France- Europe

Nguvu  nghuvu 

“Everyone dreams of living in Paris”  Those are the famous words of Natalie Portman. In my case living in Paris was a rather far fetched goal. Visiting it however, now that was much more attainable. Probably at the top of my life list was the vision of me someday walking through the streets of Paris. In my mind, the phrase was “Everyone dreams of visiting Paris- and one day you will”. 

Like most African countries, for a Malawian to travel to France- you need a Schengan visa. I was already in the UK for a 3 week holiday and heading over to France seemed like a great idea. After all, the iconic Audrey Hepburn said it herself “Paris is always a good idea.” My then boyfriend booked us a couple of tickets on the Eurostar and this would be a test for my claustrophobia- an underwater train! 

I will be honest and say knowing that I was in a tube underneath the English Channel did not sit well with me. I was a bundle of nerves for the better part of the journey. However, once I walked out of the train and took the escalator to the station, a calmness came over me. I was in Paris. Border patrol seemed a little hesitant with my passport but the boyfriend stepped in to ease any doubt they had of my being there. 

In full novelty spirit, I wore a t-shirt that read “Take me to Paris”. We spent 3 gorgeous days taking in the French air and walking down endless streets. It seemed as though there was something to do at every corner, something for your eyes to see. There is nothing like shopping in Paris, it is like a grand event- I felt like I was in the movies. I tried on scarf after scarf and used my O level French as best as I could. My vocabulary consisted of a lot of “oui, oui” , “merci” ,“tu parles Anglais?” and the classic “je ne ce pas.” 

We spent our time walking the streets and taking in the magnificent architecture. Of course there were the stops at different cafes for a quick bite. Everything tastes better in Paris, a pizza, a crepe, a glass of wine- it all seems to be covered in some sort of magical Parisian pixel dust. 

On my list of things to do in Paris was a trip to the Eiffel Tower. It had plagued every romance novel I had read and featured in numerous romcoms. I crossed my fingers and hoped it would bring me such good fortune. A proposal perhaps?

It would be wise to book a tour to the tower as it allows you access to skip the long queues. Our tour guide was funny and had a wealth of knowledge to share. We reached the top and I was not prepared for the change in weather. It was cold, cold, cold and windy. My custom made chitenje dress was not made for this weather. Suffice to say I am scared of heights so though it took us 3 hours to get to the top, I spent only 30 minutes at such a high height.

The Louvre museum was next on the list.You have to book well in advance to be able to get a ticket. The odds of you getting one on the day are slim to none. We simply enjoyed looking at the geometrical architecture of the building and roaming the grounds around the museum. Truth be told, I felt like all of the Paris that I saw was a museum exhibition. The statues that fill the streets, the attention to details in the buildings and the rich history it holds were fantastic. I was mighty glad to have worn flat shoes for these walks. 

I was desperate to see more tourist attractions and the Moulin Rouge Show was perfect for our last night out in Paris. The world- renowned cabaret showcases dazzling performances with an extravagant atmosphere. I am never shy to show I am having a good time. I whisked my then boyfriend to the dance floor. Our free spiritedness convinced a few other guests to join in on the fun.  

I was sad to leave Paris. As I looked over to my then boyfriend on our train ride back to London. I felt content. No proposal in sight but in the famous words in Casablanca - We’ll always have Paris.