Arguably, Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. The light, the monumental buildings on practically every corner, and French savoir faire combine like no other place on earth to create an ambience that positively oozes romance.
We look out over the city from the top deck of the Eiffel
Tower. It is a cold evening in late
November. The air has the promise of
winter’s chill and clouds swirl around the upper deck obscuring the tower and
diffusing the searchlight as it arcs across the city.
Literally a Tower of Babel, we catch phrases from every language on the planet but the language that predominates is American
English. Unlike most places we go, Americans are all over Paris.
Deb and I are entranced by the vistas. We arrive at the top just as the light of day gives way to the lights of the Parisian evening. We both notice one
couple in particular. He is a tall, not
particularly handsome guy and is as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I've never seen anyone so obviously nervous. She is an attractive brunette who thanks him
for coming to the top with her. I
attribute his queasy look to acrophobia
but I am soon proven wrong. While we watch, the guy grabs the girl’s hand, drops to one knee, and asks her, “Will you marry me?” The girl devolves into hiccups,
tears and shrieks of delight as she screams, “Yes, yes, yes!” “I love you so much!” The guy rises to his
feet and practically bending her in half backwards, plants a long kiss on the girl as
the crowd bursts into applause.
So I submit, is Paris romantic or what? They even have a window on the top deck of
the tower where you can buy a glass of champagne. What better way to toast an ascent of the
tower than with a glass of champagne?
(Deb and I skipped this as it was 10 euro a glass and we had an ice cold
bottle waiting for us at our pied a terre which would be our last stop of the
day)
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| Our pied a terre in Paris |
Another reason Paris seems romantic to me is I see more
people smiling here. People just
generally seem to be happy here. What’s
not to like? There is good cheap wine,
lots of great cafes to eat and drink in, some of the best bread in the world and a patisserie on every corner.
More great art than just about anywhere…and that is just on the
street. As for the Museums…the Louvre,
the Musee d’Orsay, and Musee d’Orangerie, are incomparable. Add great cathedrals, public buildings, parks and squares and you have one of the
truly great cities of the world.
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