Bordeaux and Palmiers

I’ve lived and visited a lot of places, but ever since I arrived in Paris, I’ve never doubted that it’s the place for me. Everywhere else I’ve been, there’s always been something missing, something that reminded me that I was still searching for somewhere to call home. Paris never did that.

Sure, Paris has its quirks… I’m not going to list them, because everyone has their own prejudices against France, and there’s no reason to keep talking about waiting in lines. There’s enough out there in the blogosphere about that, and that’s not what I wanted to talk about today anyway.

What I want to talk about is surprises. That’s why Paris has stolen and kept my heart.

I’m a person famous for changing my mind. About every year to year and a half, I suddenly feel the need for a complete overhaul in my life for no reason other than the fact that I crave change. I crave surprises. And surprises in Paris are around every corner.

One evening, I was walking home from my favorite sushi place in the 16th, which involves crossing the Bir Hakeim bridge. I was walking along, listening to my iPod, when I looked up and saw this.

I’m still not exactly sure what struck me so much, but there was just so much beauty in the symmetry. I’m lucky my camera captured it as well as it did at night.

I’m thinking now that I write about this that maybe this isn’t about Paris, necessarily: these sorts of shots are probably lingering around corners in every city, if you want to see them. Maybe it just came down to me being ready to settle somewhere, to be somewhere for more than just my usual year and a half. Maybe it was me who chose Paris, and not Paris who chose me.

Then again, maybe not.

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