I haven't quite had the chance yet to talk about many of the places we have traveled as a group in too much detail; like Dublin too in depth, especially Paris, and now we have added the West of the country to the list! Today though my memories of Paris for whatever reason have really tugged at my heart. Going to Paris has always been a dream for me and going there with an open mind could not have been more rewarding. I have two Uncles who live in Paris. I see them often given that my Uncle Mick tries to visit the States twice a year at least. All my life though I have only heard of how he talks about it and have seen it in the movies; living it was quite something though. And that is just want I want to stress...the living part of Paris. Yes, seeing the Louvre, going to Musee D'orsay, climbing Le Arc de Triomphe, and many other wonderful tourist attractions provided so much entertainment, not to mention memories! I know I had previously mentioned how actually getting to rest my eyes on some of the artwork I have studied before boggled my mind, played with my emotions I could even say! But I have to admit that none of those incredible sights stick out to me as my favorite part about that trip. When I think back on Paris I smile every time I remember how I was able to wander the streets the whole afternoon and evening of the second day there. The moment I was given the 'go ahead' to walk alone, I jumped on the nearest metro line and randomly decided to get off at the St. Germaine stop; that could not have been more of a better location. I came up the underground steps and immediately saw people, some busily and other clearly nonchalantly enjoying their afternoon walk just crowding the streets. There were tents set, boutiques, with jewelry and candies and homemade crafts for sale on my left as I strolled down the street and took it all in. What elated me most though was after the stretch of tents, I entered into the part of town where all of the cafes were door to door and there were little shops lining the streets and the tall trees towered over the sides of the road making the old buildings behind them pop. After walking honestly maybe only ten minutes I sat at one of the closest cafes and ordered a coffee so that I could take it all in; then it truly hit me...this is exactly what every other Parisian was doing! It wasn't that all of these other people lining the streets at the cafe's were tourists and this was the first time they were experiencing the streets of Paris, it was simply that this is what the norm is. People watching. I immediately began falling in love with Paris. As I continued to walk I stumbled across little shops or bookstores I wanted to explore; especially the bookstores in this particular part of town seeing as this is where many writers are known to have come. Actually, now that I have brought that up it reminds me that in class today when discussing Singe, that he too traveled Europe and landed in Paris. It was hear he met Yeats was it, or Joyce? And was told to go back to the West of Ireland. Still, the thought of all of these writers and artists of all kinds traveling Europe, no wonder many of them stopped in Paris for a stay. The thing I looked forward to most every day was when I was able to split from the group and get back on the Metro only to randomly just pick a stop and explore. Monmontre was another incredible place! I went back again after we went as a group to see le Sacre Couer. Truly one of my most cherished memories was walking up to the little square, just completely surrounded with people and little shops and coming to the square where an amazing number of artists all set up their eisels and were at work painting, drawing, etc...It was my favorite day.
The other part of Paris that was truly a special experience for me was seeing my uncles in their own home. Being able to make memories with them in Paris was something I had longed for ever since I was a child. They have one house in Paris and another down in Roussillon in Provence, down in Southern France. Quite lucky, yes? The first night my uncle came to pick me up we hopped on the metro only to walk up to the street and sit at a cafe before our reservation at Le Select, of course we would do that! We sat side by side talking as the world just went on in front of us. He took me to Le Select because he told me back in the day this is where everyone came; the writers, artists, etc...again, this did not surprise me; and I truly felt like a Parisian as I sat beside him. When we finished it was time for dinner and he took me across the street to La Coupole. I think I had wrote a little about these previously, how we ordered fresh oysters and everything; he took me there because both of these locations are very old and are known to be a true experience of the culture. I absolutely loved it. I know I rambled but I am understanding more and more why the writers we have studied (or at least some of them) longed to leave Ireland and see more; there absolutely is a lot to see, to feel, and experience around this continent.
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