Is Paris and all it is famous for a little, well…overrated?
There was a time I thought so. Some may be gasping in horror at my thinking this, but it is due to a certain experience that rubbed me the wrong way. I do love the language- french is so enthralling. It grabs you and pulls you in deeper as each syllable touches your ears. Literally, touches. I can feel the french language when it is spoken, so much so that I could spread it on some fresh baguette. But I didn’t always appreciate the charms of the city itself the way I do now.
Ponte Alexandre III
While studying abroad in Italy, my longtime friend, Mafe, and I decided to make a trip to France. Paris was excitedly on our minds; we wanted to have a lovely, french-filled weekend with lots of delicious food. We packed our trendiest Paris-worthy outfits and made our way to the city on an uncomfortable Ryanair flight. Just a minor detail, we thought, no big deal. Everything else was going to be perfect.
Mafe and I in Paris
Or not. On the first day alone, I was looking at a tea brewing container full of hot tea I had never seen before, and I decided to flip it over. Big mistake. The boiling tea exploded all over my hand and I had to endure the day in severe pain with stinging skin. Then, Mafe’s only credit card got sucked in and stuck inside an ATM machine, and we had minor meltdowns because, how were we supposed to get it out? Who could we ask, and, how can we get them to understand us anyway? Next, a gorgeous day turned grey and rainy quick, and we had to walk around without umbrella’s for a while until we found someone selling some over-priced ones on the street. We also had our fair share of delays and confusions on the train, but nonetheless made it to that famously romantic, dreamy tower: La Tour Eiffel. It was pure bliss- that I will not complain about. But, alas, our good fortune didn’t last long, of course. We didn’t plan how to get back to our hosts’ little Parisian apartment, and found out that after midnight in Paris there is no public transportation. We reluctantly got a taxi after a sketchy walk around the area to figure out our options, and like true unprepared tourists, fell asleep during the ride. God knows what route that lady took us on, but when we woke up, we owed 70 Euros. That’s 94.86 US dollars. Yeah, enough said.
Mafe having a meltdown moment at the ATM
French signs
A night at the Eiffel Tower
Long lines of people wanting a late-night snack
Then there’s the food, and my expectations were high. To my horror (the result of denial), I learned just how expensive food is in Paris. A simple sandwich from a little stand on the street was about $14, and it wasn’t even memorable. In fact, it was completely forgettable. So we ate like that- little things here and there like sandwiches and pastries, because frankly, we were broke students trying to get by. Some were perfection, I admit, but not all were up to par against what is expected from one of the most culinary renowned cities in the world. But there was one thing that didn’t let us down, one food that satisfied our hunt for something truly french, affordable, and delicious. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the good ol’ french crêpe .
Pastries in Montmartre
People watchers at a cafe
A charming Creperie
The man behind the crepes
Me with my Nutella and banana crepe
Yes, the crêpe. Nutella and banana graced the folds of this delicate, thin french pancake on that day, and salvaged the little hope we had left that something would delight us enough to help us forget the unfortunate events of that weekend. Merci beaucoup, random man at the crêpe stand in Paris on that rainy day. You saved us.
So, are Paris and its charms overrated? Never. And I’m sorry for having my doubts.
In honor of this man whose crêpes I plan on devouring again in the near future, I want to recreate two classic french crêpes this week, one sweet and one savory. Oh là là, I can taste them already.
For a look at a video of the real Parisian crepe experience, click here!
Keep imagining, keep cooking.
Erika
theimaginarychef 