"Dans la Cour" by Erica Simone
The City of Love and Light
Parler Paris Nouvellettre®
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Monday, February 14, 2011 • Paris, France
Dear Parler Paris Reader,
Is there a more romantic city in the world than Paris?
I can think of only one that may barely come close: Rome. Maybe you can think of others that make you swoon, but Paris is pretty tough to beat when it comes to laying on the sweet talk.
And the French are a pretty romantic bunch, wouldn't you agree? Virility for a Frenchman is not about brute force, but about the ability to be passionate. What a difference that makes to turning the heads of women of every age.
Take notice all you tough American types who think your tattooed muscles are what get the girls. Forget the machismo and start learning the language of love: write poetry, become a connoisseur of chocolates and open an account with a florist. Believe me, you'll be way more successful in the romance department.
Here in the City of Illuminated Love, more than 2000 Parisians sent in their words of love so that the city could display them on the illuminated panels that adorn 170 spots all over the arrondissements. Messages from Parisians such as Henri, Isabella, Pierre and Louis. There were so many, that city officials had a difficult task in choosing from the various marriage proposals, invitations to live together, prose and poetry, all to be broadcast today, Valentine's Day, between 6 a.m. and midnight.
Could you and your lover be like one of these adoring couples?:
Henri and Nicole, age 74: a great love affair pegged to the Ménilmontant neighborhood who met at the age of 14 who say that about their love that "Aujourd’hui, c’est plus intense et plus profond." ( Today, our love is more intense and deeper.)
Louis, 49 and Jean, 28: Louis declared his love on a panel six years ago. They met on the Internet in January 2005 and shortly after, the City of Paris had begun it's illuminated signs for Saint Valentine. So, there it was all for them at the corner of rue des Pyrénées and rue de Ménilmontant.
Isabella, 46 and Enzo, 55: she is a mother of three who rebuilt his life -- these two Italian-born Parisians who met through a dating site: "It was December 31, 2006. I was stranded at the last minute and we were alone together. It was a rendez-vous in a small Parisian restaurant. It was love at first sight "and since then 31, it's became our own private party."
Marion, 55, and Pierre, 56: Marion and Pierre first met 20 years ago via the Minitel (remember that!?). It was love at first sight -- at the Gare de Lyon. She was wearing a country skirt, had a fresh complexion and didn't look like the other women. She brought with her three kids into their newly found love, one of whom died tragically, but together discovered special moments, such as a memory of blowing bubbles at the Jardin du Luxembourg..."l’allée des bulles" (the path of bubbles).
And what if you don't have a lover "a ce moment?" At least you have the City of Paris.
I have contended for many years that one can't be lonely for love in the world's most romantic city, as it is inevitable to have a love affair with the city itself. She (Paris) saved me once upon a time when being out of love with a lover was the loneliest time in my life.
Should this be your situation, don't despair. Just take in the sights, the sounds, the smells and you will sense the romance in the air at every turn -- a city not trying to be hard, tough or cold, but delicate, feminine and vulnerable.
Give her words of tenderness, boxes of chocolate, bouquets of flowers and she will return the favor in multiple kind. You will never be lonely, never be longing for love, in the City of Love and Light.
Happy Valentine's Day to all those in love, out of love or desiring of love.
A la prochaine...
Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
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P.S. Tomorrow is the deadline to register for "Writing from the Heart...a journey into the heart of France, and into your own heart..." See below for more details or visit frenchpropertyconference.com
