I do not want to be a downer on Paris. Please know that everything I have seen here is wonderful to look at, gaze longingly at and, best of all, is an experience to be around a culture that is something else.
Now please understand me when I say this to you, the blog reader, that I have loved every second of this adventure since I arrived on Feb. 2. I believe the only problem is that I have become way too accustomed to seeing the best of every place I have been on this part of the trip.
Rome has a lot to digest. London does, Berlin does and Prague too. Those were all big-time cities that needed their own 2-3 weeks, not days, to fully appreciate.
Now that I have said that, you might understand why my time in Paris could come off as a bit of a letdown. Actually, letdown is a poor word choice. More like I had seen it and done it already. Maybe burnout is a better word.
Eiffel Tower (my hotel was a block away) was impressive yes, but I have seen the Roman Coliseum and the Mole Antonelliana and London Eye before it.
The Louvre? Awesome. But Mona Lisa was a REAL letdown. Too small and VERY overrated for me. I should have given myself more time in Amsterdam to see more Rembrandt. Van Gogh Museum and the Vatican Museum left more of an impression on me than Mona Lisa did. And why ALL the hype for the Mona Lisa; there are a lot of much more impressive works of art in the Louvre than the Mona Lisa.
Champs Elysees and the L'Arc? The Arc was a wonderul sight to see, but the Champs? Even Lance Armstrong must be tired of that tourist trap scene.
Again, do not get me wrong. If I see all of these things first, I am likely writing this kind of post about another city. I'd like to come back again sometime and see Paris again, but next time with others in tow to make it even more enjoyable.
RTB
P.S. That was NOT me lighting a car on fire or throwing things at the riot police in Paris to protest labor laws that affect the younger workers if you saw any of the footage on TV. That is if you watch BBC news or read the foreign papers.
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5 comments:
Ryan, so glad you are getting to see so many things in person that you have studied in school and read about generally. Paris generates different feelings for me. It is, of course, a spectacularly beautiful city, but like some beautiful people, can exhibit an "attitude" that detracts from that beauty. I do not enjoy that aspect, but it comes with the territory.
It was not until recently that it became accepted that the earth has been (and will be) bombarded with huge meteors from outer space. The Winslow crater in Arizona, nearly 1 mile wide, finally became accepted as a meteor crater. Then, as we realized that eons of time had eroded the original evidence, other impact features began to be acknowleged, some a couple hundred miles across, especially as satellite photography gave us perspectives we didn't have before. None of can experience the magnitude of the catastrophes and lasting effects of these events and can only dimly appreciate the circumstances.
So too it is the same with many of these areas we now visit in peaceful circumstances where commerce thrives and people stroll down the Champs. If one were present when the Nazi Panzers and troops came down the Champs with L' Arc as the backdrop one would never think of the Champs again in the same way. If one were there when the Allies marched down the Champs with the liberation of the France and the enormous outburst of emotion that accompanied it, one would never think of the Champs and L'Arc the same. Even with the tourist trappings of today, a more contemplative review of the events and symbolism would see through that. While garish in some ways, it is a fine tribute, maybe even more so than the eternal flame at L'Arc, that such touristy pleasantry can again flourish as those who were present during those catastrophic times finally die off and memories of those events fade from "I was there" to "I wonder what it must have been like to experience all of that, and look at it now" as is the case with almost every battlefield that becomes history rather than personal experience. Time "erodes" the original evidence and the swirl of emotions that occured and the echos become dimmer and drowned out by new uses just as cities now reside in monumental impact areas masking the stupendous events.
I do not care for that part of France that exhibits the unpleasant attitude, but I acknowlege that the country lives with deep scars of many wars as do all of the other places you have visited. If you look past the shops and kitsch you will likely see another perspective of greater value. We are VERY much looking forward to seeing you this week and beginning to hear of your many experiences. Dad
Dad:
I did not mean to seem flippant about Paris and its vast number of places.
I was merely saying that after visiting so many places that all of these cities begin to run together.
Paris was beautiful and I understand exactly what you are saying, but I think this post was more of a sign that I am just ready to come home.
I know the feeling. That's why they are often referred to as "ABC" tours which stands for Another Bloddy Castle or Another Bloody Cathedral. It gets to be overwhelming and run together. But what a run!! It's something that will emerge time and again as you think and talk about it. A huge plus is the wonderful people you have had in the process. Ciao, Dad
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