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Dear Luke and Leia,
Nana planned a trip to Paris. Why do I have to go to Paris? I don’t speak the language. I don’t really like France. The only good thing about France is the wine.So I asked her, “Why do I have to go to Paris?” “Because I really want to go, and I don't enjoy traveling without you,” was Nana’s response. I guess she wanted me to see her favorite city.
Well, she speaks the language and loves France and I guess it would be cool to see the Eiffel tower and I have to admit the food is great. So I know why I have to go to Paris: Because I love my wife and want to make her happy. And she can give me the tour. (P.S.: She also gets to plan it, so that is less work for me. Haha.)
Getting acquainted with Paris
First up was to get myself acquainted with Paris with a walk around the city. This would prove all my reasons why I didn’t want to be there. However, I reserved the right to change my mind. Nana liked it for a reason so I felt maybe I might need more information.
The people we saw were good … but strange in some ways
It's well known that the people of France are snobs, especially those in Paris. That rumor didn’t take long to dispel since every Parisian I came in contact with was warm, friendly and eager to help. This just didn’t look like a good way to support my arguments to stay away from Paris.
It seemed to me that the visitors were a little quirky, not the locals. The tourists had a strange fascination with various aspects of Paris and acted upon those wacky senses to amuse themselves like children with a favorite toy.
The Louvre Museum
So I decided to play along with Nana’s plan, in order to gather more facts about Paris to use against her later. Next up on the schedule was a museum that an uneducated French person totally spelled wrong, the “Loove.” Why do they put a bunch of unnecessary letters in this language anyway? Maybe they have the market cornered on ink and thus throw letters around to make you buy more of it.
Okay, French is another subject, but the Louvre is fantastic, full of masterpieces. Just the building itself is rather impressive. Did you know it was once a royal palace? the only thing that I really wanted to see there was the Mona Lisa. I saw it and was totally taken aback, such a big buildup from all my years of hearing about it, just to see a postage stamp-sized painting? The crowds pushed forward towards it because it was small, but at least I can check it off my bucket list.
The Eiffel Tower
Okay, I had to admit that the Eiffel Tower did strike my fancy. I have always wanted to go to the top and see the view. But as storms moved into Paris the evening before our planned trip, my only joy of Paris was in jeopardy. Maybe God would strike the tower and remove my only reason to visit Paris. Was not to be, but those storms did yield some great photo opportunities.
The next day was beautiful and thankfully, God spared the Eiffel tower so we headed off for our visit. The ticket lines were long, but we (I should say Nana) were smart and bought the tickets ahead of time, which allowed us to skip the line. I loved the structure of the tower itself as the amazing work of engineering displayed Eiffel's brilliance. Once on top, I was not disappointed; the view completely erased my disappointment from the postage-stamp sized Mona Lisa yesterday. Okay, so I was not going to admit it to Nana, but Paris was breathtaking.
I'm running out of space on this postcard, guys, so I'll write more later.
To Be Continued…
♥
Written by Dan
Professional photographer specializing in street, food and travel shots at As We Saw It travel blog. Enjoys catching children at play, showing their innocence in every situation … we all can learn that, to be content with what our Father in heaven has provided. Photography is unique in that it captures light in all forms, and since the Bible says YHVH (God) is light, photography captures Him in many forms.
Brilliant post – I love the angle its written from. i have to admit that even though I’ve been through Paris, I still haven’t actually been around the city! But I do want to!! I know I would love it – in fact we’re driving to Burgundy in May and pass through Paris… so I should really try to make a stop there! Great photos too. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Thank you. While not a planned angle, it is truthful that I was filling time while pleasing Linda with wanting to show me Paris. Nowadays it seems that I try to ‘schedule’ in some sort of layover in Paris, but not successfully thus far. Driving through Burgundy, as well as all the other wine regions, is in our future. I just hope sooner than later.
What a fantastic trip. I’ve been to Paris a few times so your post brought back many memories. Stunning photos. The ones with the lightning are amazing! Thanks very much for linking up #MyFavouriteTrip Polly
Thank you for your kind words. So what was your favorite experience that captured the essence of Paris for you?
I love this! I love anyone who comes around to appreciating Paris and I’d love it if you’d link it to my France fest monthly linky #AllAboutFrance on now.
Paris is a wonderful city that grew on me as time went by while visiting. Now I hope to return and spend a few weeks this time. Thank you for the invite to link up.
Amazing photos!! Especially the ones with the lightning. Thank goodness God missed because I haven’t been to Paris yet. Please hang in there till I strike it off my bucket list.
Thank you for linking up on Travel Tuesday!
Thank you and I am glad MY target was missed because it was a great time. I am finding myself trying to arrange a layover in Paris on our next trek to Asia… But hard to find an 8,064 hour layover flight. 😉
I was of the same opinion as you of Paris. Maybe I could borrow Nana and reform my opinion. Gorgeous photos, Paris looks good through the lens.
I fully understand Jan, but my Nana is also my wife and partner and stays with me. But I think we should meet in Paris and explore together while we do some wine(ing) about the city. Thank you for your photo comments, they are appreciated.
I’ve been in Paris when my four kids were between 2 and 8 years old. Of course we went to Euro Disney World and on the Eiffel Tower. It was all very, very expensive for a family with four kids. So, we lived mainly from the Chinese take away. But other than that, a unforgettable memory.
Nothing was mentioned about the price, but you are right. Paris can be expensive, but very much worth the costs, like all major large capital cities.
