About this blog

Some feelings are best expressed when written.. It gives you the freedom to think and the ability to relive that moment.. so here I go scribbling all those random feelings I experience..

Saturday, January 31, 2009

"Paris in unmuted notes"

I had seen loads of photos, heard the stories, imagined myself on top of the Eiffel tower and most frequently in the arms of someone as the sun goes down over the river Seine.

I was told you either hate or love Paris. I loved it from the very moment we stepped out of the railway station.. Everything looked beautiful and totally divine.. I loved the parks, the old buildings, the run-down quarters, the French, whom I thought were extremely helpful (...maybe it helps being a foreigner), and most of all the feeling of everything being larger-than-life. The churches, the cathedrals, the ministries, the museums and the monuments…not to mention the boat ride!

Three days in Paris is enough to scratch the surface, and that is what we set out to do. The first destination took us to Ile de Cité, one of the two islands in the river. This island hosts the world famous Notre Dame, which is a beautiful church both inside and out. It is, of course, most famous for its gargoyles up in the towers, which you can que up to see. We didn’t..




There is just something about the solitude you find in churches. Especially in Paris where it usually is dark inside but. On a clear day the windows in St.Chapelle work like a caleidoscope, reflecting light in different colours.



I could go on about the churches and the sights, but the only thing I really have to mention is the walk to the Eiffel. It was dusk and the scene was magical. I remember walking around the corner to see the tower in front of me. My breath caught in my throat. Who knew it was so beautiful? Just as the sun set the sparkling lights on the tower turned on. There was an audible gasp from everyone enjoying the night on the Champ Du Mars. The most romantic and wonderful moment I have ever had. Talk about a Zen moment.. Just pure magic..



There is much more to say about Paris. I haven’t touched upon shopping, nightlife, Montmartre with its landmark Sacre Coeur, Pigalle with its landmark Moulin Rouge, nor Champs Elysée nor… Books have been written about Paris, and although I probably could waffle for hours I won’t. Go to Paris, and fall in love with the city…or a Frenchman. If you go for three days or less, have a plan. If you have a plan, don’t follow it, go with your heart, walk until your feet demand hospital care. And let Paris embrace you, if there is no man round for the job. It’s not quite the same, but it worked for me. :)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Life as I see it..

Today has been a rare free day for me; a day when there is no office, no meetings, no appointments nor any pending work that I was guiltily telling myself to do.

From the regular busy me, today I suddenly had choice. Do I sleep some more, do I watch a movie, do I go out to the city and shop, do I read (yawnnn). Finally I decided to lie in bed to read and sleep alternately. This whole process of thinking, evaluating and deciding took less than a minute. A marathon nap-wake-read-nap-wake-read-nap-wake-read day followed. Hmmm... there is something to be said for going through one of Matthew’s Simmons reports on peaking oil sleepily..

I finally got up at five after a total of 14 hours in bed. Must say, I felt totally fresh. Went to the kitchen to make a fresh cup of tea, it was around -10 degrees outside & slightly drizzling. Standing by the window seeing cars move by for nearly an hour, I feel rejuvenated enough to go do something else.