“Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right.”
~George Harrison, Here Comes the Sun
I left Paris wanting to write a thank-you note.
A curious idea, perhaps. But after being cooped-up in a non-traveling world for a year-and-a-half – wondering if we’d ever venture out beyond our borders again – I carried home with me a deep and profound gratitude to this city. Everything here looked better, tasted sweeter and felt more alive than I could have imagined. Even behind the constraints of a face mask, it was a sensational feeling to be here, to be traveling again.
And so…
Dear Paris,
Thank you for being the first place to welcome us after travel restraints were lifted. I will always remember you for that.
Thank you for your flaky croissants and crusty baguettes and marvelous macarons that never taste as delicious anywhere else in the world.
Thank you for La Seine, your most soulful river.
Thank you for the way people greet each other when entering and leaving just about everywhere…bonjour, merci, au revoir. Non-acknowledgement is not an option with this lovely custom.
Thank you for your Tuileries Garden, with the pretty metal chairs painted in a luscious shade of mint and the pond and merry-go-round and benches so perfect for dreaming and watching the world go by.
Thank you for your Luxembourg Gardens, more mint green chairs and endless spots for enjoying an autumn day.
Thank you for your cafés, where the word charming must certainly have been invented.
Thank you for Mariage Frères tea.
Thank you for your impossibly perfect views.
Thank you for helping me to remember how much I love wandering your streets and walking through your arrondissements. I hadn’t been here in a very long time, and sometimes it’s easy to forget.
And most of all, thank you for the generous helping of inspiration that you so effortlessly offer to anyone passing through.
Merci beaucoup et je t’aime,
A most grateful traveler
Love!y! A perfect ode to my favorite city. My husband’s family lives in Paris so, pre covid, we visited almost every year for the last 45 years. I remember when the kids were young and my husband was leading another studies abroad trip the pee wee chorus bellowed “What? Paris again? “ 😎
Thanks so much, Jennifer…what a wonderful place to have family to visit! I hope you will be able to return again soon. I’ll bet that as your children got older their “Paris again” comment changed from a question mark to an exclamation point! 🙂
Lovely reprisal, Mary. Your pics, especially, capture the essence of Paris. Thank you!
Robin
Robin, thank you! “Essence” is a beautiful word! I’m really happy to know the photos resonated with you.
And thank you for your lovely sentiments, I got to relive a special travel experience and meet two wonderful people.
Aw, that’s really sweet, Rebecca. Many thanks. Herb and I feel the same about meeting you and sincerely hope we will have a chance to get together again, whether on land, river or sea!
Aww I love this so much, mom! This thank you note could be a children’s book…it’s so beautiful 💕
How wonderful to hear from you here, my dear! I’m thrilled that you love this…and I love your idea for a children’s book. Maybe you could illustrate it 🙂
thank you for your wonderful blog
this brought back great memories from our river cruise along the Seine several years ago
you photos and commentary are fabulous
Sharon, thank you so much for your lovely comment! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, and I’m delighted to have rekindled some happy travel memories from your Seine cruise.
A tour de force Mary. Loved this one.
Many thanks, Janet. That means a lot! 🙂
Written from the heart, without a doubt!
Yes, it definitely was! Thanks so much, Gill 🙂