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Paris is a city of Romance. One really feels loved and really likes the treat
that the eye gets from every little corner and every Parisian. Paris has its
own charm with its Grand buildings like the Eiffel Tower, the Opera House,
the Versallis Palace, the Arc de triumph, the Momarth village, The Louvre,
The Carnavalet Musuem, Mussue Dorse and the local market and Streets like
Champs Elyssey.
I guess there goes a saying like Paris has everything for every one. I guess
the best part is that Paris has maintained the history and also adopted the
modernism in buildings like Grand Arcade, the La Defense District, modern
tram.
I was hosted by Evelyne Boregello at Place De Seoul. A really sweet lady who
tried her best to make me at home. She has a studio apartment but really
comfortable for a single person. She specially took me to the Architectural
Musuem where in there was an exposition repgarding the development of
the city of Paris. She took me to many places like the local market,
Napoleon’s tomb, Carnavalet museum, Pompidou, Tour de Eiffel, the
architectural museum. What made Paris, Paris is its large plazas or vistas like
at the Tour De Eiffel, or behind the Place De Seoul. The architecture of Paris
has really been woven around the social aspect of the people. Another such
good place is the Egyptian Obelisk and the two fountains on the either side.
On Sundays there are no vehicles allowed in the la Marche. The important
person is the local French there, You really like to walk by the river La Seine.
Everywhere one finds bountiful of flowers and greenery.
As an overall report of Paris, Paris sweeps you off your feet. You fall in love
with the city. Personally speaking even though the people were so busy with
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their lives they made special efforts for some of us because they really
understood the difficulty of being in a foreign country with people speaking a
different language. There was a lady who despite of living way far away from
where I lived specially came home with me the first day to make sure that I
know how to get there. She reminds me of my grandmother. Finding the
way in the metro was a challenge. Sometimes I lost the way or I went in the
other direction but hey who cared that was all part of the experience. In my
opinion sometimes it is better to get lost in some places so one experiences
different things. The afternoon I went to shop for the Indian Evening I got lost
and what I found was the other metro station, Tajmahal’s picture depicting
that there was an Indian restaurant.
I guess every moment was a challenge in Paris but hey after all the
difficulties when I reached the destination people welcome you with open
arms and that’s what is life is all about. So in Paris be a Parisian I explored
the best whatever I could and the return I got was a really good week with
the my group of people. I guess Paris is a city which teaches you to take a
deep breath and go hey relax, honey look around you and spread the
goodness in you as an Indian. Love yourself that’s the greatest message I got
from Paris in any situation you are because you are worth it. One can only
enjoy this if you follow the saying in Rome do what the Romans do and you
will feel things, people and buildings welcoming you the French way. And I
did meet my friends after 10 long years that was an added bonus.
not the criteria but a very warm and hearty way to say welcome to my world.
People of Arras spent quality time with us.
Architecturally this town was totally different from Paris. Simple, small and
sweet homes of people of Arras. There is a saying if the house is very tiny
live in my heart coz here no one dares to take one out from one’s heart.
Each house has its own identity. The countryside is really beautiful. The
Sunday morning Dominique took me to a farm to pick fresh vegetables and
ND picking up fresh strawberries because couldn’t resist their freshness and
sweet smell. The overall terrain is flat. You are surrounded by lush green
grass and in the middle one sees a small town which you can span in one
shot. In the middle there is this chapel’s belfry and around it are neatly
placed small houses like in any housing model. But no time at all. U just wish
that you stay there but time is running by and you have to go. A poet’s
imagination sometimes is so perfect or a painter’s dream village.
Well the weather was really good. We saw Lille, the English Channel, the
Indian war memorial and the Canadian War Memorial. We even saw Brugges
and the Ostende beach. But apart from seeing the places I enjoyed how we
all got there. We as a group of 12 people grew with each other despite of
having our own limitations and personal worries. We all joined hands to have
a great cultural exchange. There is one thing that I liked in Arras every home
was well organized and every person had an excellent car suiting to his
personality.
A reality which just makes me say Thank God and thank all those people of
Fraternite group and especially my parents who made me live this dream.
With Dominique life was easy because she knew English. The whole week we
were always together. She took off from her job for a week to be with me.
That’s what I will be thankful to her all my life. Well at some point of your life
you just gel well with some people because you appreciate what they are
and what they have in store for you. Love is feeling shared with everyone no
age bar. We got up early had our showers had quick breakfast, prepared
lunch washed dishes out of the house at 9. She would drive and I am by her
side enjoying the music, and the landscapes and we can’t stop chatting.
When home at 9 I pop out the tikkhi sev and a drink. We just chat make
dinner and have our dinner till 11 pm. By the time we wash dishes it is 11.45
pm. In the bed at 1 am so much fun. This was our tradition for straight 7
days. Sometimes we washed clothes or just wathched youtube movies but
never in bed before 1 am. Almost everyone made fun of us but hey we loved
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a painter despite of having many guests at her place. She even took me to a
quick tour of her school. We saw the Felt museum, a church and then had
tea with a friend of Givonna’s. I had a chance to meet Lucile who learns
Bharatnatyam and also teaches the same.
Architecturally this town again has a dfferent face. There is this main square
which is called Pace Ducale where the Town Hall and the main shopping is
situated. One can actually see where the town ends. From Mezziers to
Charleville it just takes half an hour to walk but it was worthwhile.
At the Indian evening we get a chance to spend time with Arras hosts Valerie
and Sabine. They drove 3 hrs to come down to attend the Indian evening and
see us off at the station. Both were very emotional found it hard to back to
normal routine. But that’s life. They stayed on with us until we left for Paris.
Our organizer in Charleville Mezzier, Sabine is a good friend of Valerie and
that’s how they shared our two weeks time.
Overall be it Paris, Arras and Charleville Mezziers people love people and
love to share some of the best moments with each other. Here people cared
and loved irrespective of your age, caste, colour of the skin. People are
honest and very caring and helpful and they live a much simpler life because
they are honest to their hearts and others whom they help.