loving life in paris

a few weeks ago i was lucky enough to travel to paris with one of my friends. up until that weekend, my imagination had run wild with just how magnificent it would be, and it turned out to be everything i had hoped for and more. little intmate cafes on every corner, the smell of just-out-of-the-oven baguettes filling the air, overheard conversations between the most beautiful people speaking the loveliest language, and amazing architecture - the eiffel tower being my favorite of course... but not once in my daydreams of this magical place had i imagined meeting anyone worth mentioning, until i did.

the first night we arrived, our plan was to walk to the moulin rouge, then to the sacre coeur, and then call it a night (we had arrived on a bus which was almost 8 hours long so we were pretty tired already). on our way back to the hostel we ended up walking by a huge outdoor dance party and decided to have a little fun - so our preplanned short night turned into a spontaneously fun late on. we very quietly tiptoed into the hostel, as to not wake up the other 2 people we had not met yet, and went fast to sleep. it was in the morning that i met her. she was one of our roommates. she was 60 something, shorter than me, and had an inviting face and a glowing personality - a person you wouldn't mind sitting next to on a bus or a plane or even a bench just to strike up a friendly conversation. she was from russia and was traveling with her best friend. we talked for what felt like hours about her adventures and mine, and by the end of our meeting i felt like we had known each other for a long time. she was someone i immediately admired. to be of that age and to be doing what you love - traveling the world.... i had never met a woman with so much love for life. it's those moments and those people that just make you want to be better and do something more with your life. the day i left she gave me a hug and i didn't want to let go. i should've asked for her email so i could still keep in touch, but there's no doubt in my mind i already know what she's up to - she's traveling the world, meeting new people, tasting new foods, making new memories, and living her life to the fullest. and i hope that when i turn 60 and 70 and 80 i'll still be doing what i love with the people i love.

xoxo