currently i'm having a love affair with paris

still shot from Midnight in Paris

It doesn't happen often.  I'm not one to easily be swept way.  But Paris is an exception; it stays on my mind.  Maybe it's like one of those lovers who you don't give the time of day to initially, but you end up falling for them even harder due to their sheer persistence.  And the love is therefore more substantial.  Paris wasn't on my international traveling list, but it ended up being my first stop.  A friend traded houses for a month with a Paris family, so I had to go.  Free room in Paris?  Yes, please.

still shot from Midnight in Paris

As I prepared for my first trip, my co-worker, who happened to be from France, tried to teach me a few French words.  I could barely make out the beat to separate where one word ended and another began.  Such a beautiful, but difficult language.  If memory serves, it is from the novel, The Passion, that I read the eloquent explanation of why French is so beautiful, how each word was scrutinized for beauty, sound, meaning from amongst all dialects around, to converge as modern French. 

from the instagram of lisa congdon

from the instagram of lisa congdon

Perhaps fanning the fire of my missing Paris was seeing all the discerning instaram photos Lisa Congdon posted during her recent honeymoon.  Each photo captured the quintessential joy of walking Paris. 

still shot from Midnight in Paris

Then I had my own little (virtual) Paris walk when borrowing a friend's copy of Midnight in Paris.  The movie opens with such glorious scenes of city streets.  Vantage points just framed beautifully in the camera and held in view, lingering on my screen.  Smartly, the whole opening sequence continued in this spirit, and I watched it thrice before moving on into the story of the movie.

still shot from Midnight in Paris

I've been back to Paris again.  In fact, it's where I've internationally traveled to the most.  Twice.  This summer, Montreal will have to do as an attempt to satiate my thirst for detailed architecture, the buzz of words I can't differentiate in a sentence, and romance of art.

still shot from Midnight in Paris