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I first loved Paris 5 years ago.
A friend and I decided to hop on a train from Brussels to Paris at the very last minute, and managed to arrive by early evening – just in time to wander through the soft lamplit streets in the January cold. It was my first time in Paris, and I absolutely, breathlessly loved it the moment I walked out of the train station…
So when D-Man and I went to Paris a few months ago, I got a twinge of disappointment when I didn’t entirely feel “the magic”. You know, the airy feeling of being in a dreamy and charming place, and thinking to yourself, “Oh my God, I’m finally here, right at this moment, I’m here!” That feeling will always be one of my favorite things about travel.
But instead I was in Paris feeling overwhelmed by the traffic, the stuffy air, and the large crowds of people taking over the sidewalks.
At one point during our trip, just as the temperature dropped and night began to fall, D-Man declared he’d like to go back to our warm apartment and just unwind for the evening. I hesitated. Not that a warm apartment didn’t sound enticing, but I really wanted to see if I could get that magic back. So I told D-Man I’d rather stay and feel the city transform into its nighttime self.
So I stayed a while. I took in as much as I could – children playing by the park next to the Eiffel Tower; people buying souvenirs and steaming food from the street stands; Parisians making conversation with foreign tourists; and an old couple scolding one another before breaking out into smiles.
Eventually, I stretched myself out, stood from the cold bench by the Eiffel Tower, and began to walk…
Just as I had reached the end of Champs-Élysées, the entire city became awash with light. The water in the fountains began spouting with such ferocity I thought I might cry. Instead, I laughed and relished in all of the ooohs and aaahs of everyone who had also witnessed the city’s sudden and beautiful transformation.
…and slowly, eventually, the love I had for Paris came seeping back.
What beautiful pictures!!!… nothing like having the patience to recreate those amazing feelings. Those moments in life are just so worth re-creating :-)
They really are, especially since you never know if you’ll ever be back again…
I think subsequent trips to places that made a big impression on us on the first trip always require that time to rediscover the magic. It’s never completely the same, but magic comes in many different ways….! Love that you took the time to wander at night in paris.
You’re right. I tend to be careful about repeating locations, and this was a lesson a learned. I’m glad I took the time, too. It was definitely well-worth it. :)
I do love the Seine and the Louvre at night. It’s harder for me to catch Paris at night these days as the sun doesn’t set until 10!
I know! Summers here in the Mediterranean are crazy – I’m not used to the sun setting at 10pm back in the States. I love that the days last longer here though. There’s so much more time to do things, even squeeze in a little cat nap.
ARE YOU BACK FROM CAMP????
Hola chica!! I was at camp until the very end of July, then moved on to Salamanca for another job I was offered. Now I’m home for a week before taking off again! I can’t wait to catch up, I hope you’re transitioning smoothly on the East Coast!
I need to revisit Paris, it never wowed me… Your pictures are lovely! I think you did the right way staying out and wandering around :) I’m glad the magic feeling visited you again :)
Thank you! I think it’s worth a re-visit if you can. Sometimes the magic needs you to find it!
This makes me feel so nostalgic :) The first time I went to Paris was 4 and a half years ago and I loved every single minute of it! It was in the middle of winter though, so I can’t wait to go back and visit in the summer!
Oof, I don’t know if I would recommend summer – it gets so hot and stuffy, especially since it’s such a big and bustling city. But I think it’d be really nice in May or September…? Paris in Winter is beautiful, the first time I went was during that time of year… maybe that’s why it felt so magical! :)
I didn’t love Paris, that said I was 16 so maybe I was too young but I have no desire to go back.
You lived there for a summer when you were 16, right? I don’t know if I would ever actually live in a city as big as Paris… I’m from L.A. so maybe that’s why I’m not keen on staying in a huge, bustling city. I prefer smaller cities like Granada, and even then I like living in the outskirts of it. Was Paris just too overwhelming for you at the time? It does smell like piss in a lot of areas!