Today was our first “off” day for the week, which meant I finally had the freedom to spend a leisurely morning the Parisian way. I made myself a simple breakfast and went for a walk around the neighborhood, watching people come and go. I went outside of my comfort zone and had a conversation with a nice Tunisian man in half English and half French. This entire week has been me trying my best to converse with the locals and I think it has been relatively successful. People have been very polite and understanding towards me despite the language barrier. After my calm morning I made my way to the Galeries Lafayette for some shopping which provided a stark contrast in atmosphere to my lazy start in Vanves. The mall was beautifully ornate, with its domed stained glass and Art Deco arches. Upon walking in I was greeted by a wave of tourists and locals alike, milling about the luxury stores. The beauty of the store made up for the stuffy atmosphere at first, although the more time I spent there the more hot it got- and as usual with Parisian places, there was no air conditioning.
Going to Galeries Lafayette allowed me to take a glimpse into Paris’s luxury hospitality, something which I had previously never given much thought to. Many of the workers were billingual, which makes sense due to the high amount of international travellers moving around. They were also very dedicated to providing a good experience, from the moment you approached to the moment you left, going the extra mile to accomodate for customers. I only came across one or two rude employees in my time there- which is a miracle for a place that is so busy and stressful. I had expected for more frustated workers, and was pleasantly surprised.
I finished my shopping trip with an obligatory trip up to the rooftop, where I got to see the beautiful skyline of Paris. It was jawdropping! The entire city of paris was sprawled out in front of me, with the Opera across the street and the Eiffel Tower to my right as the biggest visible monuments. I was overtaken by giddyness to the point my aching legs and overwhelmed senses were forgotten. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I’d be able to look down and see the city of love the way I did- the way I have been doing.
Of course I did the logical thing.. I took touristy pictures and called my parents to share that excitement, before finally bidding goodbye to the mall with my hands (and heart) full.
