At one time or another most everyone says that they long for silence, solitude and simplicity, and I believe they mean it, even the most extroverted. It feels good to get away and be silent with nothing to do.
But there is a group of us who have more than an occasionally longing for the 3Ss, who from time to time feel anxious in situations where there seems to be only noise, people and complexity. I’ve been noticing more of those circumstances lately. For example, yesterday getting my haircut. Don’t get me wrong, I love the person who has been cutting my hair for the past forty years, but there was so much chatter going on in the place.
I’m writing about this because it may have been a watershed moment for me; I was extremely conscious not only of wanting quiet but of feeling anxious about it as I sat in the chair. I didn’t want to take this social setting is stride. I couldn’t wait to take some deep breaths when I got in the car.
But then there is Paris! My thoughts and feelings pale when I consider what is going on in that city at this very moment. I am embarrassed to be writing such a self-centered blog.

 Every day, life gives us opportunities for forgiveness, with travel being no exception. It happened just over a week ago as my daughter, grandchildren and I stood in line to get into Versailles. As we moved along in front of the palace, we exchanged pleasantries with a German couple in front of us and an Asian family behind us. The queue wove up and down in an orderly and obvious way; no confusion for anyone…well at least that what we thought… and here’s where the forgiveness comes in.

      All at once two French women were standing between us and the Asians. Where did they come from? Since they were behind us, I didn’t say anything, but then a family of four started easing its way in front of our German friends. When the German man spoke to them, they feigned ignorance and acted confused, and then quietly slipped in behind us. But where were the French women? I walked on ahead and found them simultaneously taking photographs and slipping (cutting) into the line. When I returned to our spot, I was amazed to count fourteen people between us and our Asian friends.

    So what am I to do about this, or rather how am I to respond as a person longing for silence, solitude and simplicity? As a start, I don’t have to take it on. I can let go of the righteous indignation that I felt. Cutting in line seems to be a cultural thing, something the French do. I don’t have to like it, nor do I have to be judgmental about it. After all, we Americans have our share of abrasiveness when we travel,  particularly when we complain about the lack of efficiency and laissez-faire attitudes of others. 

     Finally, I don’t have to let it ruin my time--which it didn’t. With forgiveness, with letting it go, the incident became no more than a minor observation.  Without a doubt, the observations worth keeping are the Palace and Gardens of Versailles.

I don’t know where to begin. This was a ‘very grateful’ trip from beginning to end. But what about silence, solitude and simplicity?  In a way, those don’t fit with a trip to Paris when traveling with one’s daughter and grandchildren. In the usual way of considering the 3S’s, I had little time for any of them. And yet….

     Our apartment was silent at night, so if silence is lack of abrasive noise, there was plenty. (The kids had fun together so there was a fair amount of giggling, and they didn’t argue.) 

     There wasn’t much time for solitude, but if solitude is lack of stress and tension, there was plenty.

     Riding the metro, sightseeing, eating, and all that goes into travel isn’t simple, but if simplicity is figuring it out with ease, there was plenty.

     Paris taught me new ways to consider silence, solitude and simplicity.

I even had a little solitude today. After climbing the bell towers of of Nortre Dame to visit with the gargoyles, the rest of the family went along the Seine to buy souvenirs and I headed to the Musee de Cluny, the museum of the middles ages. But first I stopped for a sit-down lunch of quiche, salad and a glass of wine. Tomorrow, our last day, takes us to Versailles.

Next time you go to Paris be sure to visit the Georges Pompidou Center. A spectacular building housing French art from 1905 on. You can get your fill of Picassos and Braques, but also, the space needs to be seen to be believed. We went there in the evening and through the glass walls saw students working on computers--all part of the contemporary art scene. A far cry from Monet, Renoir and the other impressionists and post-impressionists who relied only upon their eye and paint brush. Today we’re going roam around Montmatre where they hung out over a century ago.       

But that not all. The next time you go to Paris be sure to be awed by the stained glass windows of St. Chapelle.

And the Luxumbourg Gardens.

We’ve been on such a Paris whirl that we slept in until 10 this morning. After the Louvre, Muse D’Orsay, the ceremony at  Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, and an evening boat trip along the Seine, I guess we needed the extra hours.

    Today is ‘church day’ but  we may have to postpone the climb to the bell towers of Notre Dame (the line gets long) and start out by touring the crypt instead.  There are other churches on the left bank to visit, and then of course there are all those book stalls along the Seine that the kids love. Of course, they  aren’t about churches other than all the beautiful prints of Paris., churches included.

     Off for a late breakfast. I guess we’re become Parisians.

On the move. We are busy tourists. With our Paris Pass we have no excuses.; free metro, free buses, free entry to everything. Our day started with a  breakfast of croissants  in front of Notre Dame and an awesome visit inside; walking into one’s first cathedral in Europe has to be  once in a lifetime experience.  For the rest of the day we hopped on and off the City Tour Bus: Paris Opera House for a magnificent tour; the kids loved the wax museum; back to the Eiffel Tower, but not to climb.  Dinner on the Left Bank and then the Metro to the Montparnass Tower—elevator to the top to be delighted with the lighting of  the Eiffel Tower.

     I don’t have much time to write; today is Museum Day : the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, and Rodin Museum. This evening we plan to see the lighting of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and take a evening boat cruise along the Seine.

We’re already into August and fully into Paris. This is  a busy city but not particularly noisy. Very little solitude, but I didn’t expect any on this trip so I’m just fine. Our apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen—very French looking both inside and out, and fully adequate for the four of us, especially since w don’t plan to spend much time here. But I must say that not overdoing eating in restaurants serves us very well, so we’re delighted to have the refrigerator filled with yogurt, fruit and milk for cereal.  Our best meal so far has been  our picnic at the  Eiffel Tower park—bread, cheese, salami and fresh fruit from a local supermarket.  We’ll try a café today.

    If you know Paris, you might appreciate our walk from the apartment adjacent to Notre Dame to the Eiffel  tower (and then back again) and the climb to the top. I had to admitted that I was glad that the only way to make the last leg  to the top was via elevator.   668 steps was enough to prove I’m still fit.     

      The Eiffel Tower was on my granddaughter’s must-do list. She was in awe--couldn’t believe she was there. Such fun to experience that with her. Today we activate our Paris passes. On the list is Notre Dame and the on-off sightseeing bus., with many choices of museums and churches to visit see.  Who knows ? We even have a pass to wine tasting .

Not much silence, solitude or simplicity in my life for the next week, although I’ve started out okay: I didn’t go to Hershey Park with the grandkids. Good choice since I’m quite afraid of heights and have no interested in getting my body jerked around in some swirling little car, up high or on the ground.

      But today I’m flying to Paris with my grandson (age 14),  granddaughter (11) and their mother, my daughter . A chance of a lifetime, as the expression goes. We’ve rented an apartment for the week on the Ile de la Cite right behind Notre Dame Cathedral . We have Paris passes that get us into everything except the Eiffel Tower, but we’ll be sure to climb to the top anyway.  We plan to walk the Champs Elysees, eat crepes in Luxembourg  Gardens, wander the Louvre, and take a train to Versailles. That’s on our itinerary so far, but we’re open to adventure.

     As I said, I won’t be living in silence, solitude or simplicity, but who would want to when in  Paris with people you love and who are piles of fun?  I’ll be blogging from Paris, but not in French.