Living Life at the Sacre Coeur

Allow me to share a typical day in the life of a workerbee:

I wake up at 6:00 am. I then fall back asleep and wake up again at 6:45.

Noticing that I am now 45 minutes late, I have to make an executive decision whether my armpits need an extra scrub down or if I can cover up the funk with some body spray.

I then drive at about 15 miles an hour—in traffic—the whole way to work. I get cut off multiple time in traffic, and, like clockwork, come to a screeching halt at the 110 interchange into Downtown Los Angeles.

I work for about nine hours and then I drive home in traffic for the second time in a day. On the drive home, going once again 15 miles an hour, I ponder about this individual race I’m running. It makes me tired and very aware that I should have spent the extra five minutes slapping on some body spray.

The Sacré Cœur The Sacré Cœur

 

Then there was the Sacré Cœur in Paris, a beautiful roman church that sits atop Montmarte, the highest point in the city, with a sweeping view of the beautiful ville.

At 4:00 pm in Los Angeles, the mister and I are working. At 4:00 in Paris, we were privy to families and friends enjoying picnics on the grassy park in front of that antiquated –and better yet, FREE– site. Couples met each other in the park and enjoyed time together. Mothers sat with their children and just talked. As time progressed into night, more people met on the lawn and strengthened their bonds of friendship.

This is France.

Life is meant to be enjoyed and appreciated in French culture. Even the most minute of meetings in front of the Sacré Cœur is the strengthening of familial and camaraderie bonds.

Sitting in front of the Sacré Cœur was probably the most peaceful weekday afternoon the mister and I had had in a while. It was in that vibrantly green park where we did exactly what a French person would do: enjoy life.

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6 responses

  • wanderoneday on
    Reply

    I don’t have nearly the frustrating commute to work that you do (mine takes me about 15 minutes at 60 mph), but I know the feelings you describe. I feel like a rat in an exercise wheel, spinning my gears just to see the same sights over and over. I used to have the spare time to just sit in the park when I was a college student, but it seems like the working world prevents any of that spontanaeity.

    I think that’s why I have such a strong urge to travel. It gets me out of my day-to-day life and I get to see new sights and experience new things. Then, when I do have to go back to the repetitive motions of my daily life, I can reminisce and think back just as you did with the Sacre Coeur.

    My “Sacre Coeur” is the beach at Shipwreck Bar and Grill on the island of St. Kitts. Everyone was there to just relax, have fun splashing in the waves, enjoy a tropical beverage or two, and to escape the day-to-day grind. Now when I get particularly overwhelmed at work, I close my eyes and think about the blue sky, the warm waves, and the escape from the ordinary at Shipwreck.

    • Nicole on
      Reply

      It definitely was an eye-opener for us. The way life is enjoyed in other parts of the world versus ours. And, I especially enjoyed that French culture stresses the importance of companionship and enjoying every facet of life. Guess that’s why I want us to expatriate to Paris. =)

  • Frank on
    Reply

    you wake me up at 6:15. then again at 6:45. I then sleep in till 9 and a short 4 mile commute to work. But get off 12 hours later or sometimes 16 hours… with an occasional 20 hours… and often weekends. I wish we live in France with the French way of life.

    • Nicole on
      Reply

      Quintessential is a good for that place. It’s so parisian and surprisingly low-key, despite all the people there.

      I’m a little jealous that you have lived in Paris. =)

  • Erika on
    Reply

    I miss that overwhelming theme in France — enjoy and savor life. Everything there is saturated with it and its woven into the infrastructure of the culture. It just ends up being what you DO. I miss that general outlook, that general pace… that slow, yet meaningful enjoyment. Beautiful.

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