Worth the wait

Paris. Oh, Paris. Having become slightly jaded in my old age, I decided as we drove to the airport that I should really keep my expectations low. Easier that way when the inevitable disappointment of the reality set in. Sure, I thought, I bet it's a nice city and all- but really, there are lots of nice cities and I doubted very much that it could possibly live up to the hype. It was cold and gloomy at home, and as I handed my darling Botany off to my parents, I felt as though I would miss her intensely while we were away (notwithstanding that she treated me to a 5.30 wake up call on the morning of our departure and the prospect of a lie-in at least one morning was decidedly appealing.) 

Approximately four hours after boarding the plane, I found myself walking with a sugar crepe in one hand and Knox's hand in the other, past Pont Neuf bridge, with the late summer sun glistening off the river Seine. Everywhere I looked, there was something to delight me- the vastness and comfort of the apartment we rented in Montmarte, the Art Nouveau metro signs, the incredible grandeur of the Louvre, the charming little brasseries and bistros on every street, the mouthwatering pastries beckoning me from behind the glass counters. It was luminous beyond anything I could have hoped for, and once I picked my jaw up off the pavement, I started kicking myself in the backside for never having managed to visit before now. At least it was worth the wait.  

We spent most of our short stay there just walking around soaking up the atmosphere. We did make one concession to the traditional tourist route- happily, we discovered that museums such as the Louvre are free on the first Sunday of the month, and so there was simply no good reason not to at least pop in for a quick squint at, you know, the Mona Lisa. Everyone told me that it was much smaller than you would otherwise think, and so I was expecting this postcard sized little smile.

Huh. Actually, I said to Knox, it's much bigger than I had been led to believe, and the swarm of flash bulbs eminating from the visiting throng in front of the bullet proof glass wasn't as bad either. A few minutes jostling and we were able to stand comfortably looking on that enigmatic face.  I'm probably a bit of a philistine when it comes to art, knowing very little and as a general rule of thumb appreciating  much less than I probably should- but I found myself surprisingly moved and dare I say awed by seeing that particular portrait. I think it was the jolt of reality of confronting something significant that you have heard about or read about or seen pictures of in a book for your whole life- and then it's there, right there. There, when a year ago you thought your life was in complete tatters and now you find yourself in the Louvre on your honeymoon with your new husband, and the Mona Lisa is smiling at you.

I'm still working on editing the wedding pictures, but meantime, here is one I hope you will like-Botany strategically placed in an obscuring position in her pretty dress, helping us to take our vows. I had to chop it quite a bit to move Knox out of publication's way, but it gives you the flavour, I think.  

(And I've finally fixed it to remove any reference to anyone's actual name. M is for Mare, B is for Botany. Ahem.)

Comments

[Rachel]

Gorgeous photo! I hope you post more.

[VHMPrincess]

That (the post AND the pic) is beautiful! I am so happy for you and your family!

[Sue]

So glad to hear Paris did not disappoint. Thanks for continuing to share. It really is such an amazing story. Wishing you many happy days ahead!

[Jen]

So glad you loved Paris! It never disappoints. :) Beautiful picture, too.

[liza]

um, somebody's name (possibly real) is embedded in the name of the photo
mazel tov
liza bennett

[a]

I'm glad your trip to Paris exceeded your expectations. That's a great thing for a honeymoon - and walking along the river with your husband sounds delightful! Can't wait to see pictures...

[thalia]

sounds idyllic. so glad for this years' life!

[Lucrezia]

Congratulations!! I remember that when I went to see The Mona Lisa (also for free) there were so many people standing around that I couldn't really get a good look. It was less impressive then expected. I'm glad you had a nice honeymoon. I can't wait to see the pictures.

[Stephanie]

Mmm...sounds delightful! It's been forever since I've been to Paris- I am jealous!

[Donna]

Congrats! I felt the same exact way when I went to Paris...sure it must be pretty, but it can't be that awesome, it can't live up to expectations. Within a few hours, we were walking along the Seine as well, totally smitten.