Day 245: Trip to France for FREE!

Travel Paris for FREE this summer! Well at least I wrote of my travel experience for you when I was on Paris with my People to People Ambassadors family. This is just the first part.

Paris is always a good idea.

The usual. I had two crusty croissants, and butter. Well, croissants could have done it but I need some protein source, too, so a scoop juicy omelet concluded my breakfast plate. Milk and juice for the throat, and I said grace.

“Our itinerary,” started our teacher-leader having settled ourselves in the bus. I can’t remember the whole of the presentation. Perhaps of the lait and jus d’orange combo that lingers in my taste buds? Nothing but “…Eiffel Tower…” rings my ears out of everything said. I was more livened.

We were passing lovely architectures and buildings the time we set off the hotel. Every turn was a good surprise. But I find myself leaning down the brick-paved roads at times. You can’t blame me to miss few structures because the road itself was a sight to me, especially along the historical Champs-Elysées. At the end of the street Arc de Triomphe stand in majesty. We even went two rounds so we can savor the details of the monument.

It was quite a ride though the tower was available at your panorama. Heading to the location, I was stoked more and more. When we arrived downtown the streets were getting narrower, but enough to let buses and cars safely flow on both sides.

Driving through the veins of the city, I saw French locals and their daily errands. Some were taking the metro, gathering on a post like around a canteen smoking, and getting started on street side cafés. I thought it would only just be in the movies—“I’m in Paris!”

I felt sparkles in my view, every plant, car, and person has distinct highlight all the way while around my head was the movie Ratatouille. Ratatouille. What a nostalgic movie had it become for me.

On my side of the window, I can no longer see the tower across the skyline but the thought past fast. I felt like jumping off and talk to French people. I felt so bold though my ammunitions are only “Bonjour!” and “Monsieur/Maidmoiselle”, “Au revoir!” It’s not possible to get off the bus though since we visit the place as a group, and where the group is, well, you know better.

More turns and more, turns. I was a foot close to the people on the sidewalks. I think we’re on the capillaries already?! I wanted to grab them by my side of the coach and converse, “Bonjour! Monsieur et maidmoiselle. Au revoir!” After my greetings, return them their French liberty. Silly, it’s not conversation at all! The more, since for seconds I’ll hold them captive just to listen to my pre-fab phrases. My mind was ‘heartily’ playing on thoughts.

I paused. The people on the sidewalks thicken. “I can’t greet them all!” and goes a giggle. In an instant, I felt my throat parched. So, I drank from my water bottle. The combo’s taste is fainting. Another gulp, and it was washed totally. Then my eyes took a scene. They were glary. So I dab a wet tissue over it while noticing the coach having an every-minute stop.

In a little while, my view from the window was being covered with buildings and trees. I’m not as gratified as before. I felt like asking, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” the classic children phrase that usually get them places faster. I gazed through the windshield and saw an officer orchestrating the traffic. “Pfff…” I mutely replayed the phrases. 

We went around a street. The coach took a stop again. My eyes were still glary, so I thought it's in the eyeglasses. I took it off. When I was wiping it, in my peripheral I saw l flock of people crossing the street. My eyeglasses were still hamburgered with tissues on my hand when I notice behind the crowd a huge brown offshoot of something. I started to raise my eyes. My heart began to throb.