Paris, France-The Living City

Harmonica music floats up and over the chimneys of the Parisian rooftops and saunters in through the window left ajar.

Rooftops Over Paris

As London was the Walking City, with a constant flow of people and water, Paris is not only the city of light but also the Living City. Here, even the stationary things feel alive to the touch.

Statue In Notre-Dame
Cathedral 

This city moves at a slow, contented pace as if there is no time to keep.

The Eiffel Tower at Midnight

Paris never seems to sleep as there is always singing or arguing or instruments playing even at 2 or 3 in the morning.

After only four nights and five days I have come to believe that the people of France cannot help but to want to make noise. It is as if Paris could not stand to be fully silent, not even for a moment.

Early in the mornings Parisians will randomly burst into song while walking to their favorite cafe or to the metro.

Singing here is rather like whistling in the United States-people do it without thinking, simply for something to keep their mouths happy or to express their contentment with the world around them.

Afternoons the streets and parks and metros will fill with musicians singing and playing anything you could imagine.

When the sun goes down music and laughter and conversation flow or even beat from the cafes and bars.

And then there are the voices. In Paris everyone is talking or arguing or asking directions or telling stories as if every voice is vying for space within your ears.

In Paris everyone, even the foreigners, are the friendliest and most curious people you will ever meet. It is as if the city brings it out in everyone who walks or rides or drives her streets.

Parisians stop on the streets to ask random strangers what their food tastes like or to comment on their pet or to ask a traveler where they are from.

In Paris it is possible to learn all the history (along with amusing personal anecdotes) of a five-block radius within a ten or twenty minute walk.

There are voices and sounds everywhere except for one: walking along the restless River Seine. Here the sounds seem to quell but surprisingly Paris feels most alive along the river with its multiple bridges and views that will make you catch your breath in awe and gratitude for the beautiful city.

The Walk Along The River Seine

It was in this stunning setting that my traveling partner and I decided that we would most enjoy Europe experiencing it on our own. So on our third morning in Paris we parted ways, my friend moving on south and me staying in Paris.

With very little money and even less knowledge of the French language, I ventured out into Paris and Europe alone.

Some people are nervous traveling strange cities alone, but Paris has a way of reassuring the worried hearts of her visitors. Paris feels safe and welcoming, as if the city herself is watching out for you.

So, it is no real surprise that within hours of parting ways, Paris opened her arms to me. She showed me sights I will never forget, opened my eyes (as well as the eyes of the travelers around me) to amazing potentials and dreams and granting me safe haven at two wonderful hostels where I met some of the kindest and most generous people I have ever known.

The first hostel I stayed at was called Lucky Youth Hostel. This hostel is run differently than others. Here you are not put in a building bursting with bunk beds and as many people as can be crammed into one building. Instead Lucky Youth distributes its travelers (generally six or eight at a time) around the city in ten lovely little apartments in some of the most beautiful areas of Paris. Here you get to know the other travelers much better than you would at a normal hostel as you are sharing an apartment with them rather than simply a row of bunk beds. Here you may live with your fellow travelers rather than simply arriving, sleeping and continuing on your way the next morning.

When you first arrive in Paris and book yourself with the Lucky Youth Hostel, a lovely man named William will come to guide you to your new Parisian home. As you walk, the conversation will stem from politics to business to local history to Paris to the cities in the Northwest corner of Washington state (one of his greatest loves).

It was at the apartment on Rue Lepic run by Lucky Youth that I suddenly understood why Paris is considered the City of Light as well as of Love.

Here it is certainly possible to fall in love. Although, perhaps, not with another person.

Instead it is possible to fall in love with the ancient city, its people and food, it’s voices and music, it’s streets and culture. 

But it is also possible to fall in love with ones own life and the opportunities life has to offer. It is the city of decisions, I think, the city of realizing what opportunities await you if only you are willing to open your eyes and heart to them. In Paris these opportunities suddenly come to light...much like the city does at night.

At the top of Rue Lepic there sits a cathedral overlooking all of Paris-a stunning sight by night. One that makes you want to see and explore and understand every inch of Paris. Again, something best achieved by walking. 

To understand the cities name “The City of Light” one must walk it at night. Do not worry about directions or destination, simply grab your key and begin!

My first night alone in Paris I met two amazing travelers. We decided to venture out to discover some of the Parisian night life.

It was at a bar near Moulin Rouge and completely unknown to tourists that we discovered the American way of thinking that all Parisians are rude and stuck up was 100% false when we met four Europeans who became curious with our travels and proceeded to offer us drinks, conversation and dancing.  

The next morning a lovely Brazilian girl I had met at Lucky Youth and I decided to spend our day together in the most fun and relaxing way we could think of: eating our way through Paris!

Of course we began with a baguette. As we walked we sampled chocolateries, sweet breads, pastries, coffee and even ice cream which we found within blocks of Notre-Dame Cathedral. We also eventually found our way to the store front of world renowned chocolatier Michel Cluizel where we bought chocolate to save for our continuing journeys so as to remember our time together in Paris.

Eating Our Way Through Paris
at Michel Cluizel Chocolate Shop

That night in a hostel only blocks from my Lucky Youth apartment I met another lovely traveler. We ate crepes as we walked to the foot of the Eiffel Tower with many unexpected detours to other stunning monuments.

The Walls And Ceilings of Le Tire Bouchon
Piano Bar And Creperie Are
Covered With Pictures, Drawings,
And Well-Wishes From Around The World

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower within minutes of midnight so we sat in the grass and watched as the tower came to life with sparkling lights.

The next day I was invited to stay with a french family in the small city of Bourg-en-Bresse, nearly two hours by train south of Paris and about an hour north of Lyon. So, while carrying both excitement and a heavy heart, I boarded a train in the early afternoon to meet a family in a small town in the heart of France.

"Come along Life, take my hand, let's have an adventure together."

~KrystleLyric