Paris part deux: Different fireworks

Sept. 24, 2008

Completing a near perfect loop around France, I returned to Paris last Friday. When planning this trip back in Connecticut weeks ago, I hadn't intended to stay in France as long as I did. The dream was to follow the sun to the warmer climes of Croatia, Italy, Greece. But one little thing held me up: My passport was stuck at the Indian Embassy in Paris for two weeks to secure a tourist visa.

Paris had been such fun the first time around, I didn't mind what I expected to be a glorious return. It also afforded the opportunity to make a trip up to London to visit a new friend who I'd met weeks earlier while in the City of Love.

Paris felt different the second time around, however. I spoke with my Aussie friend Rob and asked him what I should do there without him.

"You'll be fine," he said. "Go find yourself a drinking buddy."

That seemed like a fine plan to me. The problem was it was difficult to meet people at the hostel where I was staying. The place lacked a common room where travellers tend to congregate and make friendships for a day. The only person I ended up meeting was a girl from the States who happened to be my bunk mate.

One of the interesting things I've learned from travelling is how intense these little temporary friendships can be. Within five minutes of talking, my roommate confessed that she is in Alcoholics Anonymous.

"It's so strange I'm telling you this," she said. "Some of my friends that I've had for years at home don't even know that."

My new non-drinking buddy and I decided to set out to walk the city together. We found a giant flea market ("Marche aux Puces") and wandered through Montmartre and ended up at a Salvador Dali museum. Later that Saturday evening, I met my new friend after an AA meeting, and we headed to a strange and spectacular fireworks show that combined pyrotechnics with Circ de Soleil-style dance and movement.

This time in Paris was a very different experience from the one I'd had several weeks earlier. Though it lacked the same romance and excitement of discovery that I had found earlier, the city still had it's fireworks.