"Le Beau Paris" a Paris Travel Page by Rixie

I was so surprised by Paris. In all the descriptions I've read about it, everyone has made it sound like a grand but cold and distant place, like the Land of Oz, where women have an inborn elegance and men have a natural savoir faire... I had expected to be put off or intimidated by Paris, but I never expected it to be so comfortable, like a series of small, colorful neighborhoods. I found that with my high school French I could read signs and menus and was able, generally, to make myself understood. I felt very much at ease there.

On our way to the Musee d'Orsay, we stopped for a bite to eat. As we sat on some stone steps in the sun, eating our baguettes (mine was saumon fumé and Kelly's was rostbif) and watching the pigeons peck at the crumbs, I looked at the trees and the ancient streets and said, "You know what? I could live here.”

I took this picture early on a Sunday morning, as we were on our way to Notre Dame. We were the only people on the pont, and the light was gorgeous -- almost golden. It was an incomparable moment.

In retrospect, I found it irritating that my teachers in school never conveyed to us what an incredible city Paris is. We were taught the names of landmarks – Le Pont Neuf, Sainte-Chapelle, Le Tour Eiffel, L’Arc de Triomphe -- but no one ever told us what a joyous feeling it is to stroll along the Seine on a sunny afternoon, how beautiful it is to hear the musical sound of the French language all around you, what a thrill it is to be in the City of Lights with someone you love.

The food in Paris was simple but so good and fresh. If I lived there, I'd be very healthy: I'd walk everywhere and buy my bread, fruit, and vegetables fresh every day.