“In every corner of Paris I was reminded: the city is old; it stays the same. People will try to tell you how different it is, how it has evolved: the food scene is different; the construction is killing that neighborhood; the tourists are getting more obnoxious. But for me, those changes barely register. Paris is essentially the same. That’s the whole point of it.”
“Paris reassures you that you are in a cycle of life that will end, and that everyone before you has felt just as important and just as crucial to the cycle, and yet they ended, too. Paris is a good place to remind yourself that everything ends.”
“In America, we think we’ll find a cure for all of this. But Paris assures you that you are mortal, here for a blink of time, that the world will barely register your existence before you are gone.”
“This is the existential dread of Paris, and this is also the way Paris sets you free.”
I read once that as an American, you fall hard for either London or Paris – but not both. For me, it’s always been Paris. Twenty years have passed since I lived in the City of Light, and it’s been almost a decade since I’ve visited. Everything is different, everything is the same. And yet, this city remains eternal. Paris, je t’aime. Paris, I love you. Always have, always will.
(All quotes from Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s New York Times article “Mourning in Paris,” November 16, 2017.)
Finding Quiet Farm 
Being half French, I have always been drawn to Paris. Been there several times and have always enjoyed my time there. Not a great lover of London. Too busy, too expensive and too English. I did enjoy the theaters tho.
Joe
On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 5:29 AM Finding Quiet Farm wrote:
> Elizabeth posted: ” “In every corner of Paris I was reminded: the city is > old; it stays the same. People will try to tell you how different it is, > how it has evolved: the food scene is different; the construction is > killing that neighborhood; the tourists are getting mo” >
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Thanks, Joe! I definitely choose Paris over London, too.
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We all say it, in the future I’m going to? Then, the older you get, the more you realize, You’re living your future.
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So right! We are all living our future – hopefully it’s the one we want.
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Such gorgeous photos! Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you, Kristen!
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Paris IS the grand Dame of all cities. I loved your post- I had the pleasure of visiting her a few short months ago……a bit more smog but she was as beautiful as ever!
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Thank you, Karen! She is a grande dame, isn’t she?
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Nick’s photos are fantastic!! Tell him from me!
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Thank you, Noell!
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Wonderful photos – thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, Kelly!
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Your post made me happy and reminiscent, thank you Elizabeth!
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young (wo)man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you…”
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Thank you, Cindy! I do think Paris stays with you. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed it until I went back.
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Marvelous photos. I love both cities. Paris and London are so totally different.
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Thanks, Nancy! London and Paris are definitely different, and each incredible in their own fashion.
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