It was September 2019 and I had a few weeks in Paris before our canal cruise in Aquitaine. I always manage to schedule time in the city before and after our canal cruises, even in between. If we had two cruises booked with a week off between the two, I’d head straight for Paris.
Of course there’s always the option to stay in another city or a quaint town in France, but the magnetic pull of Paris is too strong. I have to be there as much as possible, whenever possible. And the bonus of being in Paris this time, instead of another place, was that two of my best friends were coming to see me. You just can’t beat a ladies trip in Paris.
We had so much fun! It was their first time, so I got to play tour guide. Not that I mind. I love Paris and feel such a connection to the city that I love showing her off to family and friends. I wore them out, walking all over, taking in the sights, enjoying meals at my favorite restaurants, and of course finding time for shopping.
It was a wonderful ‘last’ trip to Paris. Not that I expected it to be a ‘last’ trip. But then none of us expected COVID 19 and what that would mean for travel. There would be no Paris time in 2020 and by the looks of it there may be none for 2021.
I know. I know. First world problems, right? The deaths, illnesses, loss of family and friends, loss of jobs, loss of income, missed opportunities and much more that so many people have suffered are staggering and difficult to comprehend. I realize that my so-called Paris problem is really not a problem at all. But in the end, there is something, or many things, we all miss about pre-COVID life. There are plenty of things I miss, but aside from our kids, what I miss most is traveling to Paris.
I do check on a daily basis. I’m in several Facebook groups, such as ‘Americans in Paris’ and ‘Americans in France’. I check travel restrictions at (website) on a regular basis. I ‘google’ questions such as “Are cases finally declining?” Doesn’t look like it. “Are more people getting vaccinated?” This looks even more bleak. “Are there any changes to travel restrictions?” Hell no! I know I’m not the only one reading and asking, “When is France going to open to Americans?’ I know there are plenty of you out there who feel my pain.
Fortunately I have my memories….so many amazing memories that live in my mind, in my heart and of course in my photos. The memories are powerful and don’t fade because Paris stays with you. It’s a place that assaults all your senses. Paris runs through my veins.
The images of magnificent monuments or quaint streets are forged in my memory. I can imagine myself on one of my many long walks, getting lost in the city while at the same time discovering something new. Popping into a cute little boutique. Feeling very accomplished after engaging with the salesperson with my improving French. I can still hear the sounds of conversation and laughter coming from the cafè terraces. I see friends gathered at the tables, enjoying a meal, a few glasses of wine, sharing in camaraderie. Or maybe it’s a couple sitting at the table, both facing out to the street, holding hands, watching the world go by.
If I close my eyes, I can certainly smell the aroma of freshly baked baguettes wafting from boulangeries and if I try a little harder, I can almost taste the cassoulet at Les Fabricants.
Paris is more than a place. It’s an experience, an experience that stays with you. It seeps into your being and haunts you when you’re not there. It’s one of the reasons I created my ‘In-Seine-ly Paris’ social media pages. I am revisiting all my photos of Paris, remembering when and where they were taken. Most of them I know exactly where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing. But there are some that I can’t place. It’s a little unnerving for me. I like to brag that I would know Paris blind-folded. It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but truth be told, I do know the city well. According to a friend who was raised in Paris and has lived there his entire life, I “know Paris better than many locals”. I know he’s just flattering me, but I do recall correcting a taxi driver once. But it’s not just about sharing the Paris I know. I’ve connected with local Parisian Instagrammers who are posting their daily pictures and videos of the city. Through their posts, stories, and reels I get to visit Paris virtually and discover new places, making note of them in my journal so I can explore them for myself when I return.
Meanwhile, I’m grateful that we have our health and that our family and friends have either avoided COVID or have gotten only a mild case. I’ll continue waiting, somedays less patiently than others, for the day the borders of the European Union and specifically of France open and I can once again travel to Paris. Paris has stayed with me and when I return I will be fully prepared to embrace Paris as a 2nd home.
