an evening in Paris

Walking the streets of an unknown city by yourself, when you don't even speak the language can be daunting. It is daunting. But also exhilarating. 

A walk to the famous Galleries Lafayette was just the right way to start my touring of Paris. So I studied the map in the hotel room to avoid looking like a foolish tourist alone on the streets, and started out with a happy song in my heart. To be walking and absorbing Paris in all it's winter glory! Ah! A much cherished dream finally coming true. 

The cold. Oh. My. God. I'll be honest, it disoriented me. After a while, I couldn't feel my face. My hands were numb. My nose was all kinds of Rudolph. It' difficult to think straight with that kind of cold! It's even more difficult to try to pretend like you know where you're going, and have a purposeful gait, while you're actually taking your time to look around and take in as many details as you can. I wanted to do it all! 

I finally did make it to the department store (it was a straight road). And boy was I pleased! Paris is dressed up for Christmas - more than a month in advance. Beautiful breathtaking window displays everywhere you can see. Lights and intricate details on the streets. A general buoyancy in all the kids' steps because they know something special is around the corner... I loved it! I would've loved it more if the stores had more than a winter wardrobe full of yummies. Empty hands and a coffee break later I decided to walk to the Jardin Des Tuileries. I can only imagine what I must have looked like to the joggers in the park (Yes! The French seem to jog at all hours of the day, 10am, 2pm.. They're out there. Running) Among the huffers and puffers was this lonesome girl shivering in a jacket, clicking pictures of desolate looking trees and barren landscapes with half frozen fingers. 

Misty eyed foreigner, they must've thought. Another one of them, they must've thought. 

I don't know what it is about the city that brings out the beauty-lover romantic in people.. Maybe it is just the idea of Paris.. The idyllic city with street cafés at every step, wine pouring from the taps, the gorgeous facades of every building, fashionistas everywhere you look, love locks on every bridge you cross.. It's all that and more.