these are always timed well as I settle into my office to commence work down in Melbourne to find I can put off starting work for juuuust a few moments more :)
I get that sense you mention of showing someone a place whilst also wanting them to have a touristy experience. It's very similar for me as a Brit living in Melbourne and having friends or family come visit. I think you really have to live for a few days as a Melburnian to really get the city and let it sink in (this usually involves a lot of brunching and coffee!)
Anyway, your post got me thinking about the last time I was in Paris, back in 2019. I was there for a conference, but before that started my wife and I had a few lovely days attempting to be Parisians and just walking around and catching the metro and immersing ourselves in the culture. It was great. One of the best memories I have is of us doing a walk that was on this raised section -- the Promenade Plantée? (I had to Google that just now.) It was quiet, it was beautiful, but it also just had locals having a stroll or sitting and reading. It was so peaceful. We also ate a lot of crepes over those days. Then my wife left to go visit her sister in London and I stayed in a super cute apartment near the conference and during that time I had my daily commute-walk and I'd grab a coffee and maybe a croissant and visit the local supermarket and stare at the hundreds and thousands of yoghurts and cheeses. It was only a few days, but it certainly made me feel like I was living there, albeit briefly.
In three words? Hmm. How about: beautiful bustling indulgence
Side note: I finally got around to reading Station Eleven last month. It was written pre-pandemic, but reading it post-pandemic made it perhaps more moving. There's no zombies, but it captured that post-pandemic (>99% mortality) obliteration really well and it was quite a beautiful and serene story about survivors living -- much like in The Last of Us -- 20 years after the event. I haven't watched the TV show of Station Eleven, though I've heard good things.
I'm enjoying The Last of Us, but the first three episodes were really the high-points so far. I found ep 4 to be rather dull and a necessary precursor to episode 5, which felt somewhat predictable in its structure and I felt no sense of loss at the end of that episode because, well, it was just obvious that was going to happen. I'm probably in the 0.1% with those opinions though, haha. Hope your brother is enjoying the comparison with the game (I was too much of a wuss to ever finish it).
Apologies for the essay... I'm clearly not wanting to start work!
Not at all, thank you so much for writing a reply!
It's nice to think this letter arrives in the future in Melbourne! Glad I'm not the only one who feels the challenge of being an at-home abroad host.
It sounds like you did Paris just right ;) Yes I love that walkway too -- I haven't been for ages, you've inspired me to take a trip as it's sooo far away in Paris terms (i.e. not far at all, just in a different arrondissement!) Hope you've had a good week so far and a nice weekend lined up ahead. H
Ahhh that's so cool! I love the art space at 59 Rue de Rivoli -- always dynamic and surprising. I hope you had a lovely day in Montmartre and that the rest of your trip has been great too. I'd love to know your overall highlight?
Thank you! I can’t believe I haven’t spotted it before. I just loved the whole trip and didn’t want to leave. I’m now thinking up methods to ensure I get to go back soon :)
I took the nightbus across Paris on one of the last nights, and that was possibly the highlight. The mix of Parisians going about their usual routine as the bus passed by the most stunning sights of the city.
I really did love Aftersquat. Can’t wait to return!
Hey!!! How is your ankle? Hope all is well my ex-tourist guide friend. I was always better at repairing bikes than guiding tourists. We visit Paris at least once a year, if LA was closer we would make the trip more often. HOME: until last year, it always felt like I was going home, then my son was born in LA, and he loves the sand, the warm weather and playing outside everyday because it rarely rains here. It is hard to imagine my life before him or without him so know I'm torn because I do love Paris but LA is where my heart is. FAMILY: the reason we go back to Paris so often is because my family in law lives in France. I miss visiting new places, which was always a passion of mine, but since we are so far away, my time off is spent in France. AMERICANS: in Paris you can always tell the Americans tourists. They seem so out of place. After 5 years living back in the states I wonder what has become of me, am I 1 American tourist more or did those 6 years in Paris mean something?
Hi! Great to hear from you and thank you for reading!! That's beautiful about your son and home <3 And congratulations! I don't think you can ever be just another tourist if you've lived here! Would - Home, Family and Americans be your 3 words?! Merci again for writing, hope all is very well with you and yours.
