dimanche 14 septembre 2008

I heart Paris

How good is it to be at home? Fabulous.

How great is it to sleep in my own bed? Stunningly so.

How exciting is it to have electricity? It’s just the icing on the cake.

And let’s face it, a cake’s not a cake without icing. I mean really – who wants that doughy bit in the middle?

So, you guessed it. I’m back home, back in my own bed and the electricity is on and shining out of every lamp, screen and refrigerator. I’m so happy I could, well I could catch up on my unpacking and washing and ironing and blah and blah and blah. Being back at home also means being back in real life.

I kind of forgot that that would happen.

So, in a ‘je refuse’ moment, I put the chores to the back of my mind and headed out for a day of falling back in love with Paris. Trust me, it wasn’t difficult.

I started with breakfast at my corner café – les Artisans. It’s a good spot, close to home, and they do a great cup of coffee. I read my book for a while, enjoyed the morning sun (yes, readers, the sun is shining in Paree) and planned my day.

Figuring that I needed to get some culture into my hardened-by-head-office soul, I weighed up my choices…..my main criteria being no queuing, no greek artefacts, minimal tourists and a short, sharp dose of great art. There was no contest really.

At eleven o’clock, I walked up to the front door of the Orangerie Museum (no queue), bought my ticket (few tourists) and plonked myself down in one of the art world’s most truly amazing spaces (with no ancient greek nick-nacks, thank the Lord).

It’s not everybody’s taste, and I certainly wouldn’t want to live with them for too long myself, but sitting down in those oval galleries with the Monet Nymphéas is truly mind blowing. Empty your mind, stare at the wall, fall into the colours, the textures, the moods.

One room so calm, one so much more lively. Two amazing spaces. It’s surprising to think that you can easily lose an hour with those eight pieces. But that’s how it happens.

After a while, I like to position myself so that I can see people’s faces when they enter the gallery. It is so beyond what anyone is expecting, that the reactions are amazing to see.

I left feeling calm, happy and thrilled to have this experience so close to home.

Lunch on a café terrasse fortified me and I headed off to do some shops.

Rue des Francs Bourgeois, rue de la Verrerie, rue Ste Croix de la Bretonnerie. The greatest shops and the most beautiful people in Paris. Naturally I stopped in at BHV Homme to touch the shoes and stroke the man bags.

I got home in time to put my feet up before heading out to the cinema.

How great is my life? Well, it’s not for everyone, but for me it’s pretty near-perfect.

Which is all well and good, but now I need to get down to some serious business. Namely, falling in love.

It’s not going to be easy. But you can bet your ass I'll be writing about it.

20 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

Yes mon chere, you need someone to share this bliss, then life would be perfect for you
How are you setting about this quest

travelling, but not in love a dit…

VM, lord only knows. Hints, tips and phone numbers all gladly accepted.

Louise a dit…

What a day. Enjoy it. Someday you may not be able to. As life goes on, it has a way of filling up not leaving a lot of time for days like that.

And good luck on the hunt for love. Don't envy you there!

The Woman who Can a dit…

Could you just loiter by the art and wait? It sounds fab! But maybe not. Do the posh galleries have special nights for singles, like the one in Birmingham?

If you give me a while, I'll try and make that sound less like a cattle market, and something more befitting a man of the world...

A Lewis a dit…

You put your feet up? oooohhhh la la. i should have been there.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hi Louise - trust me, the day was full (over-full) before I decided to enjoy myself instead! I just put lots of stuff off....

Tina, singles nights at the gallery sound mighty fine to me (as do cattle markets, to be honest...

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lewis - you should have. Where were you? Squeezing your loaves again, I imagine.

Brett a dit…

Last time we were in Paris we spent one of the best Sunday mornings ever in the d'Orsay, a real eye opener much better the the Louvre and such a fantastic building

Anonyme a dit…

I love everything by Monet! Actually in the Tate Modern they have one of the Nymphéas and a painting by Jackson Pollock in the same room to illustrate the influence of Monet on Pollock when it comes to colour patterns. I listened to a guide explain it to a group I wasn't even part of, and it was so interesting.

Have fun with falling in love, hope the sun is still shining! (it is over here, finally it has stopped raining)

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Brett - the musee d'orsay beats the louvre hands down in my books. I find the louvre a bit dull....

Marjolein, then you should definitely go to the orangerie....you'd love it!

Anonyme a dit…

I'll keep it in mind if I ever get to Paris (no offence, but I like the south (Cévennes, not côte d'azur) and Alps better than Paris... am I still allowed to read your blog now?

aims a dit…

Everyone knows that you don't find love when you are looking for it. IT finds you!

Be patient sweetie. I believe it will happen soon and it will knock your socks off.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Marjolein, of course you can still visit the blog...you're welcome anytime you like.

But you're missing a treat with Paris!

Aims, I hope you're right sweetheart. I'm sat here waiting!

red a dit…

oh how lovely. I heart paris too. It sounds like you're going to have yourself a fabulous time there.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hey Red, I certainly hope so...

Daryl a dit…

That sounds like my sort of day ... especially the shopping ... saving up must start now so I can come visit Paris and meet you AND together we can find you someone to love .. I am very good at that...references on request!

:-Daryl

Anonyme a dit…

Just wanted to let you know there's an award waiting for you at my blog :)

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Daryl, come over! How funny would that be?

And I'd completely trust you on the introductions front...you seem like a well-connected lady....

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hey Marjolein, thanks so much for the award!

I'm absolutely thrilled to receive the award, but I'm not very good at displaying awards, so don't be offended if you don't see it here :-)

Thanks / Dank u wel. I really appreciate it!

Anonyme a dit…

That's fine :) I also had to google how to put those awards on wordpress... Just as long as you know you're appreciated!