Give Paris a Chance

I can still remember the exact day. It was November 15, 2001 when I watched the movie “Passport to Paris” and fell madly and hopelessly in love with Paris. I mean, have you ever seen such a beautiful city?! And apparently, it’s a city where dreams come true. In movies people meet the love of their lives in Paris, previously hungry artists become the next big sensation, and everyone gets inspired there. Hello?! I have got to go there. ASAP. I had to. I had to. I had to! So I packed my bags, grabbed my passport and credit card and took a taxi to the airport. I checked the flights and booked the first flight out to Paris. Done! Ha! I wished I could have! But alas, I am but a mere mortal. I did not have the money lying around in some fat bank account nor did I have time as a school kid. Plus, I was still underaged. Drats! So there was only one thing left for me to do. I waited. 

 
More than ten years.  

 
More than T-E-N oh-my-goodness-how-long-do-I-still-have-to-wait years. 

 
It’s strange how waiting can multiply one’s expectations. Over the years my hopes and anticipation grew until it was this huge mountain of expectation. I continued to read about Paris, continued to watch movies set in Paris, and I continued to dream of Paris. I had this picture in my mind of how Paris should be and of what Paris would do for me. Yes, dear reader. Paris had to do something for me, like give me the best day of my life and if possible I wanted this experience to be wrapped up with a bow.Then the day finally came. I arrive at CDG airport and my feet touched Parisian soil. I immediately set out to explore the city in hopes of experiencing the BEST day of my life. 

 
It didn’t come. 

 
It was a cold and cloudy July day that promised me rain instead of my movie-script experience. It promised me rain for the next days as well. Great, just great. I saw the Eiffel tower, had a stroll along their avenues, and went to a Parisian cafe. Although I hated to admit it, but at the end of that first day I was disappointed (like several people I know). Paris did not live up to my expectations. It fell short in every way...and I only had myself to blame. Against that mountain of expectation no city in the world would have had a fighting chance. Not even Paris. I realized that as I went to bed at night and I promised myself that I would give Paris a chance. Delete all those romanticized scenes in my head, dash out all those false expectations, and just try to experience Paris as Paris is.

 
I went out the next day with new eyes and just allowed Paris to enchant me in its own time and way. No pressure. No picture in my mind. No crazy expectations. And Paris surprised me and enchanted me and wooed me until I discovered the magic that makes Paris one of the top destinations in the world. On my second day I went up the Eiffel Tower, saw the great works of art at the Louvre Museum and walked up the Champs Elysees until I was at the Arc de Triomphe at midnight. This was my  “Midnight in Paris”. No novel or movie could compare to what I saw and felt that day. It was my Paris experience and because it was personal, it was infinitely better. 

 
So if ever you plan to visit Paris, give it a chance. Don’t compare it to some fantasy in your head and don’t expect it to fulfill your every dream. Let Paris be Paris and I am sure it will be more than enough. 

Here are some pictures of my second day in Paris. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!