From Spain to France

Note: This post was composed yesterday but published today. 

I'm not back in the US yet, but I will be in about 24 hours. I'm not sure I'm ready yet for reverse culture shock. Actually, I'm not sure I'm ready to leave Europe behind. Because as soon as I step foot onto American soil, I fear it will be as though it never happened. Right back into the swing of things. But so it goes.

Since I last put finger to keyboard, certainly a lot has happened. I ended my time in Mallorca with an absolutely perfect day consisting of a great final class, lunch with my classmates at an adorable restaurant called "La Casa de Abuela" (Grandma's House), a scenic bike ride along the coast with a great new friend to explore a part of the island I hadn't seen before, delicious sorbet, and live music on the beach and good conversation with new friends. And then it was morning. And I was at the airport and on an airplane and suddenly, in Paris. A very different scene, but equally as beautiful.

That first night consisted of much wedding preparation, which paid off the next day when a gorgeous bride walked down the long aisle of a French cathedral in the heart of Paris. Followed by plenty of celebrating which included numerous whimsical French cakes and pastries, plenty of French wine and champagne, a beautiful five course dinner, and dancing until 5am! The French truly know how to celebrate.

"Exhibit A"

Since then, I've been wandering the Paris streets on my own, exploring some of the less popular sites, since I've seen the major ones already. The day after the wedding, running on about three hours' sleep, I managed to get myself into Paris to catch the last leg of the Tour de France, one of my favorite annual athletic competitions. It was exciting, to say the least! I really can't believe that I actually got to see it up close, screeching wheels and all. 

There's that yellow jersey--Allez Wiggins!

Also had the chance to get my first taste of Versailles. After three previous trips to Paris, I still hadn't seen it! And now I don't know whether Louis XIV is my new hero, or if I completely resent the man for creating something so mind-blowing and extravagant and keeping it all to himself. It was completely worth the 2.5 hour wait in line to get in. Ah, Paris in the summertime.

Otherwise, life in Paris has been pretty much as you might imagine it. Long walks along tree-lined streets, towering and breathtaking architecture, crepes and pastries and ice cream, and the occasional stop in a garden or pop into a museum.  These past few years, I knew I missed France. It took almost two years after I returned to the U.S. to stop thinking about the place every single day. But as soon as I got off the place last week, it all came back. And I realized just how deeply I'd missed it. What a privilege it is to be back again, even for a few fleeting days, and to revive that tiny part of me that will never actually be French, but which will always come to life in this country.