This reminded me so much of what it was like to live in San Francisco, pre-tech boom (and after, too, I suppose); just being there was a thing in itself, like the sidewalks sang or something. When people came to visit, every single regular and tourist activity always felt fun, vibrant, new and worth sharing. I think SF and Paris shares those ineffable qualities and that must be what makes them both uniquely suited to la flânerie in a way that I haven't really experienced in other places. Thank you for putting it all into words!
This is so cool and interesting to read, thank you! I was lucky enough to travel to SF a few years ago, but I also I would have really loved to see it pre all the changes. I listened to a NYT podcast recently about how this whole economy popped up around the tech boom e.g. lunch spots for workers, and it just collapsed during the pandemic. With more tech workers now working remotely from more suburban locations in the Bay Area, now some lunch spots/services have to move out to them. I just found the episode again: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/podcasts/the-daily/san-francisco-downtown-pandemic.html Thank you for reading and replying!!
Hi Alfred-Patrick! My Irish great-grandfather was named Alfonso-Patrick, perhaps we're related! My firm helps companies, organisations and people to tell their story, primarily with words but also with other visual elements and strategic advice. I am working on a fuller online presence for my consultancy/advisory. There's a little info here until then: https://www.hannahmeltzer.com/other-projects
"When good Americans die, they go to Paris'.
"Where do bad Americans go?'
'They stay in America'.
...Oscar Wilde
About Paris, Greta Garbo may have said it best in the movie, Ninotchka: "I'm so happy, I'm so happy! Nobody can be so happy without being punished."
As for me, the three words, "Vitality, culture, cuisine."
https://youtu.be/2A60QcsJtlE
Great words, thank you! And thank you for sharing the clip, which I hadn't seen before! Very best wishes
Oh my!! You really need to watch the entire movie, 1939, "Ninotchka!!" It will be one of your favorites, for sure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJoVRUNmqIY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhTgiNhfF7k&t=102s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIHGn-BwZMM&t=3s
Hi Hannah, lovely piece as ever.
Paris in three words: friendlier than reported 😂
Thank you! And haha, good 3 words! Glad you think so
Hi Hannah,
these are always timed well as I settle into my office to commence work down in Melbourne to find I can put off starting work for juuuust a few moments more :)
I get that sense you mention of showing someone a place whilst also wanting them to have a touristy experience. It's very similar for me as a Brit living in Melbourne and having friends or family come visit. I think you really have to live for a few days as a Melburnian to really get the city and let it sink in (this usually involves a lot of brunching and coffee!)
Anyway, your post got me thinking about the last time I was in Paris, back in 2019. I was there for a conference, but before that started my wife and I had a few lovely days attempting to be Parisians and just walking around and catching the metro and immersing ourselves in the culture. It was great. One of the best memories I have is of us doing a walk that was on this raised section -- the Promenade Plantée? (I had to Google that just now.) It was quiet, it was beautiful, but it also just had locals having a stroll or sitting and reading. It was so peaceful. We also ate a lot of crepes over those days. Then my wife left to go visit her sister in London and I stayed in a super cute apartment near the conference and during that time I had my daily commute-walk and I'd grab a coffee and maybe a croissant and visit the local supermarket and stare at the hundreds and thousands of yoghurts and cheeses. It was only a few days, but it certainly made me feel like I was living there, albeit briefly.
In three words? Hmm. How about: beautiful bustling indulgence
Side note: I finally got around to reading Station Eleven last month. It was written pre-pandemic, but reading it post-pandemic made it perhaps more moving. There's no zombies, but it captured that post-pandemic (>99% mortality) obliteration really well and it was quite a beautiful and serene story about survivors living -- much like in The Last of Us -- 20 years after the event. I haven't watched the TV show of Station Eleven, though I've heard good things.
I'm enjoying The Last of Us, but the first three episodes were really the high-points so far. I found ep 4 to be rather dull and a necessary precursor to episode 5, which felt somewhat predictable in its structure and I felt no sense of loss at the end of that episode because, well, it was just obvious that was going to happen. I'm probably in the 0.1% with those opinions though, haha. Hope your brother is enjoying the comparison with the game (I was too much of a wuss to ever finish it).
Apologies for the essay... I'm clearly not wanting to start work!
Have a great week.
Not at all, thank you so much for writing a reply!
