Things I Saw in Paris Today

April in Paris is, of course, the stuff of legends, and with good reason. The city comes absolutely alive on beautiful days like this one: parks fill with lovers and friends, streets pulsate with the sound of French voices, children scooter by as teenagers skate adeptly through crowds. The seats outside at cafés are crammed full of people basking in the sun, and I find it impossible to feel anything but contentment.

Unlike most of my days, I had absolutely no agenda when I awoke. I laid in bed, listening to the sounds drifting up from the courtyard, and eventually rose to run through my favorite spot in the city (Parc des Buttes-Chaumont). I stopped to take pictures, I came home and showered, and then I took off again, eating petit déjeuner at a lovely restaurant called TopKnot before wandering for hours. I bought some cards, I looked in store windows, and I sat in a different park with a book, allowing my face the smallest of sunburns. Somehow, it all feels like an achievement.

Now I’m back in the flat where I’m staying, preparing for an evening at my friends’ home. I shouldn’t be surprised that Paris has delivered so much today, but for all the times the city has given me beauty, I remain in awe of how wonderful it really is.

So that’s it for today – I mean, so far. No doubt there is wine in my future, and laughter, and good food. For now, though, I’ll simply sit on this couch for a bit longer, listening to the sounds of this beloved city, and appreciate all that came my way today.