Je t'aime Paris

I love Paris. I love the people. I love the food. I love the buildings. I love the art. I love it so much I'm prepared to learn French and move here. This could all be a little premature. We've only had a three day love affair but I think I'm ready to commit. The experience was made all the better by Yoko and Penny, my mates from Sunrise, coming with me.

The last time I was in Paris I was about 12 and the romance of the city was lost on me. This time it was different. I could have spent three more weeks just wandering around the city streets and enjoying French life. On the first day, Yoko and I went up to Sacre Coure in Montmatre to see the view of Paris from up high. Magical.



The food here is probably what has made the trip. Somehow when it's not ok to have a chocolate croissant for breakfast at home, it's perfectly ok in Paris - followed up with some hot chocolate, maybe a mid morning bagette and perhaps a strawberry tart in the park.



There was one meal I could have done without. Faced with a rather rude waiter who refused to speak English, I ordered the flaming beef only to discover the beef is actually flamed in eucalyptus oil. I had a bit of cold so it was probably a help but it felt like a Vicks inhalation the whole meal and tasted like one too.

Another thing I probably didn't appreciate when I was 12 was the wonderful art galleries. I spent three hours in the Louvre today (Yoko and Penny opted out as they'd seen it all before). What I don't understand is the obsession with the Mona Lisa. You almost feel sorry for the other paintings because of the crowds.



Another only in Paris moment.. a kindergarten class on excursion to the Louvre.



The French are renowned for being rude to tourists.. so much so that the Paris Mayor initiated a day each year where Parisians are supposed to befriend a tourist, practice their English and show them how to use the Metro for example. I quite like their aloofness that forces you to find things out for yourself and make your own way. I also like their attitude to life, epitomised by the following quotes overheard on Paris' streets.

Quotable Paris quotes:

In the Louis Vuitton shop on the Champs Elysee - "I like that shape bag but not that colour. The problem is it's too Hermes". (I think the problem could be it costs 50 thousand euros!)

In a pub in St Germain - "Waiter, can you recommend a good wine?" "Yes, the more expensive, the better"

And on the way home from dinner tonight we stumbled across an outdoor photography exhibition on a bridge near the Lourve. Under each photo small groups of people had just set up with wine, bagettes and cheese.. as if that's the most natural thing to do on a Wednesday night.



Tres Magnifique!