I read young adult novels, so sue me! Sometimes I find them better than what we have to read in fiction. Feelings are more intense, moments are more thrilling. We don't always need graphic sex or swearing or what have you to enjoy something. Sometimes we crave simplicity. YA, as we affectionately call it, is simply better a great deal of the time.
That being said, one of my favorite YA novels is
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Don't be misled by the title. Its not about French kissing. Well, mostly. ;) Its a love story. One that makes me swoon every time I read it. Romance done right without what I call - the HBO shock factor - no sex and blood necessary! One of the many many many reasons why I love it so is that it takes place in Paris. Anna is a young teenager who is sent to boarding school in Paris for her senior year of high school. She discovers things about the world and about herself that she probably wouldn't have had she remained at home in Georgia.
Anyway, having recently re-read the book and knowing that I was coming to Paris, I decided to set aside a day to do Paris Anna-style. I went through the book to see where the characters went, what they did, what they saw, even what they ate. Here is my tour of Paris through the eyes of Anna.
Part 1 - Walking the Seine, Point zero, Notre Dame and Shakespeare and company
The Seine is as romantic as it gets in some places. Others, not so much. But this time, waking up to Notre Dame along her banks, I reveled in the feeling of being in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It was a dreary day, with the threat of rain looming. But I wouldn't let that ruin my day of Anna.
I started by walking along the Seine, taking in Notre Dame in all of her glory.
After arriving at Notre Dame, I found
Point zero des routes de France which is where all points are measured from in France! It is located right in front of Notre Dame. They say that if you stand on it and make a wish, it will come true. So naturally, like Anna, I stood on it and wished my hardest! My wish wasn't what was best for me...but I can't tell you what it was! Then it wouldn't come true!
Next stop - Shakespeare and Company. A bookstore where the books are only in English! You can spend hours and hours in the shelves. Poetry, Fiction, Fantasy, Literature, Biographies cover the walls. Old and new books fill the air with the delicious scent of books. What a wonderful place! I purchased a few books, including a collection of poetry by Pablo Neruda. I also looked for a copy of Anna but alas, they were out. I wonder if perhaps people had the same idea as I did...
Anna also visits The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and cimitiere Pere Lachaise in the book. I have been to all of those places several times, so I skipped out today. But they are so beautiful. Pere Lachaise in particular is amazing. A cemetery filled with famous names like Composer Georges Bizet, Dancer Isadora Duncan, Author Oscar Wilde and of course "The Doors" frontman Jim Morrison. Tombs and Monuments cover the area with looming visions of angels and demons. Its a sight to see.
Part 2 - Cafe Angeline, Luxembourg Gardens Pantheon and a few surprises!
By this time, it was raining and getting quite a bit colder than earlier in the day, so I went to Cafe Angelina where they have a very famous "Chocolat Chaud" aka Hot Chocolate. The drink can barely be called that as the chocolate is so thick it slowly dribbles out of the cup giving you a warm and toasty feeling when it hits your palate.
I got a special macaroon dessert. At Cafe Angelina it is called "Olympe" and it is a candied violet incrusted macaroon biscuit with strawberry-raspberry sweet jelly, light violet mousse and fresh raspberries. AKA HEAVEN ON A PLATE!
After feeling warm and toasty and almost sick from the rich sweets, I braved the weather which had settled a bit and went to The Luxembourg Gardens. The Palais du Luxembourg is the seat of the French Senate. It originally belonged to the Duke of Luxembourg in the 16th century. The grounds are littered with fountains, statues of great women leaders and flowers blooming all year long. The grounds are vast and lovely.
I actually got to sing here in the gardens when I was only 16! It was so wonderful to be back and see it through different eyes!
The Pantheon resembles the capital building in the US only on a much grander scale. It was originally built as a church but now stands as a mausoleum for many of France's most noted residents. The likes of Voltaire, Emile Zola and Victor Hugo are buried in the crypts.
I didn't have the stomach to go down into the crypts. I did that once recently at another cathedral and got a bit light headed and short of breath. I've never had claustrophobia before, it was very sudden. But I certainly don't wish to repeat that feeling!
My first little surprise was to discover Eglise St Etienne du Mond. The church has little significance to the tourists of Paris. But in Anna's world, it holds a very special significance! It is absolutely beautiful. It was built after the Pantheon to house the relics of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, when the Pantheon was made into a mausoleum instead of a church. It was right next to the Pantheon. I had no idea so I was giddy when I found it!
My last discovery in Anna's world was the Cinema Le Champo. The theater plays only old movies both in English and in French. I found it walking down from the Sorbonne. I looked up and there it was! I was so hoping that something good was playing, but alas, it was not meant to be. So I didn't get to see a classic film in one of the best cities for film, but I did get to spend a day in the shoes of one of my favorite literary characters!
While I was walking through town, I stopped at a press stand and picked up a copy of "La Pariscope". It is the guide to all things theater and arts in the city. Published every Wednesday, it contains info on every theater and every cinema and anything artsy that you could want. When I told the press stand owner why I wanted it on the eve before the new one comes out, he gave me the copy. Who says Parisians aren't nice???
I came back to the hotel a little wet from the weather, but filled with happiness from the little journey and discoveries that I made along the way!
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