I have spent the last month since England making my way around the south of France, exploring villages, cities, castles, cathedrals, and markets, from Provence, to Aquitaine, to Burgundy. It has been a great experience, and I have had my French tested many times, but that was my favourite part - when people didn't speak any English and had never heard of New Zealand (we managed to hear Royals by Lorde countless of times nonetheless). I've noticed the major differences in culture and architecture as we slowly made our way from south east France, west, and then north. Some of which I would never have expected as French and was totally surprising, but fascinating in opening my eyes to the reality of a France that is so different from Paris.
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| Markets for miles in Provence |
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| Breathtaking views of clifftop villages with derelict castles in the Provençal mountains |
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| Losing ourselves in the narrow cobbled Medieval streets of Aquitaine |
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| Daydreaming at castles in the Loire Valley |
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| Feeling like a queen in my massive 19th century Paris hotel room |
I'm sitting here in my Paris hotel room, after spending the last couple of days walking non-stop and then going to a service at the Notre Dame this morning, looking back over the last 3 months and wondering where the time went. I am so exhausted that I can't wait to get home, and yet it has all been so incredible that I don't want to leave (the 30-something hours of flying is daunting, too).
It was strange wandering through the familiar streets of Paris again this weekend after being away for a couple of months. It has made me appreciate the changes in the seasons; seeing new flowers growing where there were once autumn leaves piled high, a huge influx of tourists in places that had seemed deserted... I much preferred our time in November, but my love for this place has remained. I have never felt so blessed in my life for the past 3 amazing months exploring places I have always dreamed about. This time itself now seems like a dream, and it has only inspired me to dream bigger and further. Watch out, Europe. I'll be back.
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| Goodbye Paris, and goodbye France. Thank you for the incredible times and the wonderful memories. I can't wait to be back. |
