Paris No.1: Unexpectedly.
Paris is always a good idea.
The moment Grace Jones' rendition of 'La Vie en Rose' begins to play, I am completely entranced by the captivating and transportive power of her voice, especially on this gloomy and gray afternoon. The 1977 song inexplicably enchants me, causing my mind to drift straight into a Parisian daydream.
Several months have elapsed since our inaugural visit to Paris, and as I listen to Jone's song, I am suddenly swept up in thoughts of strolling through the streets of Paris once more. With no disrespect to Edith Piaf's timeless classic, Jones' version elevates the song to new heights. The soul-stirring elements could ferry any listener— even those who have not yet visited the City of Light would likely be inspired to imagine themselves walking along the Seine's cobblestone path and perhaps dropping into a quaint café.
Liam and I had always dreamed of visiting Paris, wildly so. We often found ourselves gazing longingly at the map that adorns our bathroom wall, marveling at its winding streets and iconic landmarks. Despite its constant presence, which served as a reminder of another travel adventure yet to come, Paris remained on the periphery of our travel aspirations. For whatever reason, we continued to push Paris down on the must-do travel list unintentionally.
I often mused over why we resisted the call of Paris for so long. Perhaps it could be attributed to our shared inclination for quaint villages and unhurried explorations. The bustling city of Paris was indeed contrary to our predictable travel fondness. Nevertheless, the longing to visit was undeniable, and to quell it, I created a playlist of all of our favorite French Cafe music favorites. Not a short list, it was comprised of about a hundred songs, including 'La Vie en Rose,' which, of course, became our passport to this iconic city.
It was a delightful surprise when we found ourselves in Paris for the first time. Our original plan was to enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the scenic vineyards of the Burgundy Region of France. The Voie Des Vignes was a treat, but five days of bicycling during a heat wave and harvest time proved to be a challenge for us amateur riders. Our decision to end this biking escapade earlier than planned was a stroke of luck. It left us with three unexpected travel days to fill before heading north to Amsterdam to catch our flight home.
As if by fate, our initial train route to Amsterdam had a lengthy layover in Paris, making a stop-over visit there the most logical choice to bridge the travel gap. And yet, no matter how often I had daydreamed about wandering through the streets of Paris while immersed in the melodies of French music, I still felt a sense of apprehension. Then, in a moment reminiscent of a scene from the 1995 film Sabrina, Liam, with that tilt of head thing he does, looked intently into my eyes and proclaimed, "Paris is always a good idea." — in that instant, I could almost hear muted trumpets playing in the background, and the voice in my head began gently murmuring, "It's time. It is time to go to Paris!"
The irony is worth noting that in the 1954 film version, Sabrina uses slightly different wording to persuade Linus to go to Paris with her, "Paris is for changing your outlook, for throwing open the windows and letting in la vie en rose." In both films, Sabrina's efforts prove successful, and much like Linus, I found myself fascinated by the idea of going to Paris, even if I was unsure of what to expect.
So the following day, at the rooster's call, leaving behind the sounds of bleating sheep, we bid farewell to the picturesque French countryside at the single-track train station in Beaune, France. As we glided by rail through the Burgundy region from Dijon to Paris, just as the sun began peering above the horizon, the views were stunning. The splendor of rolling hills trimmed with vineyards and grassy pastures, interwoven by meandering rivers, was incredible— it all seemed so right to be heading to Paris at this moment.
The train bumped into the terminus at Gare de Lyon Station in less than two hours. Immediately, an overwhelming sense of magic set in, so much so that my eyes began to well with tears of anticipation of our first visit to Paris. I am sure my emotions were heightened by the aroma of pastries and freshly baked bread permeating the air as it wafted through the passenger cars. The sense of magic grew as we walked through Gare de Lyon. It embodies everything you would expect from a grand European train station serving a city of phenomenal historical significance. It was impossible not to imagine what the bustling of the station was like during the pinnacle of elite train travel in the late nineteenth century.
