Les trucs qui vont me manquer

My time here in Paris is sadly coming to a close.  I’ve been thinking about all of the things I’m going to miss about this city, so I decided to compile a list and to dedicate a blog post to it.

• Hearing French spoken all around me. It truly is a beautiful language, and seems to flow into one’s ears like a melody.
• The endless possibilities of events and activities. Throughout my five-month stay, I did not once find myself with a lack of things to do.  In fact, there was too much to do, and I was not able to even come close to accomplishing all of the things on my to-do list.  There is always some new place to explore, some new pâtisserie to try, some new park to discover.
• Coffee vending machines.  Sciences Po has these scattered throughout its campus, and OH MY GOSH, you can get an amazing little hazelnut cappuccino for a mere 50 centimes!  This may or may not be the only positive memory I have of Sciences Po…
• Bread. I’m pretty sure the expression “bread of life” must have originated in Paris; baguette after baguette blew my mind.  And taste buds.  I see why it is such a pivotal part of life in Paris.
• Pastries. True works of art.  And delicious to boot.  I shall miss my mini-macarons and mille feuilles.
• The architecture.  How is it possible for every single building to be so incredibly beautiful?  Okay, except the Centre Pompidou…if I were to allow that edifice to slide, I believe I would have thousands of Parisians swimming the Atlantic in order to find me, strangle me, revive me, and then strangle me again for saying such a blasphemous thing.
• The central location. I would venture to guess that most major airlines and train companies travel to and from Paris, which made my European excursions significantly easier.
• Art. The Louvre.  Musée d’Orsay.  Musée de l’Orangerie.  All of these, among others.  Scattered on every corner of the city.  There is always more beautiful art to be seen, and I’m going to miss having such easy access to it.
• The speed of the metro.  It is so FAST!  Especially in comparison to Boston’s version, called the T, which moves through the city at a snail’s pace.  I suppose it’s good that the metro flies, however, because I don’t know how long I could stand to be surrounded by so many scowling Parisians.
• The myriad of parks scattered throughout the city. They’re all great, but Jardin du Luxembourg will always feel like home to me.
• The open-air markets.  They’re great!  Fresh produce, friendly vendors, and overall fun experiences.  Who doesn’t love to be cooed at and given free nuts and figs?
• The man who plays bass on the bridge by Notre Dame.  He brought a smile to my face each and every time I passed him by.
• Cheap wine…that actually tastes good. I don’t know if it is possible to find in America, but I doubt it’s possible to find $7 bottles of wine that are both drinkable and tasty.