My week in Paris has been nice. Once I found out that my mom is ok and I decided very hard to make the best out of my stay here, after all I am in Paris. I have to say that 10 days in Paris is by far enough, if I were to redo my visit I think I would max out at 5 to 6 days and go somewhere else. Now I could live here for a period of about year or so but a quick visit should be quick.
The city is small so all that you want to see is right here. I have the metro system down and can get anywhere around the city, which helps after walking all day and just wanting to get home. I usually start my day by saying I will walk, because it’s good exercise and well I get to see the city even if it is the same sights, they are beautiful. By the end of the day I am usually ready to just catch the metro and get home.
Today I did walk down a few different streets and got to see all new things which I am glad I did. One thing that having a lot of time here has done, is that I have gotten a bit lazy with going to different sights, I keep thinking that I can see it tomorrow and today I can just relax and go to a cafe. So now that I have only two days left I realize there are still a few places to go. I will, however, leave somethings for next time and that next time will be with my mom. I want to have somethings that I haven’t seen so it’s exciting for both of us and I know this way I am promising to come back to Paris.
Yesterday I decided I needed some retail therapy so I went shopping and did very well. Since I have been gone I have done amazing, I have not bought myself anything, except a hat that I needed for Scotland. I made a promise to myself that this trip is not for shopping but to enjoy the places I go. I would rather spend money on an amazing meal in Paris rather than a pair of shoes (this is rare and only for this trip). It’s just after all the bad news I needed a pick me up and I also never got anything for my birthday, so I figure I was justified. I went to a local store and found two cute and fairly inexpensive pieces and then I remembered exactly what I wanted. I saw a leather jacket in Munich that I really wanted to buy but didn’t have room in my luggage so I left it, but didn’t forget it. I was lucky enough to have my brother and Nina take some things back for me when they left the other day so I realized I have a few kilos to spare. I found the closest Mango to me and tracked down my jacket!
It’s a perfect fit and exactly what I wanted. I really love it and was excited to come home and show my mom what I got on skype. Even though she couldn’t make it here I wanted to share all that I could with her. Of course she loved it and was happy for me. I told her I couldn’t wait to show her in person. Her health is good and she is in recovery after her surgery. She seems to be doing very well and yesterday was walking a bit. Today I spoke with her and she said that she is doing good and the pain is bad, but tolerable. Everyday she looks better and better.
It’s funny that I have visited many churches through this trip and previous trips and although I have prayed for those that are sick or need help I have never pray so much. Every church here has a candle light for my mom and all those in our lives that are sick. In a time of uncertainty this gives people hope and a sense of doing something, however little it may be. I have always lit a candle and made a prayer for someone at that particular time that I knew needed a prayer. I do this now not just to pray, but for all those that prayed for my brother around the world years ago. Even though we didn’t see them, we felt it. Knowing that people are thinking about you is what gives you strength and the will to carry on.
It was nice that my brother and Nina were here for the first part of the week especially once I got the bad news. I was happy to have two more minds here to help me figure out anything if I needed it, plus it was just nice to see family and have a good time together. We had a nice time and saw the Louvre and a few other sights, we were relaxed and took our time instead of trying to fit too much in and getting tiered. I was sad to see them go, their stay here was very short and we were just starting to have fun ;)
I have to say one of my favorite places so far has been Sacre-Coeur and the walk there. This church sits at the highest point in Paris and once you have reached the top, you turn around and see the entire city. It is a beautiful sight and the church itself is amazing. As you walk up there are people the entire way trying to sell you anything they can; people are singing, dancing and even performing tricks with soccer balls. All this adds to the fun and you can’t help but stop along the way and look around. The area around the church is like it’s own little town, which it used to be. All the artists are from here and when you reach the square you see painters everywhere being inspired and painting. Who knows who these painters are, they could be the relatives of artists we know or they could one day have their paintings hanging in one of Paris’s fine museums.
On my way back home I stopped and saw Moulin Rouge, I have to say that was a huge disappointment. It is on a crappy street that is like the red light district and the building is so much smaller than what I had in my mind. Either way I got to see it and kept on moving.
Today I went to Musse D’Orsay, it was lovely and I spent a few hours there. The building is an old train station that was going to be knocked down, but then it was decided to make it into a museum since it had height they could hang large paintings there. When you walk in and look at the grand station you immediately fall in love. After the museum I walked around a bit and right as I was passing Norte-Dame it started snowing and very heavy. This was enough to make me come home and snuggle up!
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