First impressions are too often misleading and I can never accurately tell how much someone is going to end up meaning to me when I first meet them. It's hard to know all that from a first glance, you know? I mean, maybe it exists for other people, but I feel like I'm too cautious to make that sort of a snap judgment.
I'm talking about people, of course, but I'm also talking about places.
My very first sight of Paris, pulling in on the train, wasn't that spectacular. It was kind of disappointing, honestly, because I had such high expectations (the root of all heartache) and all I saw was graffiti and dull apartment buildings and I was also hungry and tired which have a lot to do with my perceptions at the time. It just seemed like...any other European city I'd been in.
But I think you know where this is going. Over the next few days, I grew to love the City of Lights. Maybe it's not like it is in the movies, but still, Paris is magic. It really is. It's full of history and stories and, just, life. It feels like the center of the world.
I mean, it's not perfect. There are times it felt so...man made, you know? Everything is cobblestones and concrete. It's beautiful and doesn't have the artificial feel you get in the suburbs or whatever, but it's like, where did the nature go? I'm used to lots of trees and creeks and dirt. The banks of the Seine are just concrete sloping into gray water and I can't imagine turtles living there. Even the parks, which were lovely, were so symmetrical and planned it almost didn't feel real.
So, yeah, it's not perfect. But you kind of have to love it anyway. It's Paris.
Sacre Coer was beautiful and had a brilliant view of the city but Montmartre was so touristy. The street walking up was crammed with vendors trying to sell souvenirs and so many people.
More soon.
it makes me so happy to see places I walked last year. you're right--Paris is magical for no other reason that it's just being Paris.
ReplyDeleteps--Sacre Coeur has my heart.
I felt the exact same way about New York City when I visited last summer. When we first got there, it wasn't nearly as grand as I expected it to be and I really didn't love it as much as I'd dreamed to, but after spending five days walking it's streets and feeling it's vibe, I completely fell in love. These are gorgeous, Kendall. Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteI fell so much more in love with Paris than I was expecting. Cities aren't my thing, I feel more at home in the country, but oh my how Paris surprised me. We sat in the Luxembourg gardens at dusk, stretched out in green lawn chairs, and my heart sang.
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in falling for a place head over heels at first sight. You need to know the corners, learn a few of the nooks, explore a handful of crannies, meet an individual or two on the street, memorize a couple tricks of the city. I can hardly wait to get to KNOW Paris in that way, someday.