It's 4 a.m. on my birthday and Beni and I must get up and ready to catch the train. Beni greets me with a birthday song, a song that he would sing daily to me over the course of our Paris visit. We make it to the station with plenty of time to get an apple juice for the ride. I love the apple juice in Switzerland, it's carbonated which makes it quite refreshing, especially following a chocolate croissant. Beni and I take our seats next to the window, we are facing each other, separated by a small table where we enjoy our little breakfast on the go. The train starts to go and I realize that I do not enjoy sitting backwards on this trip, trying to focus on the world flying by me in reverse makes me a little dizzy. Sitting on the other side next to Beni sounds better anyways so I switch seats. A few hours later and one transfer, we arrive in Paris.
My first impression is made by a giant train station, the extravagant details in the clocks and walls are only a preview of all the beauty this city will hold. I can't remember the last time I have been in such a crowded place but we make our way to the metro. This would be our mode of transportation for the next four days, crammed shoulder to shoulder with a diverse car of people. Faces young and old, various shades of browns and whites, facial features from all over the world that would suggest one melting pot of the human race. Having been in Switzerland for the last five weeks, I have only heard Swiss German and German being spoke but in this metro I hear mostly French and a bit of English. I spend many minutes thinking about how incredible it is that billions of people on this planet speak different languages and that I can be surrounded by hundreds of people whom we may not be able to share common words together. Fortunately, most people can speak a little bit of English. My boyfriend Beni who is Swiss can speak German, Swiss German, English, Italian, and a bit of French. It's a little ironic that some traveling Europeans have to speak English to each other when they do not speak the chosen language.
When I am with Beni and his family in Switzerland, everyone does their best to speak English with me. When we are at a restaurant or store, Swiss German is spoken and I usually cannot understand. I have recently started taking German lessons, once I learn this I can learn Swiss German and I won't feel so isolated. In the mean time Paris is a breath of fresh air when it comes to hearing English again. It's all around me, every server can speak a few words at the restaurants, there are also many Americans here. Even if I am not in a conversation with them, hearing them speak around me is like comfort food to my soul.
After our first metro ride and a few transfers, we make it up to the day light to the republique square. Our hotel is only a block away from this well known gathering place. Restaurants and shops surround this area, and hundreds of people crowd the streets. We make our way to our hotel, Le General, hidden among the cultured buildings. Our room is quite small but welcoming. The hotel is made to look modern even though you can feel the age and history in it's foundation. I couldn't be happier to be in this adorable French hotel, celebrating my birthday, and enjoying the company of this handsome man of mine. After our travel we are ready for a little exploration and celebration. I change in to my birthday dress I treated myself to from the H&M and we head out in to the romantic streets, looking for an adventure.....
No comments:
Post a Comment