Paris

Part 1: Bonjour. My name is Paris.

La tour Eiffel. Oui oui. Tres belle.

You may know me due to some world famous buildings and monuments, which someway attract loads of selfie oriented  a lá  tourists but basically you know me because of Eiffel tower – the Facebook symbol of engagement; Louvre – surely because of The Da Vinci Code; and  Champs-Élysées – because of the song by a French singer whose name you cannot recall (Joe Dassin… I know… I didn’t know it either).

I’ve been also lately featuring news channels a lot as some other more crafty “tourists” put my name on top of Twitter posts under the hashtag #parisattacks. [[Let the victims rest in peace.]] Consequently, I had to adjust to the ongoing trends and put some new fasion accessories on board. Those would involve additional safety and security precautions like scans for guns and explosives and lots of armed military man strolling around like casual citizens. You could easily come over to one of them and ask where is the nearest candy store and he’d help you. But. Once you turn around he’d continue his duty of protecting my life. 

This recent popularity is actually a reason why I’ve been a little empty these days as people tend to like me a little less and talk about me when I am not around. Nowadays it only takes an hour to get into Eiffel tower, Spartan bravery to even decide to queue in the Louvre line and several hours to get into Sacre Coeur during the Eastern Sunday. Well. Nope . I am lying. You cannot get in. You can only stand as close as it is possible and maybe… take a selfie. 

SACRE COEUR. Easter Sunday.

So even with all this fuss going on, there are millions who come and see me. They pay enormous receipts at top notch restaurants, visit all the obligatory spots, take pictures with fingers tipped at the top of Eiffel and loose money on the street games. No wonder – as  I  am  always  and  forever – the  KING  of  the  tourism  world. 

 ***
Part 2: While reading The Great Wizard of Oz @ Parisian hostel…

The Scarecrown listened carefully, and said, “I cannot understand why you should wish to leave this beautiful country and go back to the dry, grey place you call Kansas”. “That is because you have no brains”, answered the girl. “No matter how dreary and grey our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.” The Scarecrown sighed. “Of course I cannot understand it,” he said. “If your heads were stuffed with straw, like mine, you would probably all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all. It is fortunate for Kansas that you have brains.”
L. Frank Baum – “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”

We like what we know. And we fear what we don’t. But when we get to know and familiarize with something, which used to be extraterrestrial once, we might love it even more than we could’ve expected. But of course, we might hate it as well. So how do we know? I guess we taste it. Try it. Pinot Noir with dark chocolate (99% cacao) pairs well they say. Does it? Try. Let’s try it.

France has give me a lot to reconsider. People. Skin. Religion. Attraction. Continents. Neighbors. Friends (?). Acquaintances. Family… What is right? Nobody knows. Others cannot be right about your life even though if they’re parents, siblings or #doesntmatterwho. One who has never spoken to a person who believes in Hindu gods or has never touched a chocolaty skin cannot advise you well about your intercultural relationships. Just as I said before. Unknown matters scare the hell outta us. So .. introduce yourself. And maybe then… you’ll know.

And actually one must admit. Eiffel tower is pretty amazing. No matter how pop it is. And yes, I bought a tiny Eiffel tower keychain pendant. Of which I am not very proud. Well, actually I bought 5… One now is swinging on my new shiny bag…