I'm just going to come right out and say this -- I am going to PARIS. Deep breath. I can't quite believe it yet -- the whole idea seems too much of a dream to have finally taken tangible shape, and I want to pinch myself a little just so my head doesn't float away into the clouds.
Let me tell you how it came about. My sister and I are going to be in Europe in May, and we just happen to be flying Air France (love) with a lay-over in Paris. We thought nothing of it until my sister, for reasons of her own, decided to extend her Paris lay-over from two hours to two days, my parents freaked out (because my 23 yr old independent sis certainly can't take care of herself, right?), there were numerous phone calls back and forth (mom: please talk to your dad, he is driving me crazy! dad: please talk to your mom, she is so worried! both: me? what? I'm not the one who is worried, he/she is worried!). I love my parents, they are too cute. Anyway. I get on the phone with my dad for the umpteenth time and start telling him not to worry. I'm almost on auto-pilot at this point, but suddenly, my dad cuts me off: "Hold on a second," he says, "I'm on the phone with Air France trying to change your sister's ticket."
You know how in movies, someone says a word and time kind of slows down and everything falls into place? I kid you not, this is what happened to me. An eternity passed, or perhaps a second, and I blurted out (before I could re-think): "Dad, is there another ticket for me?" My long-suffering father sighs very, very deeply... and finds me another ticket. "I'm never going to get bored with life with the two of you," he says, half jokingly and half despairingly. And that's it, that's how it came about that I'm going to spend two whole days in Paris. Since the decision was made, I've felt like my feet have barely touched the ground. All I can think about is, "I'm going to be in Paris!"
This will be my second time in the city of lights (I wonder if Parisians hate us calling it that?), and I'm glad that I don't feel obligated to go and "see the sights" as I did last time. I can just wander around the beautiful parks and avenues of Paris and go where my fancy calls. If you were to spend only two days in Paris and you could do anything you wanted to do, what would it be?! My mind is a-whirl with possibilities... Paris, Paris, Paris.
6 comments:
Another classic tale brought to you by our ridiculous (yet amazing) family. You could fill up a whole separate blog with stories along these lines. But it's ok, because we're going to PARIS (must be capitalized for emphasis)!
haha...your parents sound like mine did when I did my semester in London nearly three years ago. Even though I was supporting myself through college (I owned my own house too), they didn't think I could survive over there. Which was ridiculous but anyway...they're parents. lol
I wish I could suggest things for you to do and see but my time in Paris was short. I only got to do the touristy things but I loved them anyway. I look forward to hearing all about your trip!
That is so wonderful! What a great opportunity! I hope we get a full report of all the patisseries and boulangeries you visited while you were there. Please, please, please...
Have a wonderful time...so jealous.
Lucky girl you! I have just come back, and I already want to go back. If you only have two days, don't go to museums, at least not to the Louvre. The crowds are too distracting and half of the wings are closed at any given day anyway. Wander around the Latin Quarter, stop at the Pantheon,go down rue Mouffetard, walk on the banks of the Seine, and don't forget to go to Ile St. Louis and look at Notre Dame from the back. And then cross to the Right Bank and spend the day walking around Montmartre. Do not forget to indulge in pastries, crepes, pate, cheeses and all the very best that Paris has to offer on every corner. Hell, we can be on a diet in the grave, I heard there is no room service there. xoxo Fiona
Heather - parents will be parents, no? My mom is still surprised that I can cook (nevermind feeding my husband, lol). I love them for it all the more, though :)
Aran - I am compiling a list and will try to take pictures!
Peabody - thank you!
Fiona - I'm hoping to get an hour at the Musee D'Orsay, but I will leave the Louvre to another day. I've already been to all of the 'big' museums, so I'm going to be foot-loose and fancy-free and go where my (anal-retentive, overly structured and scheduled) imagination takes me. Can you believe, I've never been to le Marais OR Ile St. Louis? Nor a single fromagerie?! I am SO going to rectify that!
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