Paris la Ville d'Amour? Bien sur!

Is Paris still romantic? I have to admit I'm a bit biased--having met and married Mr. Hall here-but I've seen the signs, and it seems Cupid still haunts the quais and rues of this love-crazed town. I'm going to tell you a true story about an English woman we'll call Ellen, and a French man we'll call Christophe.

Love Across the Channel I was browsing the Think Paris forum when I see a desperate question: "Does anyone know Christophe from the ***** Café?" I actually lived just down the road, so I e-mailed her and asked what was up. And thus began a long string of e-mails and international communication and confusion. Christophe worked at said café, Ellen met him on her visit to Paris, they exchanged addresses, and she wrote him a letter. She wanted to know if he had received it, because she wasn't sure if the address was correct, it was hard to read. So I agreed to go check him out. I half expected some cocky waiter who gave his address to all of the nice foreign ladies, but when I met him, I found something else. Christophe, who had moved out of his old flat (explaining the delayed letter), was so happy to hear that Ellen had sent me, that we talked for quite awhile. His English was minimal, her French even worse, so they hadn't spoken much, but there was "something". This guy was clearly smitten. So I take this news back to my computer and e-mail Ellen that Christophe will write to her immediately, and try to call. She was very happy, to say the least.

Love conquers all? Perhaps I'm a cynic, love at first sight when you don't even understand each other? Well, after many conversations with Ellen, who had to translate Christophe's letters with a small English/French dictionary, and who couldn't quite figure out what he was saying when he called, the two finally met up again in England. Last I heard, Christophe will be moving in with Ellen this month. Hopefully, this will be the happily ever after for our young lovers.

Live the Cliché Millions of stories like this have been the reason for the attraction of lovers to Paris. Such a persistent cliché can only be true, and it certainly won't keep us from kissing our lover on the Pont des Arts just because there are five other couples next to us doing the same thing. There is safety in numbers, and in Paris you'll never find anyone offended at rampant PDA (public display of affection). The French may be ridiculed for many things, but never for their ability to invoke romance anytime and anywhere--read the Bonjour Paris article to learn more about how to be romantique à la français.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic