Je ne sai quoi...
- The Author, Paris
We're making a move tomorrow towards Nord and the past week had done more prepping us up in anticipation of what's ahead than probably any travel literature could have done over the past few months. Every city that captures your heart has her good, bad, and ugly.
I don't think the point is to ask for any change because from Paris' point of view, it has been working so far plus it doesn't seem likely the 35-hour per week would allow any room for extras.
Hence, my fellow readers, this is my personal Top Eleven in Paris:
1. The accent
What is there not to like it? Waiters get away with murder for it. French kids make you want to have one (the kid and the accent) because of it. Heck, even swearing sounds refined by it.
2. Finding an (in fact, any!) English literature here
I was quite jaded with the romantic outset of the local bookshops after a while that even trying to divert the lack of non-French usage by reading vegetables' labels didn't work. You know the power of matrimonial bliss when your husband went out and came home surprising you with two English titles, both that I have been meaning to read for a while. Ok girls, please pause and together now say "aaawwwww....."
3. Wine
I know, I know - The Americans had taken over but we're in France. Ignore what the critics say. At €4 a bottle, Bordeaux never seemed so close within my grasp.
4. Pastry
The reason that French women don't get fat.
5. The Louvre
C'est magnifique. If you only have one day in Paris (bad decision), come here.
6. Bypassing the queue at the Louvre
We will be forever thankful to Monsieur Pierre for this!
7. Le Jardin Botanique
Heaps of these meticulously pruned gardens, amongst the best ones are Louvre, Luxembourg, and the grassy thick beds around Tour Eiffel. Romantic and soothing at the same time - and I am not even good at gardening!
8. Le Supermarché
Forget about putting your money at hotels. Get a reliable car instead so that you can drive around and see more. The supermarket will keep you alive with enough fuel selections.
9. Ease of getting around
Good shoes help but it's hard to get lost in Paris (you have to try hard).
10. The power of "Je parle un peu"
Turns eye-rolling waiters to your genie in a lamp. Better seating, free carafe of water miracuously appear.
11. Beauty
It's inherent, subtle yet strong. Bon chic, bon genre without being pretentious.
And in no particular order (really depends on your mood) but my Top Hisses in Paris:
Public toilets. I don't care if it's free.
Traffic lights. Yellow is nice, try it?
Any baguette > four hours from the oven
The Roland Garros coverage via French channels, unless you are a sucker for extreme biasness
That said, Paris is a must-see but not because you don't want to be left out from the "let-us-jump-together-for-the-photo-op" tourist groupies. She wants to be courted privately, untiringly through her moods. She'll throw in hot temper, a cold shoulder, a much-welcome silence and then, She lights up your life with Her sights, sounds, smells, and pausing for a moment, I think She touches something deep inside.
Come see Paris for Herself. Like falling in love, you get to learn about Her chaotic past. Like being in love, you accept Her as She is and understand why others love Her too.
And like staying in love, you pledge She will always be in your heart.
ps: Again photograph is just uploaded (freshly done!).
