My Soul City

Everyone has a soul city; it may be New York for some, Barcelona for others. But for me, it will always be Paris.

A soul city is a place that has an emotional gravitational force over you that can be often difficult to put into words.

For as long as I can remember, Paris has always been my dream. I did not take French lessons or have any experience traveling internationally, yet France called to me like a beacon. I longed for the charming cobblestone streets and the embellished architecture I had never laid eyes on; the revered cuisine and the delicate macarons I had never had the pleasure of tasting. I could not wait for the day to finally gaze upon the beauty of the Eiffel Tower and its twinkling lights…

Traveling to Paris always felt like a far away fantasy, one I would not ever experience in person. So, when my husband surprised me with a trip for a Christmas Present, I was over the moon. I will never forget coming up from the underground metro and how it felt seeing the beautiful Parisian buildings for the first time; tears welled in my eyes as I realized my dream had finally come true. It was everything I imagined it would be; it blew my expectations out of the water. I get misty-eyed even now recalling our trips to Paris; they are memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

I have been fortunate enough to have visited Paris twice, both trips leaving an enormous imprint on my soul. It is just such a magical city with so much culture and history around every corner. Walking down the street is a journey to the past, yet the current-day is ever so present. The juxtaposition between the two is unlike anything I have ever seen before and it is the most beautiful experience. It is quite a spectacular wonder to look up and see the Notre Dame, a Gothic cathedral built in 1163 , or the Arc de Triomphe, the iconic monument commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon I, still standing in all its glory.

Paris has that je ne sais quoi that has completely and irrevocably captured my heart. I have traveled to a handful of countries, experienced different cultures, but there is no other city that makes me feel the way I feel when I am in Paris. I think it is safe to say that although I may live in California, my heart is, and will always be, Parisienne.