Amyra Week #1: Hot and Cold
A perfectly crisp waffle cone topped with sparkling, vibrant gelato that brings you to a state of euphoria.
After a long and sleepless journey, we landed in Paris, where the humidity immediately enveloped us and weighed us down. Starved and dripped in sweat, we sought out something to sustain us, and our eyes landed on a haven: La Crème de Paris. I decided on two scoops of raspberry gelato, completely unaware of the bliss that would soon entrance me. After the first bite, I was sure: this was singlehandedly the best thing I had ever tasted. Every day became a new adventure— or more accurately, a new flavor— to explore: passionfruit, mango, peach, lychee, and more. The cold, refreshing gelato would instantly rejuvenate us for the day and the sights to see.
Yet, despite its captivating taste, that is not the primary reason (it is a very close second, though) why I love this gelato. Instead, it reminds me of my circle of friends on the cobblestone streets, laughing and trying each others’ scoops to pick our favorites. It transports me to our hotel balcony in Barcelona, where we watched the fireworks soar into the sky, and listened to the lively music coming from the nearby clubs until three in the morning. It is the taste of touring the Palace of Versailles, taking thousands of pictures, and roaming the streets of Europe without a worry of the SAT, APs, or school in sight. This gelato is the symbol of my perfect summer where my friends became my family, transforming our bond into that of sisters who never ran out of stories to share and memories to create.
Wow. The imagery you provided in your blog made me feel like I was in Paris with you! I can truly agree that there is nothing better than a cold scoop of gelato on a hot summer day in Europe. Your story reminds me of the time I traveled to Italy with my family. I was quite young—only around 4 or 5 years old—and I would beg my parents to get gelato every night after dinner. It was an amazing time. However, one thing I don’t particularly enjoy about gelato is that there are only fruity flavors, no chocolate ones. I have no issue with fruit-flavored sweets, but I love chocolate, and it bums me out that there are no chocolate gelato flavors. Hopefully someday a brave connoisseur of gelato sets out to solve that problem. Moving on, I loved how you connected the flavors of gelato to your broader experience in Europe. It sounds like you had such a blast! I can relate to the feeling of summer bliss, or rather relief, of not having to worry about school, the SATs, and those horrid AP exams. They are soul-sucking, honestly. All those worries float away during summer, and I’m so glad you got to experience such a fun time with people you loved in such cool places. I’ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, especially at night when it sparkles with those lights—it seems magical. Also, I LOVE your nails so much! That photo you included at the top is so cute, and the ambiance of that restaurant seems so cozy and refreshing. Your nails match Europe’s vibe so well.
ReplyDeleteHi Amyra! I love how many descriptive details you included! It allowed me to imagine what it would be like to be in Paris, which is honestly really good because I have a pretty bad imagination. I had a similar experience during winter break of my freshman year. I went to Portugal with my family, and one of the most memorable experiences I had there was getting gelato. I loved being able to try authentic gelato, and I definitely agree that it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. We went back to buy gelato so many times before returning to America, so I was also able to try a bunch of different flavors. I especially enjoyed the fruity flavors, like the ones you listed. Similarly, eating gelato was even more memorable because I did it with my sister and parents. Traveling with friends also sounds really fun, and I hope I can do it in the future. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Paris before, but if I do, I will definitely check out the gelato!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not the biggest fan of gelato, at all, your incredible imagery is making my stomach growl! Thank you for sharing with such vividity! I am so glad that you were able to thoroughly enjoy your vacation with flavors of gelato and your friends, without caring for drudgery school work. your European summer with your friends absolutely screams “lust for life”, which! Also, I am stunned by your ability to associate your love for gelato to the entire trip so smoothly, it creates a more effective conveying of the happiness that this summer brought to you. This blog is beautifully descriptive, and more than enough to be my inspiration to plan a trip with my friends as well. Again, thank you for sharing your blast of a trip with us–I hope you continue to make these ever-lasting memories on future adventures!!
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