Je vais visiter Paris! Any word so limited to describe my excitement. Since I was in college, I have loved to read and study French literature. One of my favorite French classic writers is Victor Hugo with his “The hunchback of Notre Dame.” Quasimodo fulfilled my dream if I could see him ring a bell at Notre Dame, photograph the Eiffel Tower, and visit local boulangerie (French bakery)
Sadly, the bell stopped ringing because Notre Dame was on fire last year. Quasimodo’s heart was broken into pieces since the rhythm of the bells conveyed his feeling: his anger toward Follo and his love for Esmeralda. All doors into the Cathedral were closed. All dangerous scaffoldings surrounded the building. The spire was down. However, Notre Dame still looks stunning with unique Gothic architectural details.
How do you feel standing in front of the Eiffel Tower? I am over the moon. I should not carry my camera because I keep shooting pictures. I should stand still and admire her in the chaos she creates. People come here to celebrate the special occasions imprinted in their memory. They wear colorful, avant-garde dresses or hats, trying to get the best picture out of her. Tourists wander between shops to buy some fake gold Eiffel Tower keychains and more souvenirs before returning to bus tours which come swiftly. They patiently wait in line to climb up to the top to see Paris. At night her beauty shines with all the light, and she puts a spell on you to make you return to see her again.
Eating baguettes should be on your wish list when you visit Paris. We stay across one of the local boulangeries. As I open the window in the morning, the cold air of October in Paris and the smell of freshly baked are so lovely. I could taste the sweetness of the yeast, the crisp crust, and the nutty sesame flavor, one of my favorite baguettes. It costs less than one euro. Add cheese, and a bottle of wine will be a perfect dinner at the Eiffel Tower or a picnic along the Seine River. One of the local tour guides from “Emmanuel’s hidden gems” told us his best dinner is cheese, baguette, and wine. And I agree with that. French baguette is dangerous good!
I will return to see Paris again to hear Quasimodo rings the bells at Notre Dame and watch Esmaralda dances on the street. Paris is always my dream and a paradise I have been dreaming about.