Postcards From Paris: No. 6

Well, it took until the sixth installment of Postcards from Paris and roughly a month and a half of living abroad for the mystique of Paris to dissipate and normality to set in. Although I would consider this past week to be exceptionally sub-par, I don’t think you have truly lived in any place until you have experienced the bad parts of it. Fortunately, nothing disastrous happened, just a few more metro mishaps, getting locked out of my apartment, and continued adjustment to the French teaching style.

One of my mistakes this week was not exploring new places. After a month of playing tourist, I have covered all of the “must-see” destinations on any typical Paris travel guide. As much as I wanted to continue exploring this week, it requires more research and effort than I had the energy to put in; but lesson learned, and I am currently in the process of making another Paris to-do list.

While I am certainly disappointed that the excitement and magic of living in Paris have temporarily disappeared, I would much rather have a bad week in Paris than a bad week anywhere else. Unlike my Rhode Island or Delaware routine, I consoled myself with a couple of museum visits, long walks along the Seine, and several trips to the Jardin des Tuileries.

Valentine's Day: The City for Lovers and Loners

I was very interested to see what Valentine’s day is like here in Paris. Although it is known to be the City of Love, from my observations, Valentine’s day is more of a spectacle for tourists. While I'm not sure of the French attitude towards Valentine's Day, compared to the U.S, it certainly doesn't seem to be a commercialized affair.

I celebrated my first Valentine’s Day in Paris with a long walk along the Seine, followed by a 3-hour Globalization lecture. Not ideal, but c’est la vie. At the very least, the sun was shining for my morning walk, and it was a great day for people-watching. Since I stayed around the center of Paris, where most of the tourist attractions are situated, there were crowds everywhere. From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, it was nonstop scenes of couples taking photos together, people kissing, and many walking with bouquets in hand.

Although I am very secure and quite content with my independence, I think witnessing Valentine’s Day in Paris would make anyone feel a bit lonely.

Musée d'Orsay:

As promised in last week’s post, I returned to the Musée d’Orsay in hopes of finding a less crowded museum. Unfortunately, it was a busy week in Paris, and the museum was just as populated on a Tuesday morning as it was on a Friday afternoon. However, I enjoyed my second visit more than my first. Since I was alone, I spent more time exploring the museum and admiring the different paintings.

The Louvre: New Discoveries

Even on a busy day, the Louvre never disappoints. One of the best features of this museum is its sheer size. It would be nearly impossible to see all of the exhibits in the museum because there are so many. I’ve been three times now, and each time I’ve discovered a new wing and have left knowing that there is more to see. Not to mention, the many rooms of the Louvre helps to get away from the crowds ;)

On this excursion, I finally found the Ancient Egyptian Collection. It was interesting to see the various, incredibly well-preserved artifacts on display. Although I'm still partial to the elaborate art and decor of the European exhibits, it's impossible to deny the beauty of ancient civilizations, and it's incredible to think about what they were able to accomplish without modern technology.

Saturday Reset: Living in the Moment

Although I didn’t get any pictures, the weekend was a much more pleasant affair than the rest of the week. My Saturday was particularly lovely; the sun was shining, and I spent most of the day walking around different districts. It was the epitome of a picture-perfect day, but I was focused on living in the moment – as cliche as that sounds. Paris is meant to be experienced; while taking photos will preserve the memory, seeing Paris through a camera lens doesn’t capture the sensations of being there.

Since there aren't any photos for this section, let me paint a picture: a cloudless blue sky with the sun illuminating the Parisian buildings and making the Seine sparkle; crowds of people sitting at the little tables outside cafés or on the cobblestones along the river; the unintelligible chatter of French filling the air; powerful winds that make your hair fly in all directions and at one point, lose your balance; people attempting to dodge pigeons, cars, and bikes as they make their way through the streets of Paris; and every now and then, you catch the delicious scent of a nearby boulangerie.

After a week of inconveniences, Saturday helped to put things into perspective. It will never be easy to live in an unfamiliar city, but each mishap is an opportunity to grow, and at the end of the day, I chose Paris because I wanted to be challenged. So really, I got what I asked for.