Paris, je t'aime

Accordions seem like ridiculous instruments.  When I think of them, I imagine an obese guy dressed in ill-fitting overalls with a cigar dangling from his mouth and a little monkey dancing around.  Or I'm reminded of a distant cousin who was forced to entertain us at family gatherings by dragging out the clumsy instrument and laboriously muddling through what roughly sounded like "Memories All Alone in the Moonlight"...

But in Paris, the cheesiness fades away.  I couldn't imagine a more fitting soundtrack for the city.  I realized that Paris is a romantic cliche for a reason.  The view of the Eiffel Tower sparkling from the hills of Montmartre will be an image that I will keep with me the rest of my life.  I will always remember my hair prickling on the back of my neck when the blue beam of light struck my eyes...

What I've discovered about traveling lately is the way a city can run through your veins.  Perhaps it was all the love in the air, but Paris had a unique warmth to it that kept me warm even when an unexpected gust blew my way.  The city itself is one big giant art show; even the subway stations are home to some of the most clever and unique pieces I've seen this semester.

French onion soup.  Macaroons.  Ice cream.  Crepes.  Croissants.  Omelettes.  Before I virutally induce you into a food coma, I'll just say the best two words to describe my weekend are "food orgy".  Every meal gave the same satisfaction as opening one Christmas present after another.  Each morsel was magnificent.

My favorite memory of Paris will be our evening spent at Les Refuge de Fondue, where wine is served in baby bottles, graffiti covers the walls from customers past, and people are packed elbow to elbow like sardines at the tiny tables awaiting their deeeeeliciously decadent fondue.  The evening was filled with laughter and reminiscing; we shut the place down with the owners at midnight.

The trip was all too short for my liking.  Paris, I'll be back for you...