for the love: March 2015

I told the bus driver, I wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower. He didn't get me so I said Tour Eiffel (tourifel).
And he exclaimed, ah Tourifel!

I would say, the movies and books have greatly influenced me in my fascination for Paris, aside from it being a fashion capital. Every time, I see a movie set with the Eiffel Tower in the background, my eyes are glued on the screen instantly and I'd be daydreaming I was there.

Even in the 1900s, Paris was the rave of the middleclass and high society like Tolstoy's characters in Anna Karenina. My favorite hero Jose Rizal and friends went to Paris. He exclaimed that it's the costliest city in Europe. There's a plaza named after him at the 9th arrondisement.

I remember reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and at that point where Amy goes to Paris, I told myself I had to be there too!

My friends who have visited the city before me were divided. Some said it's overrated, others claim it's a magical place.

Having been there recently, I agree with the second group. I say, every girl should go to Paris! Especially in January when the shops are all on sale. (Except for LV.)

After asking fellow tourists to take my photo outside the LV shop, I picked a Rue (road) and turned my back at the shopping avenue lined with pretty shops with the prettiest enticing red sale signs. The best way to avoid temptation is to walk away.

I did enter LV shop though. I mean, I'm in Paris, why should I miss out on paying homage to the Mothership!

I found the Mothership!

But I guess, it was too much to ask my fellow tourists to get me a good shot.

I also wanted a view of Champs Elysees at the background (which is to my left in the photo) but, this is all I've got. There were 3 other shots but this is the best.

From Champs Elysees, I walked to one of the roads leading to River Seine. And this came to sight.

The beautiful Anglican church and some scribbles in the sky. Hah! I wanted to tug a stranger's arm and point to the sky like a little child seeing an airplane for the first time. But of course, I didn't and took out my phone and pointed and shoot instead.

Just a regular church apparently, or at least that's what I was told

I also saw the fashion house of Yves St. Laurent, where I spotted some statuesque designer assistants maybe in all-black ensemble, the unofficial official uniform of the fashion industry peeps. I thought I'd take a picture of the building but got intimidated by the dudes with alienish coiffed hair wearing high-heeled heavy-looking boots and black capes like dark angels.

I felt like little red riding hood in the forest, alive and skipping and smiling. Of course, I didn't skip and didn't smile ear to ear when there were people nearby. Only when I was alone. I wanted to shriek, I'm in Paris! Me, moi a Paree! Or at least I think that's how they say it in French.

River Seine, view from the bus

It's an enchanting place and the guys are such gentlemen. Before getting there, I had this impression that Parisians are snobs but not anymore. Based on my experience, they are courteous and polite, greeting me "bonjour" or "bonsoir"! And very helpful too.

I got lost - took the wrong bus, got in the wrong train, missed my stop, couldn't find my street, didn't know my way to this and that, got disoriented, should I go left or right. In those times, I asked for directions. And I never got a no (not unlike in, I won't say which city). The strangers, I approached, about 20 or so, whether they spoke English, French or body language, all helped me to find my way and with genuine concern.

Three French guys at different times helped me carry my luggage to climb up and down the stairs. This was when I came from the airport. I didn't even ask. Whenever I'd find myself in front of a flight of stairs, they would appear out of nowhere. They were my angels. I don't know how I could have managed without them. I could have but with a broken back.

My Airbnb host, Annick was such an amiable lady. It was like visiting an aunt, so caring and sweet. To think, it was my first time to meet her that cold January night. She cooked dinner for me on my first night, offered wine and what-have-you's, including her coat and shawl. She also helped me with my luggage because her apartment was on the 4th floor and her stairs looked like this.

The apartment's beautiful wooden staircase

It was freezing cold outside. The lowest temperature when I was there was 5 degrees Celsius. Coming from a tropical country, that's the coldest I've ever experienced in my whole life. And to think, I was outside walking in the streets half the time I was in Paris for 5 days. That's why I loved coming home to my warm room. It had a vintage heater.