On the train on my way back from one week in Paris. I saw all the sights: the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Pere-Lachaise Cemetery and walked down Champs Elysee. Also found a great little thrift shop where most everything is three euros or less and also a cous cous restaurant that served full meals of north African goodness for five euros. I spent two days in Versailles walking around the beautiful gardens where Marie Antoinette and Madame Du Berry once strolled in the bittersweet afternoon. I couchsurfed of course in the houses of three very different french guys along with my new travel partner, my language partner from Algeria.
The lights are off now and everyone is going back to sleep and after my very relaxing week of travelling bliss I return to my life of studies. It is becoming more and more difficult as I delve into math, sciences and the digitized land of the geeks. I still have the memories which are keeping me awake here on this dark silent night train, of sitting and praying beneath the golden silhouette of Jesus’s outstretched arms within the Sacre Coeur Basilica and then going out on the stairs and enjoying some musicians do a Jamaican acoustic rendition of a Michael Jackson song. That view high up on the hill I could never forget. How beautiful and romantic is Paris. Even La Defence where I spent my final two nights – the modern business hub that few tourists ever venture to thrilled me nonetheless wi†h its avantgarde sculptures randomly placed among the towering New York style buildings and the giant cube looming above the metropolitan exit. All of it just completes the mysterious picture that makes this city so alluring.
Finally, sleep is creeping its way in and I can no longer intuitively guess the letters on my keyboard, so here’s the time I must leave you dear reader. The shadowy trees and French countryside slide along outside as this train I’m on keeps churning on non-stop just as the countless dreams prepare to take their place.. au revoir.
