I never wanted to go to Paris.
There, I said it.
Let the judgement roll in.
But it’s true – I never wanted to go to Paris. Until now.
I’m not sure where my less-than-enthusiastic feelings toward the City of Lights came from exactly, but I’ve got an inkling.
I think a big part of it stems from an indifference I started to feel towards western Europe. Like I was tired of hearing all about it in my history classes (which is ironic since I studied history and love it), so I cultivated an apathetic attitude towards the whole region.
The history we learned about in school focused primarily on western history, dominated by France, Spain, Italy, and Great Britain. It was a world so far away from me and, like whenever a parent repeats themselves all the time, we develop a sort of block-like selective hearing attitude.
I didn’t want to hear about Paris the way a little child doesn’t want to hear a scolding.
I also believe that since France/Paris had been beaten into my brain for as long as I can remember, the sense of wonder and adventure was gone. I didn’t feel like there was anything I could discover for myself upon visiting, and therefore wrote it off as a place I had no desire to experience.
And I’m sure some of the stories I would hear about Parisian’s attitude towards Americans didn’t help.
When I started traveling more aggressively, I set my sights on places that I didn’t know too much about. Places that I could “discover” and feel more like Indiana Jones as I explored new-to-me locations.
New Mexico. Guatemala. Romania.
Places that still felt “raw” and “undiscovered” by mainstream travelers.
And sure – I got a rush out of seeing the expressions on other people’s faces when I told them where I preferred to travel. Places that aren’t typically “easy,” or associated with “high culture” or whatever garbage is being propagated by mainstream media at the time.
But now that I’m less than a month away from landing in Paris, I can’t help but feel excitement coursing through my veins.
The itinerary I’ve created for the trip with 2 of my besties is full of classic “first timer’s guide to Paris” adventures…but not filled to the brim so tightly that we won’t have time for anything spontaneous.
Maybe this means I’m growing up? My tastes are changing? I’m evolving as a traveler? Facing the inevitable? Hankering for a trip after months of working 2 full-time jobs and not really adventuring?
Or am I really going to discover a deep-rooted love for all things French? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure.
I never wanted to go to Paris. Buuuuutttt….I’m SO EXCITED!
I never wanted to go to Paris, but sometimes we surprise ourselves. Have you ever been to Paris? Or have you visited a place you once ruled out?
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