| The First Snow! |
| Written by Brendon Green |
| Friday, 18 December 2009 06:46 |
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Exciting news! Today was the first snow fall in Paris it’s all a bit mushy now, but as I was walking here to the café it started falling again (FYI my scarf is a very effective snow catcher). Tick that one off the life list: I have walked the streets of Paris in a snowfall. If I can somehow get on a boat and hum the theme of 'Jaws' just as a shark appears, my life will be half-way complete. Actually, things have seemed quite surreal and cinematic lately. Two nights ago I was walking home and I turned into on of the thousands of side streets and alleyways here in Paris; to be greeted with a long cobbled street, towering brick buildings looming over me from each side, completely empty except for a guy standing in a door arch wailing away on a saxophone. He was playing the full on 80’s thriller movie saxophone type music, which made my walk down the street truly epic. I know back in New Zealand it’s getting into beach and BBQ time. And I was jealous for a bit there, when it was just rainy and bleak here in Paris. But now it’s snowing, proper snowing (there’s a kid outside the café catching the snow on his tongue, and it is cuter than any kitten jumping into a box video I have seen on Youtube); my jealousy seems to have melted away. While I would like to be sitting on a deck being mocked for drinking wine while watching my mates drink beer, I have no complaints heading into a freezing winter if it keeps throwing up stunningly beautiful images. It’s been dipping into minus degrees during the day lately, so the full jacket-scarf-gloves combo is in full effect. I may even have to buy a woollen hat for the first time in my life (but only if it’s a novelty one with bear ears sticking up, ‘cos those are hilarious). I went to some Christmas markets on the Champs Elysees, and the freezing temperature, the decadent lighting, the stalls selling pretty looking junk, and the cup of hot wine all lead me to have a Disney-like winter wonderland childlike experience. Also I was wearing Chucks, so the frostbite might have had something to do with the feeling of euphoria. This is an exciting time for me, and I hope I don’t grow tired of the snow/sludge too quickly. It’s almost Christmas and I’m going to have my first ever official White Christmas, with actual snow, not the fake stuff you get from The Warehouse. I don’t have a fire to curl up in front of, but a heater will do just fine. It’s a beautiful city, and I love being here. SNOW! Hehehehe. Now excuse me while I go stand outside, tilt my head to the sky and open my mouth. |
