Paris - a love affair

A week or so ago, Sammie at Annoyed Thyroid posted about the Emily in Paris walking tour. Now I am ALWAYS happy to look at photos from Paris. I have been sending people to art exhibitions & concerts over there, pleading for photos for decades. I am happy to vicariously travel if I can't do the real deal myself. Even sketch drawings of Paris bring me great joy.

Little surprise it is on my list of favourite places. I went there a lot as a solo traveller, and we had the most wonderful time with two of the kids. It is my favourite city in the world hands down.

My first trip to Europe was to Paris as a 24 year old. I was on my own. I was meant to travel around France but had only prebooked skiing for a week and a visit to my Godmother in the south. I had booked 4 days accommodation in Paris, expecting to move on. Except I didn't. I just kept finding things I wanted to do, and thinking I would move on the day after next. In the end I spent three weeks there. And even so, I didn't make it to the Louvre (though went to many other galleries) and only made it to the Arc de Triomphe the morning of the day I was leaving. I did a LOT in Paris. A lot of tourist things and a lot of local activities. I had the time to explore. I changed hotels to experience different areas, but I still think of the 5th & 6th as 'home' in Paris.

Each trip back to France included a trip to Paris as there was still so much I hadn't seen or done.

Going with the kids made us see it on a different level. So much fun, so much kindness and generosity of spirit in the people towards the kids. It was magical. (But truth be told, I think Paris always is magical - you travel in history and beauty).

My first trip saw me land in Rue Gay-Lussac for a week. I got to know the 5th & 6th very well. I was in the Luxembourg gardens almost daily. So the photos of the walking tour really prompted a flood of memories.

One more than others. Emily's apartment. I walked everywhere when possible (because in Paris there are signs on all the buildings of all the famous people that lived there or resistance fighters shot there or other pieces of history around you). I stumbled across this gorgeous place. I loved it. It was so stunning. So any opportunity I had, I would walk that way to get home.

I have been watching Emily in Paris since the beginning (for the scenery as I find most of the characters infuriating and Emily just obnoxious). Not one time did I make the connection. But seeing Sammie's photo triggered the memory so I had to did it out.

And yes. Years before Emily, I was Emily in Paris. Sort of.

And that is probably why I persist with the show.

I adore the Pantheon. The first time I went there I cried. If you don't know about Jean Moulin, it's a piece of history worth learning. He was an extraordinarily brave man. The building is beautiful and a must see. These were taken between Boxing Day and New Years, I can't remember when the decorations came down, but sometime in January the lights and the Christmas trees disappeared. I think I've been into the Pantheon ever trip to Paris. It's my favourite building in the city. (There is a mural of Jeanne d'Arc and I'm a huge fan of hers too so it ticks a lot of boxes for me).

(Next to it is my favourite church in Paris. Just magical - this shot is taken from the Dome of the Pantheon, I'm not sure if you can still go up there).

I have to include Palais Royale, which also features in Emily in Paris. I went there in the 1994 trip but a few days later it snowed, so I had to go back to take photos. Still one of my favourite memories in Paris.

I apologise for the nostalgia but I had to thank Sammie for the flood of memories her post inspired. And even though we can't really afford it, we are booking a trip next year with our youngest, because she never got to go with the other kids, being in my tummy at the time! You never know, I might do another Then & Now post....