It's nice to think this letter arrives in the future in Melbourne! Glad I'm not the only one who feels the challenge of being an at-home abroad host.
It sounds like you did Paris just right ;) Yes I love that walkway too -- I haven't been for ages, you've inspired me to take a trip as it's sooo far away in Paris terms (i.e. not far at all, just in a different arrondissement!) Hope you've had a good week so far and a nice weekend lined up ahead. H
Lovely post, Hannah, thanks for sharing. I’m finally in Paris for a few days after missing it badly for three years. Thanks for the tips.
Yesterday I discovered the stunning exposition at 59 Rue De Rivoli and afterwards we walked ourselves tired across Paris.
Today we’re staying local and heading over to sacré Cœur.
My three words are: culture, light, beauty. I’ve never been so busy with my camera 😆
Ahhh that's so cool! I love the art space at 59 Rue de Rivoli -- always dynamic and surprising. I hope you had a lovely day in Montmartre and that the rest of your trip has been great too. I'd love to know your overall highlight?
Merci for the 3 words! Noted
Thank you! I can’t believe I haven’t spotted it before. I just loved the whole trip and didn’t want to leave. I’m now thinking up methods to ensure I get to go back soon :)
I took the nightbus across Paris on one of the last nights, and that was possibly the highlight. The mix of Parisians going about their usual routine as the bus passed by the most stunning sights of the city.
I really did love Aftersquat. Can’t wait to return!
My first year or two in Paris I would get so upset by the question “how is Paris” but now I get it and hear “how are you”.
Three words to describe Paris: gris, merde, charmant
Thank you for reading! I love your work.
Yes, same here. I get it too now.
Haha, great three words, merci !
Hi Darling Hannah
Great peice and very much luring my thoughts toward your enchanting home of Paris.
In three words, for me especially as Kate lives there and having had the pleasure of meeting you ,Its hard to only use three words but they would be:
History
Dogs
Love
Hi dear Karen!
Hope to see you here soon. And merci pour the gorgeous words xx
Hey!!! How is your ankle? Hope all is well my ex-tourist guide friend. I was always better at repairing bikes than guiding tourists. We visit Paris at least once a year, if LA was closer we would make the trip more often. HOME: until last year, it always felt like I was going home, then my son was born in LA, and he loves the sand, the warm weather and playing outside everyday because it rarely rains here. It is hard to imagine my life before him or without him so know I'm torn because I do love Paris but LA is where my heart is. FAMILY: the reason we go back to Paris so often is because my family in law lives in France. I miss visiting new places, which was always a passion of mine, but since we are so far away, my time off is spent in France. AMERICANS: in Paris you can always tell the Americans tourists. They seem so out of place. After 5 years living back in the states I wonder what has become of me, am I 1 American tourist more or did those 6 years in Paris mean something?
Hi! Great to hear from you and thank you for reading!! That's beautiful about your son and home <3 And congratulations! I don't think you can ever be just another tourist if you've lived here! Would - Home, Family and Americans be your 3 words?! Merci again for writing, hope all is very well with you and yours.
This reminded me so much of what it was like to live in San Francisco, pre-tech boom (and after, too, I suppose); just being there was a thing in itself, like the sidewalks sang or something. When people came to visit, every single regular and tourist activity always felt fun, vibrant, new and worth sharing. I think SF and Paris shares those ineffable qualities and that must be what makes them both uniquely suited to la flânerie in a way that I haven't really experienced in other places. Thank you for putting it all into words!
This is so cool and interesting to read, thank you! I was lucky enough to travel to SF a few years ago, but I also I would have really loved to see it pre all the changes. I listened to a NYT podcast recently about how this whole economy popped up around the tech boom e.g. lunch spots for workers, and it just collapsed during the pandemic. With more tech workers now working remotely from more suburban locations in the Bay Area, now some lunch spots/services have to move out to them. I just found the episode again: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/podcasts/the-daily/san-francisco-downtown-pandemic.html Thank you for reading and replying!!
Hi Alfred-Patrick! My Irish great-grandfather was named Alfonso-Patrick, perhaps we're related! My firm helps companies, organisations and people to tell their story, primarily with words but also with other visual elements and strategic advice. I am working on a fuller online presence for my consultancy/advisory. There's a little info here until then: https://www.hannahmeltzer.com/other-projects
Best wishes and thank you for reading!