| Paris From Underneath An Umbrella |
It's surprising how much a rainstorm can change one's experience of touring a big city. As we headed out of the hostel yesterday morning, we were greeted by gray skies, which turned to rain by the time we made it out of the metro. We walked along the Seine and under the Eiffel tower, dodging raindrops and gypsies selling trinkets. We all were well equipped with umbrellas, but the pale sky was less than photogenic, and the raindrops landing on our camera lenses weren't doing much to inspire us either. But we pressed on, touring the Boulevard St-Germain and Boulevard St-Michel, two of the more famous and fancy thoroughfares on Paris' left bank. We stopped for lunch at a grocery store, stocking up on cheese, bread, sausage and pâte, which we carried to the nearby Luxembourg Gardens to eat. As we persisted through the afternoon, so too did the rain, which began to fall heavily as we crossed the Pont du Neuf towards the Ile de la Cité around 7:30. By the time we had reached Notre Dame, the three of us were drenched up to our thighs.
Reading this, you might be thinking about how cold, frustrated, and miserable we must have been. Maybe you're wondering why we didn't go to an exhibit at a museum, see a movie at a cinema, or just get somewhere indoors, out of the rain.
But this is Paris, and she is beautiful and charming and a pleasure to visit no matter what the weather. Marc and Alex definitely did not share my appreciation for the plentiful precipitation we were receiving, but I for one felt rather lucky to be seeing Paris in an entirely different light than most picture it. Not to say that some sun wouldn't have been nice, but it was raining, nothing was going to change that, and I wasn't about to spend one of our few days in Paris sitting inside staring out the window. The Gothic architecture of Notre Dame, with it's huge towers and many gargoyles, looked delightfully ominous with a backdrop of swirling dark clouds. The sound of the chiming bells heard through the pouring rain from out in the square made me wonder how much spookier it would have sounded from inside.
We spent an hour or so snapping photos and watching people run through the downpour sans umbrella, before dropping into the Metro and disappearing back to our hostel for the night. We were tired but satisfied. Instead of the rain ruining our day in Paris, I think it made it a little more exciting.
Today looks warmer, sunny, and perfect for taking a nice long walk around the Palace at Versailles. I will let you know how it goes! |
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