reflections from the city of lights

Every once in a while when i'm walking around the city, the realisation that i live in Paris hits me like a wave of awesome. I realise that for people who have lived and worked here their whole lives, it's not that special; but for a Great Canadian Prairie kid like me, Paris is a wonderful, magical place. Around every corner lurks something of enormous cultural or historical significance. Under each street - each cobblestone - lies the essence of some two thousand years of human habitation. Ah, Paris; the epicentre of all that is French, and by definition, one of the cornerstones of western civilization.

I am astounded daily by how this city works. How it moves and hums and beats to a rhythm that is entirely its own. In many ways, life here moves much faster than it did any where i've ever lived - and in others, it plods along at speeds that could only be described with adjectives like "epic" and "mythic". Yes, Paris is a good place to be, as long as you don't actually need to do anything. But that's not why i'm here - if i wanted to invest in businesses and advance my career, i would never have left North America.

But i did leave, and each day that i'm gone is a re-affirmation of my reasons for doing so. Even now, as the season the locals affectionately refer to as "winter" is setting in, i still find myself in absolutely no hurry to be anywhere, or do anything, ever. That isn't to say that i'm lethargic - quite the opposite, in fact! It's just that i'm not pressured anymore. Getting to work before nine is unthinkable. Lunch takes at least an hour - and there's usually a lovely side of fish involved. Yes, fish! Oh god, the food here is incredible. Montréal is easily the gastronomic capital of Canada, but so far, it doesn't quite measure up to its Old World counterpart.

Yes, life here is good - no, it's great - and i there's precious little i would trade it for at this very moment... well, i suppose i could probably be convinced if there were palm trees and little umbrella drinks involved, but only after very serious consideration.