log 12: paris

city of love

The moment I stepped foot into the city, I could feel the huge shift in energy compared to America. Something about the layout and the design of Paris caught my attention instantly. One of the first things I noticed was how almost all the buildings are capped to six floors. The lack of skyscrapers completely changes the entire ambiance of the city. On the first day, I decided to walk around and explore with no predetermined destination in mind. I started off by taking the metro all the way to the area where the Le Cordon Bleu institute is, which happens to be near the Eiffel Tower. After taking a short peek inside the school I’ll be attending in the fall, I just started walking. I walked until I got to the Eiffel Tower, saw another cool monument and walked there. Then I saw another cool monument and walked to that one. This continued for about 4 hours where I walked a total of 10 miles. It’s been a shocking four years since I’ve left America and stepping foot into a city with so much culture was truly amazing. No matter where I go, there's always something that catches my attention. Whether it’s a small park or a random book store, everything has its own charm. However, without a doubt, it is the food that has swept me away in bliss. Over the past three days I’ve eaten such incredible things that all have the same theme, light-ness? Regardless of what you pick up on the street or at a random bistro, everything you eat here is incredibly light. There are no overwhelming or shocking flavors that are just thrown together like it is in Boston. Food here is more delicate, more refined, which gives the flavors space to develop its complexity. And the dining experience is far more enjoyable. Every meal has a mandatory glass of wine to enjoy the peace. I know there are the pros and cons of each country and all the experiences that come with it, but these are the experiences that I grew up with traveling around Europe with my family. I’ve truly missed it.