint off canvas.
Yet here I am, still on a high from the feeling I got from being mesmerised by Monet's Water Lilies at the Musee de l'Orangerie. Being the huge 'Inception' fan too, just walking around the streets feels like I am in the dream world, with cafe's just like the one in the movie on almost every street corner. In fact... I went a found the actual one (click here).
I had a long list of stuff to see when in Paris and while I've checked off most of it, it has been the things I hadn't planned on that have turned out to be what I'll remember most. The art and museums for one; they are just unlike anything we have been exposed to in NZ with famous paintings you can actually get scarily close to. The other has been just pure observation of life in and around the 7th arrondissement.
Paris: The Sights
My daily ritual this past week has been a short 30 second stroll down the road from the apartment on rue Saint-Dominique to get my fix of fresh baguettes still warm from the oven. These arn't anything like the horrible batons of stale concrete Countdown insultingly call 'french sticks', no, not at all. Although they differ slightly depending on who baked them, all Parisian baguettes have a perfect brown crust that creates a lovely crack when broken, with a light fluffy, slightly doughy inside that is perfect for sandwich making, or just eating solo walking the streets.
Paris: the 7th Arrondissement
People have always told me the French were 'arrogant' and to 'watch yourself' because they are tricky. What a load of BS. All the Parisian's I've met have been extremely kind, courteous and friendly. Even when I was stuck outside the dentist last week looking like a dork because I couldn't work the intercom on the door, a couple stopped and helped out. It didn't get me in the door, but at least they were kind enough to give a foreigner a hand, especially given recent events.
Paris: The Art
My 12 days in Paris soon come to an end for it is off to the U.K for the next 3-4 weeks of August. As cheesy as it sounds, a part of me feels like it will stay behind here in Paris, just the vibe of the place resonates well with the inner creative Chi...or something like that.
But anyway...I will be back. Sooner than you may think.
Au revior for now.