My Romantic Weekend in Paris

Ahhhh, c’est l’amour!  Pa-ree has a certain, “Je ne sais quoi”; a magical charm that entrances even the insufferable.  Everywhere you go, you see couples suctioned together, alternating between sipping champagne and eating each other’s faces.  It’s truly romantic, even for a solo traveler.

At first I was unconvinced, but by day 3 the city had me.  I love traveling alone (sometimes) because you learn a lot about yourself.  I had several epiphanies over the weekend and am happy to share them.  

Paris museums are the best! (in the world) (that I’ve seen so far).  

Granted, I haven’t traveled THAT much, but ‘ces musées sont magnifiques’!  I only went to 4: Musee Rodin, Le Louvre, Musee d’Orsay and Musee d’Orangerie.  Sure, the Uffizi in Florence is incredible, and I have not been to Spain yet.  And, no offense to all the beautiful National Galleries in the States, and the sweet museums in South America. But, kilogram for kilogram, Paris wins.  Future blog posts will cover them in detail.

Musee Rodin

Le Louvre

Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orangerie

Van Gogh in the Musee d'Orsay

Why am I not producing artwork?  

I mean, sure I like photography and I do design for a living.  But, why am I not drawing, and or painting.  Why have I not moved much on my animated short film?  Paris inspired me, and I need to carve out time to make my own art.  Must get on this.  MUST.

I think I could survive on JUST crepes and ice cream.  

You can put a lot of good things into crepes, from proteins to greens.  And, I probably wouldn’t have that many sweet crepes.  I’d save my sweet tooth for ice cream.  

The second time I got a sweet crepe, it backfired on me.  I call this next snap: Whipped Cream Broken Dream

Four years of French lost and FOUND!  

When I first got off the train, I tried to purchase a Metro ticket and was lost.  A man tried to help me but I could not understand a word he said.  And, the kiosk would not take a card---only Euros.  I gave up and decided I’d walk the ~6 kilometers to my hotel.  

Four months of Spanish speaking countries was easy.  But, now I had a bit of a panic realizing that I could not remember a single word of French.  It was like all my memory space for foreign words was overwritten in Spanish.  I would say Gracias, instead of merci.  And, Si instead of Oui.  

But, funny thing.  Throughout the weekend, French words and phrases would just popped into my head.  I would see a sign and it would trigger a set of words that was previously lost.  By the end of the weekend, I was actually conversing with a couple Parisiens.  “Il n'y a pas de photographie dans cette chambre?”  

Parisiens hate when you butcher their language.  

If looks could kill.  Wow, the looks on peoples’ faces when I would try to order my crepe or ice cream in French.  Their eyebrows would furl, the lips would purse, and the looks of contempt was sharp as knives.  It was actually quite funny and it did not stop me from trying to practice.  I’d just say something really animated like, “C’est très bon!” and try to get them to smile.  Sometimes it worked.  Other times, not so much.  

There's no stopping selfie sticks.

It's hard for me not to look at selfie sticks with slight disdain, even though, I think they are very handy and I love it when a friend of mine has one (Mike Dasalla).   But, I wonder...what's the difference between a selfie stick an a tripod?  I walk around with a tripod.  Do people find that obnoxious?  

What do you think of selfie sticks?  

But, more importantly, what are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's stances on selfie sticks?  

A lot of taxi drivers dress like limo drivers.  

Keepin’ it classy.  Well played, Paris.

French Onion Soup tastes like French Onion Soup

Tried it at one restaurant and it tasted exactly the same as it does in the United States.  But, the baguette that it was served with was way better.

Baguettes are better in Paris.  <EOM>

Macrons are magical.  

They're a textural thrill ride!  They live up to the hype in every single way.  I imagine all macrons in the world are made by Master Chef Junior winner, Chef Nathan Odom. 

I’ve got a lot of passion for Paris.  The romance is real.  The city has got a major love lock on me.  Au revoir, mon amour!

First Time in France: Bastille Day

Last Thursday, I rode the high speed Eurostar train from London to Paris as a little birthday present to myself.  Made it just in time for the Bastille Day (Night) celebration.  Truly a shame what happened in Nice.  :[  Thankfully, Paris was at peace.  

Hotel concierge told me where to go to watch the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower.  I didn’t have time to get to the Trocadero, but my hotel was near l’Arc de Triomphe, and I figured this could be a decent spot to set up my tripod.  

Scoped out a spot with the Arc on the left, Eiffel on right, moon in sight.  This was suiting up to be a perfect 'long-exposure-double-famous-monument-fireworks-photo-phenomena'.

Not a bad view!

Long exposure could be cool, light trails of cars, and fireworks off in distance...

But, as soon as the show started, ALL the cars driving around the Place Charles de Gaulle circle just STOPPED.  Right in the middle of the roundabout to watch the show.  Completely blocked my view.

And then, people started popping up out of their sunroofs like Whack a Moles.

Photo phenomena fizzled.  Packed up the tripod...plan B.  

It’s really tough finding a spot to watch fireworks when 90% are watching the show through the lens of their smartphones.  You can imagine the looks on the French faces as this American is getting in the way of their precious iPhone videos.  No poker faces in Paris -- if they don’t like you, it’ll be obvious.  

I improvised and feel like I got a couple decent snaps.  Of course, it would have been sweet to be closer, and get some long exposure goodness.  But, just happy Paris was a peaceful place.

The show was pretty impressive, fireworks shooting out of the top of the Tower.

And it felt like there were 3 distinct finales.  Love fireworks!  (Especially when they're not at 7am, Cusco.)

So much more to say about my Parisian adventure...stay tuned...