London > Paris?

One would think that I would be excited, giddy, and bursting at my seams upon first touching foot in Paris.  I mean come on -- it's Paris.  The city of lights, love, and  all that is grand.  It is difficult to imagine that I got off of the train groggy and thoroughly confused.

This calls for some personal history:

1. This is only my second time abroad.  This is my first time travelling abroad (sort of) on my own.
2. The first time I went abroad was the summer before my 8th grade year.  I went to Japan with a friend and her mom who have family in Niigata.
3. I don't speak a second language - the closest I get is understanding a handful of words in Japanese and Hawaiian.
4. We've been staying in London - in an English speaking country.

So, I'll be honest and say that one of the first utterances in this beautiful city was "did you understand that?".  I have never had to deal with being on the other side of a language barrier.  Sure, when I worked at the Hyatt Regency Maui as a Recreation Attendant (aka "pool girl" -- some of the best working times in my life) I was able to rely on my ever-present body language.  However, I never knew what it was like to be on the other side - frustrated, embarrassed, and unable to communicate.

All that pressure seemed to weigh down on me.  The language barrier coupled with the fact that Paris seemed a bit more rough around the edges than London - think a bit dirtier and a lot more beggars, did not give me the best first impression.  Not to mention the fact that we were carrying our lives on our backs (had to pack for the weekend, but wasn't able to check into the hotel until later on in the afternoon).

Things started to look a little up after we got started off in the city:

Touring the Louvre

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Lunch cruise + wine on the Seine River

Going up the Eiffel Tower

Basking in the beauty of Notre Dame

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Needless to say, my mood did improve as the last bit of day one in Paris slipped away.  However, I'd be lying if I denied that a little piece of me wanted to return to the comforts of London.  I was still not comfortable forming the words "bonjour" or "merci" with my awkward mouth.  I quickly learned that being able to say "hello" and "thank you" are two of the most important things in to learn for Paris.  Most restaurant or shop owners find it rude not to greet them in this manner.  I read in Eric's Frommer's Guide that a muttering of these words or a meek smile is NOT acceptable.  It must be full-hearted and confident.

Here's what made me belt out "bonjor" and "merci" loud and clear (discovered on Saturday morning):

Hello Mr. Pain au Chocolat

My life will never be the same again.  The food in Paris is amazing.  As with in many other cultures, food there seems to be a connector.  For me, it connected me not only with the place, but also with the people I am traveling with.  I had a grand time searching for Jim Morrison's grave site at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery and scaling the bountiful stairs to the beautiful Sacre Coeur with Eric and Heather.  However, I think that some of the best times were spent around the dinner table - this one in particular:

Stuffed mussels

Oyster cheers

Bucket 'o mussels and pom frites

There's no resisting a light dessert of sorbet

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In the end, I was passing out "bonjour" and "merci" and even an occasional "au revoir" to all of the helpful Parisians we encountered like it was Halloween candy.  So, with full stomach (dreaming of that pain au chocolat I bought for tomorrow's breakfast) I'm sitting at "home" in London wondering is London > Paris?  The answer is "no".  They are both beautiful in their own special ways (I totally mean it).   

To put it into French words I learned today, I am definitely experiencing the "joie de vivre" (joy of living), thankful for my minute in Paris:

Bonne Nuit ... good night!