The Paris that Won My Heart
On Friday November 13th, Paris suffered multiple coordinated terrorist attacks throughout the city and over 100 people lost their lives. The world knew about it overnight. Let us not forget that in other less well known cities, tragedies have happened as well. Beirut in Lebanon lost 43 lives to terrorism during the same week.
I've had the opportunity to experience Paris, but not Beirut. In memory of Paris, certainly one of my favorite cities, I bring you a story of when Paris won my heart ever since.
It was the second time I was in Paris, I wasn't rushing to line up at the Louvre or ascend the Eiffel Tower. I had more time in my hands and have decided to go a bit further out to the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. I decided not to take the cable car up the hill, so I meandered through the Parisian streets. It was an early spring with a soothing breeze and sunshine.
Sacré Coeur stood on top of the hill, looking down on the city and La Seine. There are no less tourist up here, but mainly school kids, individual travelers and certainly many that come to pray at the Basilica.
Following the crowd in and out of Sacré Coeur. The architecture, art and the stained glass windows were breathtaking. But the magic happened for me outside on the staircase overlooking the city. Led by a man singing with a guitar and a microphone stand, there were at least 50 people sitting on the steps and singing along with him song after song. I slowed down my footsteps, put my next destination on hold and sat down amongst everyone. At that moment, we bonded over nothing but the fact that we were all in Paris at that point of time and decided to spare a few minutes to immerse ourselves in the scene. I looked down at Paris, breathed the freshness of spring breeze, listened to the harmonious tunes coming from 50 people and felt the peace and liveliness in my heart. It will forever be an unforgettable moment in my life.
This was the side of Paris I got to know and unapologetically won my heart. May my beloved city soon regain the harmony and peace it once brought to me.