Wednesday, December 28, 2011

PARIS Getting Lost 1.6

En Route to Roma-fumiccino airport.
Vueling airlines
November 29, 2011 (Tuesday)

Seeing Paris is such an amazing experience. A piece of you is left there and it's replaced by a more enlightened spirit that appreciates more of life. Did i discover joie de vivre while I was there? I think I did. I think i saw a glimpse of it, was sure it was it and got close enough for an autograph.

Many things ran through my mind including how t create a lifestyle that will allow me to come visit again not ad a tourist but as a should that needs a refill of some Paris. I think I have an idea. Just need some divine intervention and lots of hard work.

The history-both good and bad is something that the French keep and showcase. Much as they acknowledge that they are rude sometimes, bad drivers (park everywhere and have that god awful twelve lane arc de triomphe roundabout) they proudly show it to the world and rightly so I think.

Its hairy balls out, but balls out nonetheless. The French had Voltaire, Renoir, Monet, Bonaparte, Hugo, Dumas and many others. Borrowed da Vinci at one point and had relations with the Russians, Egyptians, Spanish, war with the Prussians, Germans and their own proletariat (or bourgeoise depending on how you see it).

Visiting France requires that you bring with you a companion that appreciates it beyond the possibility of being able to post photos on Facebook standing in front of the many locations. One must be able to speak with that companion and dissect the history, correct each others errors on knowledge, disagree on many things, agree on others, has a good grasp of history and is both appreciative and critical of where you had both come from.

Paris is not just surface tourism. Like Las Vegas. It's more skin deep. It's more than just something to see - but something that you ingest and take in. It's a lot to take in too mind you.

Find someone who does not question why having cafe creme while watching the world go by you is a good experience. Someone who finds walking an exercise for the heart and soul not for the calves. A friend that is open to learning a few words and phrases and is not scared to speak to a local. Someone who drinks. Imbibes. Find someone who's not on a diet.

Paris has a lot of surprises in store - you don't just share photos online to people. One must encourage people to see it. You have 3 countries to visit before you die? Put Paris on that list.

This was my first non English speaking country to visit. I must say that it was quite nice to hear many conversations around you but could note eavesdrop since you can't understand them. Technically my second country in Europe, having passed through the UK. Would I want to see more of France? Of course, but still think I've not gotten enough of Paris yet.

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