Bunissima

I have just come back from Paris. I wish I had written down a few thoughts while I was still there, because the memory of how it felt is slowly wearing off. Even if there are more beautiful places that I have seen, nonetheless it will remain in my memory as one of the most impressive cities.

The reason is that je ne sais quoi, that belongs to Paris, to the French.

There is a certain liberty in the atmosphere, people seem to live their lives undisturbed by the existence of the other people, they live their llives for themselves. Manners seem to manner a lot. People are so very polite, trying to smile, even if they may be tired after an entire day of work. I still did not understand one thing though. The main street attached to where I stayed was that kind of street with all the expensive renowned names. People walking on the street did not expect themselves to make way for you on the narrow walkway, but if you did not make way for them, they seemed to get offended. I guess it is a n unwritten rule i did not get. I did have a slightly unpleasant experience with a girl, who seemed to hate her job and seeked simpathy from the customers, at one of their Quick burgers fast food. Even if I normally understand French well, that girl seemed to have some difficulties speaking. So, instead of getting a salad which was an alternative to the fries from the Club Fromage or so menu, I had to take the fries because I did not understand what she said, so I could not take advantage of my right to argue about that. I also could not get the milkshake because it was “not included in the menu.” I would have paid extra, but oh well.

I don’t remember ever having heard of a single car honking, but maybe my memory is decieving me. It always seemed like people knew when to cross the street even if the light was not ok for them to go. I got so confused, and at some point tried to copy them, but a car came by very close and made me feel bad for my rushed decision. I guess the drivers are a bit aggressive with their seconds of red light, while the people walking are aggressive whenever they can pass.

Just like any place this one had to have an uncomfortable part to it as well. And it’s not because it is not normal, it’s because you’d expect it to be perfect. Nonetheless, it is not as obvious and upsetting as other places but unfortunately this is the sad reality, they have their own gipsies, thieves, beggars and scoundrels, adopted or not. I was amazed to see gipsies begging there, and I almost felt ashamed thinking they might be Romanian gipsies. They were present at Eiffel tower, with their llarge skirts, asking you “Excuse me, do you speak english?” and then gave you a piece of paper with some stuff written in English on it. There were also some other nationalities and races trying to sell stuff near the Eiffel tower or some other major tourist attraction. Near Basilique de Sacre Coeur there were portrait painters, but they are not robbers, there are just too many of them and they are always choosing the perfect faces for portraits - read tourist faces - which makes it feel a bit stressful. And there were the simple homeless, who just stood there by the side of the road near a warm ventilation spot, and just waiting for mercy.

By the way! Who said that French people dress badly? I mean, I do not know about all French people per se, but lemme tell you, these Parisiens, they made up the fashion. The tourists are the ones who dress the worse. You can see the tourists from a mile, they just can’t be mistaken. The French men wear suits and elegant coats fitted on the body, while women always wear nice leather shoes, and fashionale clothes but of good taste, very feminine and classy all the time. Even if it was not warm enough, they wore skirts, dresses, and elegant coats. It seems like a lifestyle. From young to old, all women dress nicely and take care of themselves. I guess that was what struck me the most. Realize that we, here, dress sports as a way of being, while they dress nice as a way of being. On the other hand you will never see hoochie mama in there, with lots of gold, shiny metal and shiny clothes all the way and bitchy attitude, of which you can see a lot in Romania. The French women respect themselves and think they deserve the best of it all. Even if we are aware of this philosophy of life, we do not really apply it everyday. I think.

So, all of you Romanians who think French dress so comfortably, think twice. Maybe it’s because they are comfortable in their elegant clothes while we understand sport clothes by comfortable. Speaking of classy, in my first day out, I felt so un-classy with my hiking boots and my casual large cut pants that I decided to wear my high hills leather boots the next day, all day long. My soles were numb at the end of the day, but it was worthed. I felt Parisian. If you go to Paris you need a pair of elegant leather shoes, but comfortable.

Moving on, it was a real pleasure to walk and watch the buildings, streets and people. I was so happy and fullfilled just to walk for many times on the Champs Elysees, or go in the Place de la Concorde. Being in a place for many times gives you somehow the feeling that you belong there. I also went to the local Monoprix supermarche, and felt like a local.

Even if I was yet another tourist that is seduced by the legendary Eiffel tower, Notre Dame des Champs, Basilique de Sacre-Coeur, I think that these are undeniably a testimony of the creative power of the people and that is what impresses our modest tourist selves, even if we don’t know that’s the reason we get all that impressed about.

I even plan to walk more just because I enjoyed it so much that I realized that walking is also about a good state of mind, a happy mood. Unfortunately Bucharest is not the best place in the world to give you free happy moods here and there, but I just have to deal with it. French women are very thin, and I guess it’s because they walk a lot. And eat baguettes with lots of cheese. Just kidding, I don’t think that is the reason. The research makes me understand that they just enjoy the food and eat more traditionally cooked food instead of all the unhealthy, additives and fast food crap.

At the end of the day and since I wrote all the above text a few days ago - right after I had come back - now, all the excitement being gone, I am only left with the warm and sunny memory of Paris and think I should just get over with this post and with my life.

Normally, there are places I take with me or feel like I left a part of myself there with all the streets and buildings I have seen and things I have done. But this one was different. I felt that I was still living there after I left. That my mind and my heart were there still, enjoying the amazing architecture, streets, walking from Place de Concorde towards the Eiffel Tower.

P.S. Photos coming soon.