Aimless Wanderings: the Parisian love affair

I had always heard people talk about Paris as the city of love and passions. I never understood that saying. I have been here many times and never felt anything remotely close to its cliché saying until today. I think I must have fallen in love about a thousand times over with every step I took.

Today I walked from my apartment in the 17^th arrondissement, which is nearly the edge of Paris, all the way to Notre Dame Cathedral in the center of the city. I can’t explain to you why I chose to walk or why I walked to Notre Dame but the experience was worth the four-hour ballade along les Champs Elysées and les quais of Paris.

I must have fallen into a coma. I forgot about sleep, food and everyone else on the planet. It was just the live city and I in perfect harmony. I photographed whatever I felt was beautiful and when I got home, I realized that most of my pictures were examples of love in the city.

I saw a man on a bridge with a bag at his feet that had two big teddy bears in them. He reached into his bag and grabbed one, held it out in front of him with one hand. The setting sun perfectly illuminated the Eiffel Tower in the background. With his other hand, the man grabbed his fancy camera and photographed the bear. I could only imagine where that picture would go. Maybe he has a loved one whom he wishes could be there with him at that very moment where the light shone so perfectly.  Maybe that loved one will never get to see Paris or maybe one day he hopes to bring that person there with him. I wondered how far that picture would travel across the world, if at all.

I kept walking. I couldn’t help but smile. I fell in love with the idea that this place makes people dream and feel alive. In a way, it was doing the same for me. I weaved between the left and right banks of the Seine lost in thought. I passed trees bearing the scars of lovers. There were two bridges decorated with the safety locks of lovers, each different shapes, sizes and colors. On them, engraved or markered on were the names and words of wisdom of lovers. Apparently the city took them off one night and the next day, people were putting back the locks.

Three hours later, I’m finally at Notre Dame. All I wanted was a picture, but for some reason, I felt compelled to go inside. I couldn’t remember the last time I visited the cathedral. Inside, the soft harmonies of an organ greeted my ears. Music: my second passion. I took the time to take in everything I saw, heard and felt in the soft, candle-lit atmosphere. It was almost therapeutic. I stayed for a mini service/organ and choir concert. I think it was probably the most beautiful sounds I had heard all day.

After that, I walked to the metro station and went straight home. I looked at my pictures and thought about the day. I still can’t believe I’m here until June.