The main exit hall was nothing short of glorious. The Galerie des Fresques floated above us, an extraordinary painting revealing the towns and regions serviced via Gare de Lyon. The smell of sweet pastries continued to saturate the air, yet we resisted all temptation as we moved past the inviting pâtisseries and boulangeries lining the station, knowing Paris had more culinary delights waiting for us.— This is Paris, I thought to myself. We are finally here.
Stepping out of the station, we hailed a taxi with a sense of adventure, and in no time, we found ourselves weaving through the enchanting streets of Paris. The city unfolded its tales seamlessly as we cruised along the Seine, passing landmarks like the Louver and the Place de la Concorde, where Marie Antoinette faced her fate. Each turn, in particular our entrance into the Emphasis roundabout encircling the Arch De Triumph, allowed Paris to unveil the story of its profound impact on Western culture, from art to politics, subtly underlining its pivotal role in our everyday existence.
Once we reached our hotel, it was apparent that settling into Paris might be different from how we usually drop into a new city. We had not planned much for this impromptu visit. Knowing that our "to-do" list was limited up to this point, Liam had booked a hotel in the stunning and delightful Trocadéro area, a perfect base for our first Parisian experience.
He knew being nestled in the 16th Arrondissement would be the perfect location for walks along the Seine, enjoying the views of the Eiffel Tower, and taking afternoon naps on the lawns of the Champ de Mars. Upon arriving at any new destination, we typically take a lengthy break in our room to rehydrate, rest, and gather our bearings before heading out to explore, but not this time. Within two hours of our arrival, we were standing atop the Eiffel Tower— a feat this self-proclaimed ground dweller never imagined herself doing, although it took some delicate persuasion from Liam to convince me to ascend via the lift, 906 ft. above this magnificent city of Paris.
Standing at le sommet, the top, and staring down upon the city sprawling below us was breathtaking. Paris had my heart. The view was a visual reminder to us that there is always too much to do in a city like Paris, and the best approach for us would be to slow it down and seek quality over quantity. Intuitively, we both knew we would return to Paris frequently— that feeling invited us to embrace our slow travel philosophy fully, take a deep breath in, and savor every moment.
In the end, we opted to embrace the quintessential romantic vibes of Paris by wandering along the river and doing all things cliché, including embarking on an ever-so-cheesy sunset dinner cruise of the Seine. Please hold back the giggles —the food was spectacular, and after two glasses of champagne and being, of course, surrounded by many proposals of the heart, it was impossible not to surrender to the romance of Paris. I don't consider myself to be particularly romantic, but Paris may have ignited a spark of romance within me, or at least it persuaded me to welcome the contagious energy of the 'pitter-patter butterfly' feeling it exudes.
During the cruise, we climbed up the stairs to the top deck, immersing ourselves in the energy emanating from the banks of the Seine. The Parisian evening unfolded delicately beneath the gentle glow of streetlights. Couples strolled hand in hand, and some even spontaneously danced along the river's edge. The distant serenades of an accordion wafting from a charming café added to the enchantment. At that moment, I knew a return to Paris would be undeniable, if not for the history and museums, at the very least, the romance.
We remained in the 16th Arrondissement for almost our entire trip, enjoying an always-present breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower and the beautiful surrounding gardens. We had picnics in the parks, specifically on the hill next to Fontaine du Jardins du Trocadér, which offered refreshing respites on hot Parisian summer days. We explored the immediate neighborhood to satisfy our desire to live like locals.
As always, we enjoyed too much coffee in quaint cafés, shopping in the grocery stores, and sharing evening meals. The idea of a day trip to Versailles briefly crossed our minds before we ultimately opted for this Parisian simplicity.
Liam and I unexpectedly fell in love with Paris. Now, just eight months after our inaugural visit to the City of Light, we are excitedly planning our return visit this fall.
To be continued.
-M
P.S. Oh, and about the Paris playlist— it is simply more magical now.
