Beautiful Paris in Autumn with what felt more like a summer's day with bare legs, Berthillion ice cream, a full picnic of
Mousse de canard, du fromage, jambon, poulet, crevettes et baguettes in the beautiful grounds of the Jardin du Luxembourg. Before lying on the observation deck on the top of the Montparnasse Tower and enjoying our black sesame eclair and matcha and salted caramel tart from Sadaharu Aoki. Here you are presented with the panorama of the pyramids of Paris streets and the view of the Eiffel Tower and other monuments. The Top of the Rock of Paris.
A certain something something about this city, the ease and simple and effortless elegance of its inhabitants, the sexy French language, the fresh produce markets, people watching and wine drinking, baguette et fromage eating culture that make it so addictive. The authentic Vietnamese food an added bonus. Like any additiction, you keep wanting to come back for more.
People watching, eaves dropping on conversations, or rather just enjoying the accent and interactions. A girl from Hong Kong is studying French and talking about how the Paris way of life was alot nicer, greener than what she was used to. She had now met her boyfriend'a parents and was to meet the grandparents, but he has yet to propose. She was having pho with what appeared to be a new Parisian friend at Pho14 in District 13 and we were sat on the cosy neighbouring table.
The very mixed group of people next to us at Les editeurs, writing in their notebooks for what appears to be a business meeting of sorts. One guy now sporting a large bottle of champagne. A celebration peut-etre?
The guy outside Merci asking if we were lost. No, we said; shame, he said - for it would have given him a reason to speak with us. Still, he persisted, suave. Well, where are your boyfriends...for, if you were my girlfriend, I would not let you travel to Paris without me. He sounds possessive. Ah, but life is unfair (in an almost sing song voice). It is, for we were not lost in lust with his grey track pants. We understood.
I want to live here for a short time and practice my infant French. To be able to say more than 'is it possible to get a small slice of the Beaufort cheese?' (which, btw I was quite happy to be able to string together!). I want more. I also want the Brie and the Camembert and the Brillat-savarin (yum!). I want to stay around the Luxembourg gardens and go for morning runs, before picking up groceries from Rue Mouffetard, where my Dose of coffee is good and the barista who makes it is cute. I will then read and write on my Juliet balcony or one of the plentiful cafes as I sip my glass of red. An over simplistic view of what it means to live in Paris!
Yes, I can do these things in London, for the parks and coffee shops And wine bars on offer. It might just be a tiny bit weird to ask for things in French.
So why Paris, what is it about you. Each time I visit, there is a new street, market, area or side to be seen. There is always the beauty of touristy Paris along the Seine, as well as the charm of typical Parisian streets with its plentiful boulangeries and colours. Some new pages and some repeated chapters to a never ending book which is read over. It never gets old. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Paris, I will always love you.
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