Landing in France to a bitterly cold, grey and wet Paris I wasn't too delighted and my first few weeks in Grenoble didn't stir my soul much, except when I was confronted by the sight of the majestic snow-capped Alps in front of me. The last few weeks have changed all of that - my (almost painfully) short trip to Bordeaux, much akin to my first trip in December 2003 was full of delightful discoveries, both gastronomic and cultural and heart-warming, intelligent conversations. I had left behind a cold and windy Grenoble where they skies were still prominently grey and the nasty wind pushed me to walk fast even when I was tired and wanted to drag my feet back home. Bordeaux was delightful with clear blue skies, streets bustling with activity and cafés and bars overflowing with people having animated discussions, smiling, frowning, waving their cigarettes about, wholesomely alive! There was already a hint of spring in the air and I fell in love all over again with the city.
I came back to a city which was still bitterly cold, but over the past week it has gotten progressively warmer...from last monday, when one of my professor's asked if we've noticed the first primevères, to this saturday when every green patch in the city had primevères pushing their way stubbornly through the earth to announce the arrival of spring. I stepped out on saturday seeking information and had intended to be back in my room within a couple of hours - I ended up staying out the entire afternoon for it was a lovely spring afternoon. A sunny day with a clear blue sky and not a cloud to mar its glorious beauty, a cool breeze blowing in from the Alps which are still capped with snow - it was the perfect day for a picnic and I could see that most people were of the same opinion. For the first time since I got here, I saw all the squares in the city were crowded, the cafés and bars overflowing, the air buzzing with animated conversation, the city alive with activity. I decided to leave my usual labyrinth of streets in the centre-ville and set off to explore a slightly different part of the old city and found myself climbing the Bastille to get a better view of the city stretched out below me and later stumbled on to charming squares previously unvisited...and I fell in love with the city. I returned home several lovely hours later, my feet tired from walking almost 4 hours, but my soul and my senses satisfied from all they had experienced and I must admit, I felt the slightest pinch of sadness that I didn't have anybody with whom I could share this perfect day.
Spring is here - and with it, the time for beautiful days which make beautiful memories. Amen.
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