3/24/07

Paris in Springtime

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.
You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.
What European City Do You Belong In?


Thanks to Jungle Mama and c for this for this post. JM lives in the Netherlands so she's already most of the way there. Some of us have to get our taste of Europe vicariously. Like in movies, travel brochures and funky coffee shops.

Sigh. That's cool that I'm Paris.

Because if belong means to be in a state of longing, Paris was the first destination I ever had a keen sense of longing for. Perhaps it may even have been the catalyst for my lifelong wanderlust. It was such an inexplicable longing that I felt in Grade 10, when my French teacher, showed us pictures of Versailles, that it felt gut wrenching - as though I had lived there before and longed to go back.

Paris, to me, is like meccaville for travelistas. I haven't been to Europe since I was a kid (ie. early 20s) but I'll never forget that one long, glorious day we spent in Paris.

We took a night train from Nice and ended up at the Gare de Sud sometime at the crack of dawn. We then had to haul our tons of bags to our quaint little hotel 1/2 mile away because cabbies wouldn't take us that close.

And then we went to Versailles, and then back to Paris and we walked literally miles from one end of town to the other - if you've ever wondered where hell's half acre is, let me assure you, it's in downtown Paris - we ran through the Louvre on a kind of proto- di Vinci run around, visited the Eiffel Tower, strolled the Champs-Elysses, stopped at a cafe for a very expensive coffee, drink and meal, and limped home sometime around midnight.

The sites such as Versailles were wondrous, the city was larger than life, the people were ruder than you can ever imagine, the cityscapes were mythical, and the day was almost never-ending.

Oui, oui, c'est magnifique, mon gay Paris.

Tag team you're it. Where in Europe do you belong?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ireland or Prague. Never been to either, but those are some of my roots.

Anonymous said...

The quiz result was Amsterdam. 'A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam.
Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).'

Graffiti artist... that makes me chuckle.

Will you go back to Paris, d'ya think?

Jeri said...

Well, the quiz told me Paris too, which didn't seem to make a ton of sense given my answers... but I think I'll make one up and blog this one, I'd be a travel junkie if I could!

Anonymous said...

As you already know, I 'got Dublin.' In HS I wanted to study at Trinity in Dublin. The city played host to me on my first trip overseas at 16 and I applied to Trinity, but went another direction due mostly to costs and a little fear. Ever since I can remember I've wanted to live there and this last trip last summer only made it worse. The more frustrating work get the more I scheme of how to make it happen...

Anonymous said...

I got Dublin.
"Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.
You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town."
Makes a kind of sense as I'm part-Irish and I do love the idea of a good pub crawl. The rich Irish history of struggle and independence...and those green, green hills!
And yes, Patis makes perfect sense for you.

Jeri said...

Actually, I did it again, and I'm London, a little disappointing but fairly accurate. And I blogged it too... kind of fun.

NB said...

I, too, am Paris.

Let's run away together.

;)

Anonymous said...

When I did this on Catholic Mom's site, it said I was Dublin. Dublin is definitely on my travel list.

NB said...

You didn't answer me...

You wanna be Thelma or Louise?

We can drive a pink car if you want but I draw the line at kids. No danged kids in Paris.

MK?

Holy said...

I ride shotgun - Audrey Hepburn scarf, shades, expensive bonbons within reach, black polka dot bra under white button up shirt so I can flash the truckers.

And kids? Mais non, mam'soille.... pas des enfantes....how you say in mexico de nouveau? No haway, Jose?

But no pink car - too Mary Kay. How bout a silver truck and Huey Lewis on the tune track?

Mud Duck said...

Enjoying your posts,thoughts and adventures. Your new jobs sound just right for now...good luck...hope you enjoy yourself.
MudDuck