Let’s Start with Paris…

I have been thinking of the perfect place to start…haven’t found it yet, so i’m starting with the story that’s foremost in my mind, and luckily it carries the essence of the blog. So let’s dive in shall we?

I’ve always wanted to go to Rome. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world, and immersing myself in that history is something i’ve dreamt of doing…still is. So, that’s what I was going to do this year; take a trip to a place i’ve dreamt of for a long time. Howeverrr, the process to get a visa there was going to take a while, and I didn’t want to wait that long. This is how Paris became a topic. It was supposed to be a means to an end, pass through the city on my way to my final destination.

I booked my train for the end of July. When i got to Gare du Nord (The North Station), i felt it instantly. It took me a while to name the feeling, but after the 15 minutes walk to my Airbnb, and the stumble up the 4-flights of stairs to my room, and after seeing my room and the bay windows overlooking the grounds, and the stroll around the area looking for an adapter and a supermarket open at that time of night, and the shop keeper saying ‘bonsoir’ i could finally name it. In this place that I had arrived by myself, i felt like a part of it; the feeling of Home.

The next 2 days were some of my best times so far. I visited the Arc d’triumphe, the eiffel tower, the sacre coeur, took a boat ride on the siene, and walked around so much, i felt like a local. It also meant so much to me that I took the public transport, it made me feel unafraid, like i was evolving into a me i really needed.

There is magic in that city, the exact kind i needed. I didn’t know what a solo trip without an agenda would look like for me and I worried it’d be a waste. I’m not a stranger to doing things by myself and I enjoy it, but I had packed my bags, and travelled to another Country for the sole purpose of…nothing, lol. I was nervous. I wanted to explore places and pastries, but I kept thinking of what it’d feel like. Turns out Paris was waiting with open arms and being a tourist is fun.

There is magic in that city, the kind you can feel. On my last day, a few hours before my train left, my entire experience was crowned with a reminder of what ‘much more than enough’ means. I sent the gist to one of my closest friends, Elsa, and I have a screenshot of the message:

There is a level of surrender that exploring requires for it to produce the wonder we all want from discovering new things. It’s the surrender to admit you don’t know, and ask for help, the surrender to not be afraid of missing your turn and starting again because the destination is that important, the surrender to assume the best in people, having faith that when you ask a stranger for help, it will surely be given. Exploring parts of Paris reminded me of that. The release of inhibitions if you want to get to the destination, because you cannot do it alone.

Oh but the magic in that city, and the grace of God, and the July Sun, and all the pastries, and all the walking, they loved on me exactly how I needed, and i will forever be grateful.

I’m still going to get to Rome and immerse myself in it, but Paris, for welcoming me with the most unexpected ‘much more than enough’ wonder, thank you.

For anyone thinking of going anywhere, Go, and if there are detours, lol, even better.

See you soon.

All my Love,

Queenet.