How do you uniquely experience something that millions have observed, if not in reality then in their dreams, yet in such a way that you remember it forever? Sticking out to you for more than the mere incredibleness of its historical facts? Or to dwindle down that bucket-list? Life really is amazing because of its story quality. Every day is a chapter in the story of life. Every location has had thousands before you upon its very grounds, each with multitudes of stories to own up to. So how are you going to live today in relation to how those before have lived, or are living, their lives in this very location?
When in Europe its so easy to get caught up in the architecture of famous buildings or landscapes and you want this IDEAL experience of a location that you feel should happen when you see it for the first time, or set foot in it. Well, newsflash, sometimes you obtain that "aha" moment, but more often than not the DREAM IS FAR GREATER THAN THE REALITY because we are caught up in someone else's ideal. Yet at the same time, how do you even experience something without having others' experiences color your very own experience? From fiction to nonfiction readings, you glean ideas. All of your senses are violently assaulted, creating connections that fuel memories. And those memories folks? Well, what you say about your travels, those ideas will be passed on to those that surround you now as well as the next few generations. Crazy right?
For me, I like places that remind me of home and don't remind me of home. Make sense? Nothing is more familiar to me than the amazing land of Northern California; therefore, I cannot help but compare the French Countryside to the Bread Basket Farmland, the Alps to my Coastal Range and the Sierras, Munich to Sacramento, Amsterdam to San Francisco and the list goes on. California is definitely the lens through which I examine the world. Yet how can it even compare? How is there even a contest? How are all these experiences now eternally etched as memories for myself and others who follow?
Riding the pond statues in Marie Antoinette's Trianon Gardens, CLIMBING those forbidden fountains, group jumps on hills to the sounds of music, sneaking through human sized "doggy-doors" to enter hidden gardens (vegetable gardens most likely...but still...), having the Seine all to ourselves as the sun is rising or setting, and grabbing seats in random cafes not knowing really how this whole ordering food in another language is going to go down--these are the things I want to remember. All these gorgeous streets merging one into the other, twisting and weaving in terrible directions to confuse even the best of navigators, making my sister repeatedly pose like a statue in front of centuries old creations, helping my best friend become the most renowned scooter squatter in the world and picking those tucked away and almost forgotten locations that seem to still belong to another time.
This set of memories is "dedicated to the one I love"... or maybe one of my sisters...whom I do coincidentally love...
And alleyways leading to places lost in time...
And through Marie Antoinette's Trianon Gardens...
This set of memories is "dedicated to the one I love"... or maybe one of my sisters...whom I do coincidentally love...
My Sister, My Muse
Following her through:
the streets of Paris...
And alleyways leading to places lost in time...
And through Marie Antoinette's Trianon Gardens...
Forcing (I mean kindly suggesting...) her to pose at:
Notre Dame...
And l'Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Les Jardin des Tuileries...
And La Tour Eiffel...
And the great Golden Doors...
Then together we fly at la Tour Eiffel...
And l'Arc de Triomphe...
And the entrance to King Louis's Versaille Palais...
And beside one of the statues of his gardens...
And, my personal favorite, riding one of Marie's dragon/duck statues... truly a great moment...
I also was witness to her photography skills AT:
The bushes of La Tour Eiffel...
And above the crowds of Le Louvre...
Truly though folks, she is an AMAZING photographer and an INCREDIBLE person that I am so blessed to call my sister. We have a lot in common and A LOT of differences but it so brings a whole new dimension to these adventures of life and especially in Paris this round I was able to see the city in a completely different light! Plus, I also got to have her photography skills stalking me as well....
Around la Tour Eiffel...
And climbing the fountains of Versialles... (wait, you never saw this....)...
Or basking in the evening sun along La Seine...
and mimicking even more statues...
Or just being overall excited to be IN Les Jardin de Tuileries and Le Louvre...
There are just so many adventures we had while in Paris and I have the beautiful pictures to prove it. So until next time, Au revoir et bonne nuit! I'll be dreaming about Paris for a few nights this week I think...
"Stars shining bright above you,
Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you',
Birds singing in the sycamore trees,
Dream a little dream of me...
Paris..."
(Don't judge me by the fact that The Mama's and The Papa's lyrics seem to be running through my head right now...rather, enjoy that they now, hopefully, will remain stuck in yours...I mean, there are definitely worse fates to come to a person....)
All the opinions and adventures are in fact true stories of our lives. It has been quite the grand adventure so far eh? And there's so much more to come...
