Pages to Paris
Oh Paris. It feels almost absurd to write about a place I have never been too, yet somehow, I feel as if I have known you for decades. For years, I have gathered little fragments of you through TV shows, books and stories, piecing them together until you no longer felt like a distant city.
Perhaps it all started when I watched Miraculous Ladybug and Chatnoir for the very first time. Through a screen, I watched Parisian streets shimmer beneath the city lights and surrender to the embrace of the starry night, while the Eiffel Tower stood illuminated against the darkness.
Then came a little Thea Stilton book about you, I reread those pages until I could almost feel the smooth cobblestones beneath my fingers. Somewhere along the way, my fascination deepened. I found myself tied to your triumphs and heartbreaks – cheering wildly when France won the 2018 World Cup, from that day on, and defending you whenever anyone dared say something against you. When you lost I felt genuine heartbreak. Somehow, a small fascination had grown to something I could deeply feel for.
Now, I carry a quite dream of the day we finally meet. I picture myself living in a two-story apartment with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower, its golden glow spilling into every room – even the bathroom. Perhaps I would live above a tiny bakery, waking each morning to the scent of freshly baked bread and learning your true rhythm. I promise you when I am there, I shall not do what the locals do and ignore the Eiffel Tower just because I have seen it so many times, its beauty could never be fully be captured with one glance, let alone a million.
I know you might be louder, messier and less perfect that the postcard suggest. But I want to fall in love with the real you. Strolling around your streets, tasting delicate pastries, discovering hidden corner and taking in you beauty.
Until then, Paris, I will keep finding you screen, pages, and day dreams. And someday, I hope those pages finally lead me to you.
Yours Truly,
Vedha
Hi Vedha, I really liked your idea of fully associating yourself with a location such as Paris. I’ve always seen so many people have dream vacations, but you truly embodied the meaning of it as a dream. Your indirect experiences with the location, such as France’s World Cup win and the Thea Stilton books, really showed how much of an emphasis you put on your dream of visiting Paris. Your added vision of living in Paris is something that I found really unique. I feel like most people would think about New York or Los Angeles as their settled location, but the way you described Paris, the bustling streets, the peacefulness of living above a bakery really helped me visualize your dream. I went to Paris two years ago, and I had lots of fun despite my limited time there, and the Eiffel Tower was glorious in the night. I truly hope you get to go visit France soon, it is an amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Vedha, I really liked how you framed this piece like a love letter. This really reminded me of the several works related to love works from the renaissance. With the associations we commonly have from that time along with how most associate France with romance, it makes quite an interesting meta concept. Making a love letter to the country of romance in a style referencing Shakespeare (Oh Romeo; Oh Paris), a man most famous for his romantic works is quite a creative way to show just how much you want to go to Paris.
ReplyDeleteHi Vedha! I love this blog! The emotion that you poured into this piece elevates the overall quality! The picture that you provided looks like an absolute dream along with your illustrating diction. I can envision myself in the city after reading this. I also love how you thoroughly describe how distant you are from the city, yet know it so well because of its portrayal in TV shows and books. That really adds to the admiration of the city.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Miraculous Ladybug and Chatnoir was set in Paris, so thank you for teaching me that! I’ve never watched the show because I always thought it was a little bit more on the corny side, but I know how much everyone loves the show. Your blog just brought me back to my childhood when you mention Thea Stilton, so thank you! I’ve always cherished that series and its seventy books!
I love your dream of living in Paris! I’ve honestly forgotten how romantic Paris used to be portrayed because of the recent events in the world. Nonetheless, I hope you find this perfect apartment where you can live life to the fullest! Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Vedha! I want to start off by saying that this was beautifully written and an amazing blog idea! I love how descriptive you made your letter and the concept of writing a love letter for a place I have never been to but have heard countless stories about. I also find the structure of your letter well-done; you first became intrigued by Paris through the show Miraculous Ladybug, where you fell in love with the scintillating lights of the eiffel tower and city. Your love then deepened through the Thea Stilton books (which were my favorite as a kid!), which altogether, eventually grew your fascination with Paris so much that you cheered for France in the World Cup and felt heartbroken when they lost. I think this was a nice progression that showcased how deep your love for Paris truly runs! Your letter also made me evaluate my own experiences with the media’s representation of Paris. I also admire the mesmerizing aesthetics of Paris and it is somewhere I hope to visit in the future. Like how you explained in your blog, despite how amazing Paris seems in the media, it is definitely glorified and likely messier than how it is presented. I admire how this isn’t a factor that stops you from wanting to live there. I hope in the future you can fulfill your dreams about Paris!
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