The Weekend Before our Return
It feels like we've been away from San Antonio for months, and how I wish it could continue to be like that, but time is marching on and the honeymoon is entering its final weekend. We've been sleeping later so, like with my mom on our European trips, I know we're getting tired and worn out in every aspect with the amount of walking that we do each day. This morning, we decided to head to the Arc de Triomphe. John has never been to the top, so it was something we needed to accomplish on this trip. How and when we got there was up for discussion. That it was our ultimate destination was all that we knew. Along the way, we passed interesting sculptures, stopped into some unique boutiques and refreshed with coffee, milkshakes and more coffee. All before lunch and all before reaching the monument in the middle of the city.
When we finally got to the center of Paris, we knew that - although we could climb to the top of the Arc, John's knees would probably not make it down. From visiting with my mom I knew there was a lift and after we asked, we were instructed to wait along the outside wall for the mysterious elevator to the top. Although we still had to climb and descend 49 stairs, it was a lot easier than doing the entire 250 +. And, really, did we need to do even more steps than we already have this week?
The view from the top of the Arc is simply stunning. All of Paris is before you in every direction. It was sobering to think of how much of this city we've walked. It was also a good place to plan our next walking destination for we were getting hungry again. We decided to walk towards the 7th and see what we could find, and after a trip back down on the lift (with a strange American woman telling us about her heart issues), we discovered an incredible cafe far from the crowds. .
I'm not sure how long we sat on the sidewalk. The wine went down slowly but it was potent and even the two coffees did nothing to sober us up for the walk home. And what a walk home it was, although I swear I did not hear John tell me he wanted to take the back roads through the 5th and 7th. My main goal was getting some rest and unfortunately, there was hardly any shade to be had along the way. I tried my best to keep my husband happy, but sun and no shade don't make for lively conversation. There were no big adventures today, unless you count the woman walking way to close behind me who decided to veer in front when she saw that I was with John who was walking further away from me. What her ultimate goal was is anyone's guess, but if she had made a grab for my new bag, I would've decked her.
We've made it back to the hotel and are undecided on what's next? Wine and cheese along the river? That may be too much walking at this point. Maybe a stroll back towards the 3rd or to our new favorite arrondissement - the 4th. I almost don't want to return home. There's real world stuff that we need to address and a newly renovated house to put back together. It would be so much easier to stay in Paris, but a honeymoon can't last forever. Or can it? We may be leaving Paris in a few days, but Paris isn't going anywhere. It will always be here to greet us. It would be great to return in the fall or early winter. Who knows what the future holds. Today, though, I am remembering being at the top of the Arc. At one point, I stared at the Eiffel Tower. Even though there were people all around me, I was able to block them out and remember how I stood in this spot with my mother. How she marveled at what she saw around her and after yesterday, I felt her with me. And to top it off, along the way, we passed an establishment called Boulangerie Louise. Louise? How common a french name is that? But it is the name of my godmother who recently passed away. That combined with everything else washed over me as I stared at the magnificent tower. I was back in Paris and without taking a physical picture, I burned the view into my memory. I closed my eyes, I remembered the ones I loved who were gone and then I went to find the one who is very much here. I walked over to John, had him put his phone down and we stood there, me hugging him from behind to just look at Paris - and specially the Eiffel Tower.
"Breath all this in," I said. "We are finally in Paris. Just take it all in." I might have slipped in an I love you somewhere in there, but who's to say?
