springtime in Paris
Louvre triumphal arch and Eiffel Tower, originally uploaded by byronv2.
I'm still processing pictures from my long weekend in Paris, my first (wonderful) trip, a terrific 40th birthday present - I shot over 2 gigs worth of pics and video clips so it will take some time to sort them and upload them to Flickr and YouTube and meanwhile I want to tackle some Bande Dessinee I picked up in bookstores there (Latin Quarter is alive with bookstores, I loved it). My French isn't great and it is rusty, but I am going to see what I can get out of them anyway. Actually I am still processing the trip, not just the pics. I've known Paris from books, poetry, photographs, art and cinema for so long and she didn't disappoint me. I got all excited just by standing on the Pont Neuf, location for the first movie I ever saw Juliette Binoche in (and fell in love with her right away, the first of many French actresses who I've fallen for over the years) in Les Amants de Pont Neuf. I came home late Monday and its still all running through my head; last night I dreamt of walking night time streets in Paris, sitting outside a brasserie sipping wine, listening to the delicate sounds of the French language and late night jazz music...
But for now here are three Parisian landmarks for the price of one - the Porte des Lions side of the Louvre, the Napoleonic monument to the Grande Armee and inbetween the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the Tower on the skyline is a great feeling - I suppose this must be how visitors here feel when they stand and stare at Edinburgh Castle rearing above the city. The Eiffel Tower was the last I saw of Paris - as we took off late in the evening from Charles de Gaulle I could see Paris at night from the air; last thing I saw before we went up into the clouds was the Eiffel Tower, the big searchlight rotating on the top and the bright band of light that was the Champs Elysee on the other bank. An hour and a half later descending over the dark mirror of the Forth I saw Edinburgh Castle as we flew in.
The Eiffel Tower and Edinburgh Castle by night from the air, two superbly iconic European landmarks from two of the most beautiful cities in the world (and I'm lucky one of those cities is my home) all in a couple of hours. And I had some nice red wine to drink on the way (merci aux Air France!). Sometimes life is good... Got a gazillion more pics to sort and upload, some of the obvious tourist spots (we walked everywhere, my feet are still sore, but its the best way to see it and to learn the streets, to feel the city) but think I've picked up some not so touristy ones too with any luck. Going to take ages to go through them all though! Might as well have some more vin rouge as I do... Now I just have to get out of the habit of saying bonjour, merci and au revoir in each shop or bar I go into - I've just stopped myself three times today from almost doing it! A bientot, mes amis!