Me in Paree...a Celebration

Me in Paree!

I'm not sure life could get any better!  A day in Paris...

 Long, long ago, 36 years to be exact, April 30th was the day I got married.  I  had a dream wedding, flowers galore, beautiful live music, food to die for...at a Marriott hotel where flowers and candles floated in the indoor pool in the reception room at the top of the hotel with quite a view.  What a celebration!  My mother had been planning that since the day I was born.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the wedding far exceeded the marriage and I was divorced before my first anniversary.  Although that was a lifetime, or more, ago, I still remember that magical day each year and try to do something special to celebrate.  It's quiet, most people are unaware of it, but it is special to me.  This year was no exception.  Once again I celebrated life and my memories...in Paris!  

Whatever I end up doing is the right thing...and this year it was a day of celebrating the brave person I've become and the adventurous spirit that was hidden for so long...a day to explore new and favorite places.

My first stop, the boulangerie down the street from the hotel for some wonderful French breads and pastries.  I wanted the delicious olive bread I'd had on my last visit, and the man told me he would make it and to return after 11, but in the meantime I sampled other treats.  I took things to my room and then got directions for the places I wanted to see.  This hotel is a bit dumpy, but the location couldn't be better for me.  The morning concierge is fantastic!  He speaks enough English that I understand him and he plans things for me in the easiest way.  So soon I was off on new adventures!  (Much less stressful than that big adventure I embarked on 36 years ago.)

My friend from the train had recommended a beautiful chapel, he said go on a sunny day and it will feel like you are standing inside a crystal room with the sun shining through with 360 degrees of stained glass windows...and yes, the sun was shining so I was on my way to stand in crystal!  I'm getting to be quite a pro on the metro now so I find it quite easy to navigate.  Sometimes there are long, long walks, and oh so many stairs, but what a way to get around town!  so off I went, feeling quite confident and proud.  I emerged from the metro station and saw signs to my destination, but no one was around...stores were closed and streets almost empty...I found one small shop open and asked the man what was going on, he said it is only 8:30 and nothing is open yet.  8:30!?  Well I guess I'd gotten too early a start for my desire to stand in crystal...so what is there to do?  

Wander, of course.  A couple of blocks up I saw Notre Dame cathedral and I've not been there since my first trip to Paris 7 years ago.  So I followed the sounds of the bell chiming, so beautiful!  My first time there was on a Sunday so I was able to experience the beautiful organ music of the service.  Quite moving, whatever your religion.  So I entered and enjoyed the beautiful, historic church.  There were a handful of people praying, some wandering like me.  

After that visit I headed back to the chapel that had been my original destination.  I arrived with about 20 minutes to wait, and there was a line, but not a long one and soon I was going through security, buying my ticket and heading to stand in a crystal chapel.  Well.....as happens from time to time, things aren't as expected!  My friend had drawn a picture of what I would be seeing and a door to the side that can be missed, behind which is a flight of very narrow spiral stairs leading to the upper floor where the crystal shines in all it's glory.  So with his expert advice I was one of the first to slip through the door and able to enjoy the beauty for a moment or two, before the room filled up.  However, a large part of the room was closed off for renovation, so much for the 360 degrees of stained glass...but there was one part of the room that the sun was shining through and the beauty was unbelievable!  It truly looked magical and I can only imagine that room when the sun hits it all, not a bit of exaggeration by my new friend!  I've been so many places with stained glass windows, but have never witnessed that kind of beauty created so long ago by artists, and accentuated by the sun!  Perhaps I'll return some day to see it all.

After that new experience, it was back on the metro to head to the famous cemetery.  I had heard of it only recently and thought it would be a nice new experience.  It was beautiful!  Reminded me of the large cemetery we saw in buenos aires, although not as shiny and fancy.  I walked and walked and only wished I would go so much further!  I didn't see the grave sites I'd hoped to see, but it was a lovely place to wander...maybe next time I'll see the graves of Chopin, Jim Morrison, and Heloise and Abelard...maybe...

On emerging from the cemetery, I saw a corner cafe, time to rest my feet and get a bit of lunch.  I had a cheese and tomato panini...and a 4 euro 30 cent coke!  I'd no idea the drink would be so expensive!  Back to tap water for me!  

After resting I headed back down to the metro and made the journey back to the hotel, with one chase of trains along the way...yep, I'm such a pro now!  I went back to the boulangerie and my loaf of olive bread was ready, warm and delicious.  Just a short time and I'll be having Dutch cheese with it!

I dropped off my things and rested.  It is hard to rest here but my feet need it.  Ten I made the decision to follow through with my original plan to spend a part of my anniversary in my favorite village and garden.  My French artist friend had written that he'd had to leave town suddenly for his mother so I wouldn't be seeing him.  I was disappointed, but that is just up how life is.  The gardens were still there and that is a place I love, with or without special people.  So soon I was out and on my way to a different part of Paris to get the train there.  

It was in the afternoon and there were several young people I chatted with along the way.  Three delightful young ladies were headed there because it was a place they wanted to see while they were here with their study abroad program.  what fun things they had done to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to be in Europe with no other cares than to study.  They had met up along the way.  I told several people about the other sights to see and on the train ride back I was happy to hear that they had all done the extra things too.

Ah the gardens!  Magnificent as always!  Magical, enchanting...and oh how I wished all the people would go home!  I sat on a green bench and soaked in the scents and scenes of one of my favorite places in the world!  Too many people though.  Not once did I get to enjoy the wisteria laden bridge without people crowded on there...perhaps next year.  But as I do a lot in my travels, I just realize how incredibly lucky I am to be doing what I'm doing and that is enough!   

I left the beauty of the gardens to wander a bit.  I'd enlarged a photo I'd taken of the historic hotel there and headed there to drop that off.  Then I decided I had a bit of time to eat before heading to the bus so I would enjoy a meal at their restaurant where I've eaten before.  I was taken to a table in the lovely setting, the only sounds were children laughing and playing far away and birds chirping....such beautiful sounds as I looked out over the meadow beyond.  I asked what the specialty was and decided that was for me.  It was a crepe with cheese and seasonings, quite light, covered with a cream sauce...absolutely divine!  They brought me a big bowl of frites and said to dip them in the cream sauce, quite a delicious Idea I will say.  I savored all the specialness of the food and setting, as my anniversary dinner.  and then it was time to head for the bus that would take us to the train back to Paris.  

It was a nice ride back, an hour journey with the young people sharing their afternoon experiences.  I was so impressed at the appreciation for all that they saw!  At their age I was unaware this place even existed!  But the world is a smaller place now and I'm happy to see so many appreciate the beauty.  

Arriving back in Paris I was shocked to see the terrible traffic, it was already 8 PM.  I decided to take the bus back to my hotel but was surprised to find it was not the same bus number that got me there..uh oh...

Luckily two of the young men I'd met, came wandering by.  They lived in Houston and had moved to Paris to start a bar, but it hadn't worked out and they too, are seeing all they can before going back to the states.  One is fluent in French so he was a great help.  They found the bus stop for me and insisted on walking me there, again, such kind people along my way...I insisted they not wait with me, I'd be fine and after warm goodbyes they were gone.  

The wait for the bus was long, so busy there at night!  I arrived at my hotel thoroughly exhausted and filled with the joy of another wonderful day, wandering the world, and celebrating...ahh, sweet dreams...

This day wasn't filled with new friends, this day was packed with sightseeing from start to end!