The French culture has always been present in my life. My fascination stems from childhood; family members and friends constantly told me that the French culture was refined, the people were sophisticated, and that the cuisine was exquisite. Naturally, I began to form romantic views of France; I imagined myself strolling through green parks filled with flowers, stuffing down several buttery croissants, and drinking hot chocolate at a café all the while listening to Joe Dassin’s “Champs Elysées.” When the opportunity to go to France came, I grabbed it! I was going on a Spring break tour of Paris with my mother, teachers, and a few classmates. On the bus ride there, I couldn’t help but wonder “How will my great expectations of the City of Lights be met by reality?”
When we arrived in Paris, we were immediately met by dreary weather and a foggy view of the Eiffel tower. This spring break proved to be extremely cold and unforgiving to my sun kissed Floridian skin. Throughout the following days we packed as many touristy adventures as we could into our four-day tour. We visited Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, posed with the Eiffel tower, roamed around the beautiful palace of Versailles, ventured through the never-ending Louvre and took a snapshot of the Mona Lisa (seriously someone could get stuck in there and not be found for days!), window-shopped at the Galérie Lafayette, and took a dreamy nighttime boat-ride on the Seine River. To say that I was exhausted would have been an understatement. While groggily returning back to our hotel, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed with this trip; despite discovering all of these famous places, I didn’t experience anything unique and wanted to get off of this superficial and beaten track.
When we arrived in Montmartre I didn’t expect anything different from the other beautiful attractions that we had previously seen. The white Sacré-Coeur Basilica was perched upon a high green hill. Some people took cable cars up to the butte, but I preferred to take the long way up the stairs. When I made my way up, slightly winded, I sat down on the steps and watched a cute children’s puppet show. From there, I could see a lovely panoramic view of the city. We went inside the church and witnessed another one of Europe’s many examples of fine architecture.
My mother and I left the church and walked down a cobblestone street on the side. The area had a bohemian atmosphere with several souvenir shops and restaurants. Painters and portrait artists created original pieces of art and crowds surrounded street performers. While listening to a woman surrounded by flowers play Charles Aznavour’s “La Bohème” accordion-style, I was pulled into a can-can line by four random French strangers. It was as if we were old friends reunited by the sound of music. I was shocked but eventually gave into the silliness of the moment and began to enjoy myself. At that point, I realized that this was what I had been looking for all along. Who knew that my Paris was waiting for me in that hidden village on a hill!
Moments like these, when you discover the unexpected and experience something truly unique, make travelling worth it. It doesn’t matter if you take the road less travelled or the road trampled down by tourists. What matters is what you make of your trip and what you learn from your environment. Can-can dance with strangers in a foreign country!
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “Can-Can with Strangers”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
It sounds like a statement that emphasizes the importance of adults having access to things that are valuable. It could be interpreted as a reminder that adults should not be denied the opportunity to enjoy things that are considered precious or valuable. It’s a good reminder that everyone deserves to have access to things that bring them joy and happiness, regardless of their age.
Summer is a great time to plan a family vacation. There are many options to choose from, such as visiting national parks, theme parks, water parks, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, group trips, or staycations. Happy travels!
Greek island cruises are a great way to explore the most alluring Greek islands, such as Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Corfu, Crete and Paros. You can witness world-famous sights, charming seaside tavernas, and crystal-clear waters while island-hopping.
Renting a houseboat on Lake Powell is a great way to enjoy scenic beauty and water adventures. You can explore the 1.25 million-acre geologic playground of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which straddles northern Arizona and southern Utah, while unwinding amid the comforts of home. Book your trip now and discover the ultimate vacation experience!
Cruise lines are offering more immersive experiences for kids, such as go-karting, ice skating, sushi making, and wine tasting, to name a few. These experiences are designed to draw in a wider audience and create unforgettable memories for the whole family.
Travel professionals have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to handling travel disasters. They can provide you with tips and tools to help you prepare for any kind of travel disaster, whether it’s a canceled flight, a natural disaster, or a medical emergency. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected, and travel professionals can help you do just that.
Family cruising experiences are a great way to bond with your loved ones and create unforgettable memories. They offer good value, variety, entertainment, and all-inclusive amenities, and appeal to all ages. So, why not gift everyone an unforgettable experience?
This is a great travel destination ideas, although it seems outdated. Do you have a more updated travel guides, I believe some locations are not the same due to the pandemic
Nice post. This wasn’t what I was searching for but I still enjoyed reading it.
I think this content needs updating. I am interested in looking for new winter destinations after the pandemic hits.
Planning a winter getaway is an adventure in itself. The snowy landscapes add a magical touch to the family bonding experience. You nailed it. meticulous planning is key, and being ready for unexpected twists, like a surprise blizzard, keeps the excitement alive. Any memorable winter destinations you’d recommend?
Fantastic article post.Really thank you!
Thanks for finally talking about >How To Protect Your Family Against Travel Disasters – 10 Tips To Travel Prepared – My
Family Travels <Liked it!
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
The Information your provides its very useful for making a trip.
Thanks for finally writing about >How To Protect Your Family Against Travel
Disasters – 10 Tips To Travel Prepared – My Family Travels <Liked it!
I have no doubt about that.
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with
us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m
bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Great blog and terrific style and design.
Hi there, I found ykur web site by the use of Google while searching for a similar topic, your site came up, it seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my googpe bookmarks.
Cheers!
This post is priceless. How can I find out more?
Hello.Thiis post wwas extremely interesting, especially since I was looking for thoughts on this issue last couple of days.
Very good post! We will be linking tto this great content on our
site. Keep up the goood writing.
You got a very superb website, Glad I noticed it through yahoo.
Some really fantastc content on this site, thanks for contribution.
Thank you foor helping out, great information.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your
next write ups thank you once again.
You reported that exceptionally well!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as
long as I provide credit and sources back to
your website? My blog site is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would truly benefit from a lot of
the information you provide here. Please let me know
if this alright with you. Appreciate it!
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having
problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.
I take pleasure in, cause I discovered exactly what I used to be having a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Good post, I certainly love this website. Keep doing good things. 224034904
Thank you for this info
It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and
it’s time to be happy.
It was a great article, thanks for sharing!
Great place for kids. My 2 and 4 year old tried every water slide, pool, and toy. They loved the beach as well with the calm, warm waters. It was far from a relaxing trip but this one was all about the kids.
I was more than happy to find this great site. I want to to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely savored every little bit of it and i also have you bookmarked to see new things on your web site.
I live in Jacksonville and there is no longer a ‘lively waterfront’. The shops and restaurants were demolished after a mass shooting at one of the establishments. Head to the beach not downtown!! There is a lovely historic district called Avondale/Riverside area. It is absolutely beautiful with shops and restaurants and a beautiful park with a kick a** playground! The neighborhoods sit on the St John’s River. The old homes are big and beautiful. I walk that area regularly and have lived there. Stunning!!!
Howdy! I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have got right here on this post.
I am returning to your site for more soon.
I agree with every word in this blog, I tried to travel to Saudi Arabia with this topic in mind. I thought a lot about choosing a sustainable activity. So I texted Ootlah website to ask them about sustainable activities and they recommended enjoying the desert in Jeddah, which causes almost no harm to the environment. I booked and tried it and it was significant.
Thank you. We might get there, and we might not. Hope so.