I love this post! I have to admit, I was chuckling a bit because it reminded me so well of my hubby’s concerns of going to Paris. I really wanted to tack it on the end of a vacation he planned to Italy, and finally he agreed. He had no interest at all and maintained that the French were rude and didn’t like Americans. Long story short, we had a great time and ended up moving there two years later 🙂
Oh, and those lightening photos are so cool!!! #MondayEscapes
Sara, don’t tell Linda but I am still trying to figure out flights to Asia through CDG so I can go back. Funny thing is I was exposed just enough to create a “Paris Monster” who needs his “Paris-fix” Thank you for your wonderful words of kindness on the photos.
We love France, and Paris is okay too. I love the small villages, the cheese…and yes, the people are friendly. I bothered this one poor man who lived next door to the cottage we were renting for a good 30 minutes as I tried to describe to him that I wanted to “borrow” some flour. He was amazingly nice and even gave me the flour!
Ah see, you spoke the planetary language of FOOD and in France they speak it rather well.
it’s hard to find a unique perspective on Paris but i think you did it. Love love your pictures too:)
Thank you Victoria, but quite honestly I was very (and truthfully) not sure of going to Paris. Just wrote the truth, but truth be told you need to read part 2 and more truth gets exposed. Thank you.
This is seriously not a question I thought I’d ever hear getting asked?!?! 😉 I will check back to see how the story ends, but as a confessed francophile, I was breathing easier toward the end when you seemed to be having a change of heart! Glad you pre-purchased those Eiffel Tower tickets! 🙂 That line would not be fun!
Jackie, Yes you must read part 2. Time for me to go to my ‘PA’ meeting. Hi, my name is Dan and I am a Paris Addict.
Great reasons! I made it to Paris twice – both times with my boyfriends (ex ones) and I must say it’s a perfect place for a Valentine’s Day!!!!! 🙂 So romantic!
Yes Agness I will agree that Paris is a very romantic city. I knew Linda had something up her sleeve when she planned the final day, but you’ll have to read part 2 for the rest of the story.
How can you not like Paris?:) Wonderful photos!
Tanja, Liking and not liking Paris is easy… It depends on which side of the visit you were on. 😉
Gorgeous pictures! I have mixed feelings about Paris after my second trip there, but I can’t deny that it’s a very beautiful city. Maybe my third trip will make me fall in love with it more. 🙂
I guess I had a great tour guide who knew me so well and knew how to push all the right buttons for me to love Paris in one try. Thanks Vlad.
Dan, I tend to get dragged around too. Great photos! Did you get to the very top of the Eiffel tower? We could only go up to the second level the time we went up.
Hi Jim, After this experience (concludes in part 2) I think I’ll allow Linda to drag me around even more. We did get to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and plan to make reservations for the restaurant on our next trip.
I never really liked Paris as well the first time I visited it but then when I went back the second time and stayed a bit longer, it easily became one of my favorite cities in Europe. There’s something about Paris and walking around to see a lot of pretty and historical things in every corner.
Love the tourist shots! 🙂
Honestly I think we tried to do Paris in 4 or 5 short days. Paris is a city that offers so much more and we want to take it in next time for about two weeks. Thank you regarding the photo comment.
Oh, you are making me laugh with all the photos of the tourists. The ones of the lightening and the Seine are especially good, too. I really enjoyed my own time in Paris, even though the advance tickets were all sold out by the time I got around to purchasing them online. We got our exercise that day climbing up the stairs because that line was significantly shorter.
I am so glad you enjoyed it Michele. We made sure to purchase the advanced tickets at the same time as we booked the entire trip, which is a story in itself to book a 6 week trip within 2 days.
I love the comments at the bottom of the photos, you had me chuckling away. Love the lightening shots of the Eiffel Tower and those queues to climb the tower are worse than I remember.
Thank you Sally. There were lines at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but we got the Paris pass and had tickets in advance so a little research and you too can be treated like a VIP.
Visiting France is by now a cultural thing, you don’t have to like the French to visit their country. I love their culture, their traditions, their history, their architecture and their country, but… I am not quite crazy about their attitude towards the rest of the world. But I’m ready to put up with that for the charm of their country.
Anda, I agree and want to spend more time in France. I have various cities picked out that I want to photograph and of course a loooong wine tour is on the planning calendar.
You have got to love Paris! Glad you changed your mind- looks like a great trip -and I’m very impressed you found the Parisians so welcoming…I haven’t had the same experience. Fab photos. Thanks for hosting #theweeklypostcard
Elizabeth, Linda taught me the ‘tricks of the trade’ and I did the best I could when entering and leaving a shop. I think they saw my efforts and rewarded them with kindness and hospitality. Now I believe that ‘loud Americans’ get the famed Parisian welcome, but kind courteous, not self-centered people got welcomed. Big lesson for anywhere you go. Thank you.
I don’t get people that don’t like Paris – if you can’t have a good time there, there’s something wrong with you….The people have always been so friendly and helpful – and with a stroller, I’d have 5 or 6 people, one after another, offer to help me at the stairs – I kept saying no and then a new person would turn up and offer! But the beauty? there is no city quite like it….
Lydia, while I agree in some manner, I disagree in another. There are so many people retiring and getting their first trip to Europe and on the top of most people’s lists are London and Paris. Paris offers a different challenge and Americans not used to traveling and not doing some research into customs can be a bit gruff towards a normally soft Parisian. Our job is to educate and help these Paris virgins learn the ropes. Thanks.