There are many different places that tug on people’s heart strings, for me, it’s la ville de Paris. I have not been there yet but have this unmistakable allurement towards this city and have had for quite some time. It’s not something I can explain, it’s simply something that’s within me. I have no family ties or history to Paris that is known but somewhere deep exists a need and a want to be there one day.
Even dreaming about roaming its roads I get butterflies in my stomach with excitement. Somehow I can sense its intimidating nature. A larger than life city filled with effortlessly sharp and fashionable residents can make anyone feel insecure and displaced but for me, it’s all part of the challenge of getting to know it better.
For now, it’s all about patience. Patience and knowing that one day I will get there and only when the time is right. I know it can’t be now, but the day I sit and sip a cappuccino in a busy cafe with nothing but an open day ahead will be a day my heart will relish in forever.
So where does your heart take you, what places do you wish to discover?
Images from, Little Brown Pen, Lena Corwin, Pikadilly, Rita Crane, Desire to Inspire, Haven in Paris, Adam Schott, The City Sage, The Sartorialist, Paris Perfect, Elements of Style, Justine in Paris.
oh….you made me cry. I have been waiting for this trip for so long….I honestly cannot believe that I am finally going and your blog made me realize how much I have been holding in the excitement. We have postponed the trip a couple of times (life gets in the way) so I think I have not let myself fully believe that it’s all finally happening. But now the tears have started and I can’t stop. Your sentiments are and have been mine for so long. I’ve dreamed of standing in the streets, eating at the cafe, walking over the bridges, and all the other wonderful beautiful things. I have watched every french film I could, just so i could soak up the atmosphere. You will get to go one day. When the time is right, just like me.
Thank you for your lovely post…I only hope & can stop the tears!
Sharon
I love Paris. I’ve been twice, the first time I got lost at midnight and felt so safe wandering around. I actually managed to make it back using my high school French. The second time was a trip with my sister. I treasure it so much. We chilled out, ate bread, cheese and wandered the streets and markets. We stayed in Montmarte in a cheap hotel and from the window you could see our French neighbours putting their washing on the line and having brunch on their balconies. Ahhh I want to go back.
Ahhhh - it’s been over five years since I visited Paris (unless you count my hours spent at Charles De Gaulle this past November). I loved it, the atmosphere of the city was incredible and the food and cafes were lovely. I do hope to go back one day… and that your trip comes for you soon! What a lovely post!
Beautiful post. The closest I’ve come to France would have to be Montreal. But I know the feeling you describe. That is London for me. I have no ties, no reason, just my heart beats a bit fastest and I feel a bit warmer when I think of England.
Currently, the hubby and I are planning a trip to Ireland for our 10th wedding anniversary. This year is our 5th, so we have a little longer to go. He has always wanted to visit the Emerald Isle and has never even been on a plane. I’ve been to Germany and I lived in Poland for a while so I of course want to take him there. Krakow is so beautiful in the summer.
Be sure to let us know if you take your trip!
I’m right with you, with one slight difference. For me, whenever I’m in Paris or New York I feel like anything is possible. Like I can achieve my dreams. Like a world of opportunity is avaliable. This is my favourite post I’ve read all week, thanks guys. I feel invigorated and driven and excited. Amazing how words and images can do this!
My husband and I went to Paris for our tenth wedding anniversary, which I can not believe was almost ten years ago before the kids came along. We were fortunate enough to stay on the Champs Elyse just down from the Arch De Triumph. It really was amazing and you will love it too. We spoke no french but found it very easy to along and travelled the Metro system daily. My only regret was not going out to find the fabulous flea markets you hear so much about. A destination for trip number two someday…………….
Thank you all so much for your lovely and touching comments. I cannot wait to have my own photos alongside my own stories of Paris. In the meantime I will keep dreaming of that day!
I love this post! My hubby and I want to go to Paris this year for our 10th Ann. We are trying to save up and then good ole me lost my wedding ring…so we shall see.
I hope that you can go soon!!
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. And thank you Michelle for showing me that you write so well. Now you can never ask me again to “just write a few words” for you
Being British, I was carted off to Paris with my school every year, sometimes twice, all the way through my childhood for “language exchanges” and “cultural trips.” For a group of 10 year old schoolkids, the only thing we did in Paris was snigger at the Moulin Rouge and buy cheap sunglasses on the steps of the Eiffel Tower.
Now of course I realize not only how differently we see far away places through the eyes of our youth, but also how we waste golden opportunities to be inspired and to dream outside the usual four walls of our childhood bedroom.
Conrad you are so right. I wish I had made more of my childhood, heck, even made more of my university days. I suppose it takes time for us all to realise what gets us excited and what are are passionate about. That said, the amount of inspiration I feel I would be able to get *now* from the places I visited on family holidays as a child is endless. I remember my mum and dad used to trapse my brother and I up these hills and to far-flung, deserted beaches - all we wanted to do was splash about in the pool by the villa! Looking back, I’m so grateful that I have the memories of the beautiful places they took us to see. I just wish I had appreciated it more back then.
Oh I’m with you there Will. Those troubled British childhoods! I remember one time our class was taken to see the Opera Carmen at the Royal Opera House in London. I think I was only about 14 years old. Those three hours or so were excruciatingly painful to all of us. Afterward our teacher took up backstage to meet “Carmen” herself. I can’t find out who the opera singer was but she is very, very well known. I missed out on three experiences that night, 1. the architecture of the venue, 2. the opera itself and 3. meeting the cast.
Living in London during the late 90s, I met many Australians and New Zealanders who were in London on their “big trip.” To them, it’s a rite of passage that every 18-25 yr old from Australasia experiences - a round the world trip lasting up to 3 years, backpacking and working. Point being, they live so far away from any other country they all get all their traveling in before they settle down. I don’t think I have met anyone from that region that hasn’t done this.
Glad I’m not the only one who feels they missed out on childhood opportunities, Conrad! Now you say that about Australians, I can see what you mean. Being in the UK I plan to make more of being so close to the diverse collection of European countries that are effectively on-the-doorstep. It’s amazing how being in the EU I could just take myself off and work anywhere in Europe - no questions asked. It’s obviously not that simple, but to have that option is so liberating.
What a beautiful post, and the pictures are just stunning. If anyone is on their way to Paris… please toss me in your luggage. I won’t mind at all.
I love your blog; it made me smile. The table with the breakfast in Paris is truly a great example of what it is really like. My husband and I decided on Paris for our honeymoon satisfying a life long curiousity in Europe for me! Paris was the perfect choice. I would recommend you stay here: http://www.appartement-hotes-folie-oberkampf.com/
We live like the Parisiens for 10 days and never felt intimidated by them but rather felt quite a lot like them after being their for that time. The rental appartment is close to the metro. We stayed at the Oberkampf location. We plan to stay at another one of their properties the next time we get lucky enough to go again. These are great pics and they totally took me back to my honeymoon