Bonjour Monsieur

I don't fall in love with people, just cities.

There are currently 3 cities I have a love affair with.

1. LA: We're lovers, its mutual. The city loves me and I love LA.
2. NYC: That's my wild love affair, our summer together was just that. We aren't ready for each other, but in due time or maybe never. Regardless, the memories I'll cherish.
3. Paris: Ooo la la, that's my abroad lover. We can be perfect for each other, but I need to learn French. I need to put in effort if I truly want it. 

So in case you missed it, I went to Paris for a week during the end of September, coincidentally the same time as PFW *swoon.* Paris was on my mood board for this year, so like i had to make it happen, and we all know what a sucker I am for signs, and on the way to the airport the radio played a Parisian song, so it was meant to be. I had been once before about 7 years ago, and man oh man, I still love Paris. Paris will always be my love affair, I can see myself living there for a year or two as soon as I learn enough French to order more and a chocolate croissant and ask for the check.

Me at 30: Living in Paris, in a cute little Parisian flat on the 8th floor, with a sweet little balcony that I can drink tea on every morning , and freelancing at the cafe downstairs, where I enjoy my chocolate croissant, that's my religion. Dating a Parisian musician or maybe a photographer? I'm not picky, it's casual. Ending my nights with a glass of red wine, sometimes out at dinner with some friends and sometimes after taking my miniature black poodle for a walk. Vacationing on the Amalfi Coast or in Nice, the Mediterranean looks good on me.

​How right does all that sound? 

Being in Paris felt so adult, how I spent my time and where I went was on me, and I could figure it out. I went to visit my cousin who lives there, and has for the past 10 years, but while she was at work I would take the metro and travel to different parts of the city spend time in museums, cafes, and sitting in gardens. There were so many quintessential "Paris moments" like sitting in a cafe and having someone next to me start playing the guitar and break out into a sweet little tone, or singing karaoke in a bar after bar close because it was on my cousin's street and they knew the owner, and a soft rainfall on my last night in the city as we were heading out to go dancing, a movie.

Truthfully, I don't know how to write about Paris in a way that isn't absolutely cheesy. It's been almost a month since my trip and I still don't have words. When I went I tried not to romanticize it, but rather enjoy it for what it was, and to live in the absolute present: to make an effort to get to know locals, to learn a new french word everyday, and to genuinely vacation, and I don't regret it one bit. Leaving Paris wasn't a sad moment I know I'll be back, so visit me when I'm living there, ok?