This installment of Weekly WOWs comes with a (fairly wordy) back story. In my last post, I shared that I had spent my birthday week in Paris. I’ve wanted to go since I was a girl and read Madeline. I was also inspired by the old movies I watched with my mom, like Sabrina, Funny Face, and An American in Paris. The city looked how I longed to feel … sophisticated and stylish.
I wish I could say the idea of going was mine, but that honor goes to my sister. We were out for dinner celebrating her future daughter-in-law’s birthday in April when she said to me, “You know, you have a big birthday coming up. You should do something big.”
“I should,” I said.
“You should go to Paris!”
“I SHOULD!” I exclaimed. (You should know that I had had a couple of glasses of wine and probably would have agreed to go to Paris, Tennessee, where they hold the world’s largest catfish fry each year. That’s big, too.) The next day, I started looking at flights and hotels. I talked myself in and out of the idea for three days before finally booking it.
Then came the doubts. What am I getting myself into? Is it wise to go alone? How will I communicate when I don’t speak French? What if Paris doesn’t live up to the image I have in my head?
I got a sign that everything would be fine on the way to the airport. When I got into my Uber, Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten” was playing on the radio. This is my morning anthem. Her lyrics are words I’m trying to live by:
“Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten”
Off I went, arms wide open, and Paris did not disappoint. Here are five things that WOWed me in the City of Light plus a bonus WOW I had on my way home.
1. The Eiffel Tower. When you dream of Paris, you imagine seeing its most memorable landmark, the Eiffel Tower. I even chose a hotel within walking distance. On my ride into the city, my taxi driver drove down a street where I noticed a gap between buildings that offered a great view. It was tucked away and not crowded. So, the first thing I did after checking into my room was to walk down and snap this photo.
2. The architecture. I stayed in the 7th Arrondissement and felt as though I’d stepped into another world. The apartment buildings were incredible, and I imagined what it would be like to wake up and look out my window over the picturesque cobblestone street. I walked to Notre-Dame to see the restoration process. I strolled down the Les Champs-Elysées, humming this song the entire time. I explored the Latin Quarter. I visited the charming Shakespeare and Company bookstore on the Left Bank. I took a river cruise down the Seine. I snapped so many photos. Sophistication and style was everywhere I looked.
3. Rue Cler. My hotel was a block from the Rue Cler, a street known for its shops. I saw Parisians filling their shopping trolleys with fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese, seafood, and wine. There was also the fantastic Cler Fleurs shop filled with beautiful, fragrant flowers and plants. The street is also home to various cafés, and I enjoyed dinner at two, sitting outside watching people walk by.
4. The food. On my first night in Paris, I walked to Tribeca, an Italian-inspired brasserie on the Rue Cler. I know. I know. Italian food for your first night in Paris? I have to claim ignorance on that one. However, it turned out to be my favorite meal of the trip. I ordered the Burrata Jambon de Parme Roquette. It was burrata with prosciutto and arugula served with the most amazing bread I’ve ever had. The food in Paris is amazing. The dairy tastes different. The bread is unbelievable. And the wine is, well, French! Then there’s the coffee, the chocolate, and the gelato. On my niece’s suggestion, I picked up a Jambon Beurre for lunch one afternoon and enjoyed it at Jardin de Luxembourg, while dozens of Parisians chatted around me. Even though I walked 20,000 steps every day, I gained three pounds.
5. The feeling. This sounds dramatic, but I didn’t want to leave. I mean, look how happy I am here. The concierge at my hotel asked me what I was going to do on my last night in Paris. I wanted to cry because I didn’t want it to end. Paris is a bustling city, but Parisians have a way of being in the moment. Many restaurants close during off hours. The workday starts later. People stay out and linger. I wondered why I had waited so long to go and started planning when I’d return. Next time, I’m staying for a month.
6. An unexpected bonus WOW! On my way home, my connecting flight through Chicago was cancelled. It was 8:30 p.m. I’d been up for 20 hours and was exhausted. There weren’t any flights out to Nashville that night. My fellow travelers were irate, but I was lucky. My cousin Cheryl and her family live in Naperville. I called her and about an hour later, I was sitting at her kitchen counter enjoying some wine and talking about Paris and Europe and life. What a special way to end a special week. (Look how cute she is! I hope she’s not mad at me for sharing this picture.)
I could easily share five or ten more WOWs, but I’ll stop here. What were your WOWs for the week?
What an amazing trip. Jealous with a capital J. And so glad you had a wonderful experience!!