The Backpacker's Travel Series: A Midnight in Paris (1/1)

(Rue Saint-Dominique. I was on my way to the Eiffel Tower to visit my old high school teacher who happened to be in Paris at that time.)

It was sometime around 2011 when my then girlfriend and I watched Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen in an empty theatre. We sat in the middle row and like a little boy, I was ecstatic. It was like watching a movie tailored to you with the person you held most high. As months go by, our relationship also dwindled until we no longer shared what we once had.

During my 2016 backpacking trip across Europe, I decided to go to Paris. I didn’t know or had a real itinerary anyone, but I knew I had to go. I really wanted to re-live Midnight in Paris. I packed my things, walked across the Venetian bridges, and ended up in Marco Polo International Airport. Hours go by and I ended up in Aeroport de Paris-Orly. I got on a train headed for 20 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Paris is truly a beautiful city. My favorite film depicted it quite well, minus the endless cigarette butts. The city’s architecture is one of a kind. It’s as if every corner was chiseled to perfection, just like the various works of art found in the Louvre. Every time I turned my head, I was enamored by beauty. I’ve never seen something quite like it since Los Angeles is relatively new. Just like the Parisians, I spent my time walking the streets and watched people as I sipped on my black coffee. I, of course, also had crème brûlée on the side. It rained often during my time in Paris, so it added to the ambiance. It was melancholic yet tranquil, just like the first rain during winter.

I followed the footsteps of Gil Pender, whether it be the gardens near Louvre or viewing Claude Monet’s Water Lilies in Musée de l'Orangerie; I did it all. I ended up teary-eyed in Musée de l'Orangerie as I realized one of my dreams. As the evening quietly approached, I found myself on Pont Alexandre III – with the Eiffel tower beautifully shining in the back. The light mist turned into a volley of rain. I walked home through the rain, just like the movies.

My trip to Paris was like revisiting an old love. Although I was already seeing someone else during this time, it reminded me that there will always be a special place for those whom you once shared love with. As I promised a friend I made in Paris, we will someday return, but with new found love.

My trip to Italy with be next. I know, this isn't chronological.