A New Yorker Goes to Paris

Interior of the Louvre

One of many Cafes in this building

Musee du Louvre - Louvre Museum

If you've never been to Paris and have been to New York quite a few times, and have often wondered, "Hey, I'd sure like to go to Paris but..." faced with so many limitations. Afraid to fly. No passport. No money for an international getaway. No adequate vacation time. You name it. Limitations stopping you from achieving your dream of visiting Paris. 

Do not despair. Just go back to New York one more time, and pretend that all the people you see are speaking in a language that you may not understand. Greet everyone with a Bonsoir or a Bonjour and a smile. The mere fact that you are greeting in French or otherwise, also is characteristic of life in Paris. Take a deep breath and let go of all the hustle and bustle, stress and angst, pretend you can't hear the car horns blaring, the yellow taxis cursing or the construction men catcalling. Just tune them out and walk around with an ease that is indistinguishably "Parisien." As you walk along any block of your choice, replace the numbered streets with an Arrondisement (for e.g., 7th street is 7th Arrondisement), every other avenue is a Rue Du something. Make believe some of the Italian restaurants, bagel shops and Starbucks you encounter every half a block in New York represent the Cafes, Boulangerie, and sweet smelling Patisseries. Imagine that people are actually sitting in them on the sidewalk leading to the block sipping espresso or Champagne or an awesome import beer at 11 in the morning. 

Then, simulate street hustlers/beggars (who to me, really have no business being in a sexy city like Paris) instead of the street hawkers, naked cowboys and cartoon characters, and the abundance of Starbucks coffee with an equal slew of Belgian beer and Champagne (not sparkling wine!). Most importantly, imagine that Times Square is filled with haunting gargoyles and medieval architecture instead of flashing lights, advertising campaigns and billboards, this image will represent the sheer magnificence of the Louvre Museum. Replace the skyscrapers and high-tech looking high rises with a commensurate amount of European, medieval architecture lined with Gothic gargoyles, must not forget the gargoyles, Paris is filled with them.

Madonna said it best in her song: I don't like cities. But I love New York. 

Now I know why.

This is my feel of Paris within the first 24 hours. For a place, I heard so much about, I gotta say, it feels a lot like New York. Like a prodigal son to New York. Like the Prodigal (much older) Son that took all of his daddy's money and used it to build the Louvre and a Grand Palais everywhere. There's a Grand Palais structure for every wife, girlfriend, concubine, once they get upset with him, he builds them an intimidating medieval structure complete with gargoyles, gold trimmings, imposing gates led by a cobbled stone parkway, all to appease them for another hundred years.


The one thing I'd say about Paris apart from the abundance of medieval Gothic architecture effaced with gargoyles that start to get a bit much is this: There's a certain latitude with their demeanor. America can be a little heavy handed with their rules, their morals that seeps into the demeanor of the inhabitants. A cop on every corner, checking forms, filling forms, frantic checking of IDs, no alcohol sale on certain Sundays in certain parts of America, certain parts consider everything indecent and against "family values." When you order a drink at Noon they look at you as if you're some type of alcoholic. In my part of Atlanta, we only got alcohol sale approved in 2013, and even with that, not all counties. You would rush to the grocery stores on Saturday to stock up for Gameday Sunday. I would go to wine country up in Dahlonega and have to wait to Noon to be served alcohol!

None of this orchestrated manipulation of human behavior existed or is apparent in Paris, it's like a breath of fresh air, easy, casual, sensual living. Drink Champagne, espresso, beer and lounge at a cafe and just be. You are not even rushed out of your seat once you're done eating. They just let you sit there and soak it all in. That felt so refreshing.

There are so many comparisons between these two great cities that I had to keep reminding myself, "You're not in New York, you are in Paris. The Paris." But it just felt and breathed a life somewhat similar to New York.  Everything about it just spelled New York at first glance. There are a only but a few distinguishing shades to both cities, but they have that imposing big city set on water with a lot going on artistically sense to them. They both have a life and it's that life that inspires you, that caresses you, good or bad, that seduces you to fall in love with them in different ways.

I could go on with the comparisons between Paris and New York, if you can remember some more, I'd like to hear them.