Paris is supposed to be one of the most romantic cities of the world, but it surely does provide some joy to the homeless bachelor as well. Roaming around in gleeful ignorance is certainly a recommended past time here. There is a sublime sense of delight which breathes in every air that this place blows; cold and comforting at the same time, fleeting yet all encompassing in its nature. The architecture is subtle, never being a source of awe but always reminding of the glory of the past. A past of bloodshed and revolutions, yet being a beacon of cultural progress and romanticism of all that is best in human creativity.
Every now and then I find street musicians and their cheerfully solemn music. The best of this kind was certainly felt inside one of the stoned arches of the Louvre, where the music reverberated the walls and created a symphony which might confuse it for the doorways of heaven. The same music also flows on the steps of a basilica upon a plateau, endearing you further to this place. What better than sitting in the presence of harmony amidst of crowd of appreciating students and fellow backpackers, while you sip on cold beer and have the magnificent view of the city from atop.
The best however seems to be reserved for a place which obviously doesn't figure as a tourist attraction per se. The lanes which run beside River Seine on the island of Notre Dame is truly a place to sit, ponder and reflect. You might be hard pressed at certain times to find a spot away from the revelry which is generally a constant featurette of this area, young people sitting and enjoying wine, cigarettes and chatter with friends. But once you do pounce upon a place, sit back in your loneliness and try to enjoy the serenity and calmness of the blackish water, which though intermittently carries riverboat cafes.
I had always wondered what was it that made Paris the cultural icon we perceive it as. Was it the Eiffel, the Arc de Triumphe, its history, its art, its movies, the infinite roadside cafes or the people on the streets. I reckon, it mostly is the experience of being inside this organism where you can be truly alone and yet have a good time by the simple virtue of being on the streets and walking like there's no tomorrow.
