Unbelievably, we have only thirty days left in Paris. On the 10 August we will load up our car and head back to the UK. I am not ready to leave, I adore Paris. So, as the clock ticks down to our departure day I decided to record some of my favourite things about living here. A long goodbye to a city I love.
Everyday, this is my first and last view of the world outside our apartment. It is one of my favourite things about both living in Paris and living in this apartment. I love that the rooftops are so undeniably Parisian. I love that I see the sunset every evening and often the moon rise too.
I have enjoyed the view since we moved, but I really started appreciating it during lockdown. In Paris, there was a time when we could only go out for an hour a day and no further than 1km from our homes. From the window, I could see the season change and spring arrive, and I could also see lights in other buildings. When you are up in the middle of the night during a pandemic it’s reassuring to look out the window and see another light across the way, and know you are not the only one awake in the night.
During lockdown, I also discovered that I could hear the birds from my window. Before then I hadn’t been particularly interested in birds and if asked I’d have told you that there were only pigeons in Paris. In fact, there are blackbirds and some tiny but extremely vocal small birds too. I now make a point of listening for them in the morning, it’s a lovely start to the day.
I’ll miss the view from here.