Scottish Mem'ries + Parisian Wanderings

I'm convinced there really is nothing quite like a fresh Parisian crepe. And nothing makes it sweeter -- not even blessed Nutella -- than eating a fresh Parisian crepe while sitting on the banks of the Seine. As it flows through the gaslit city center, reflecting a golden and shimmering Tour Eiffel and giving the lovers' nightly strolls their calm, lapping soundtrack, that river is like the sweetest, purest sugar. Any smart pastry chef can make an extremely thin pancake and fill it with scrumptious things like walnuts and bits of chocolate, but all crepe-makers who are so unfortunate as to practice the craft outside of Paris face the marked disadvantage of lacking the sights and sounds and spirit of this place. They have to compensate with stripes and berets and fake French accents to achieve authenticity.

I came here from Scotland. This has provided an interesting contrast. On the one hand I had the dull greens and browns of the land the Celts called Alba, and on the other I have the vibrant, proud blue, white, and red of Paris. Scotland is about reserved, endearing subtleties where France is more about highlighting every subtlety till it screams with color and boldness and points itself out to you.

I shouldn't say I prefer one to the other. Each has its charms, its beauty. I do feel a bit more comfortable in Scotland, and England for that matter, but I think it's a matter of Anglophone familiarity more than anything else. There's security in knowing that you have the words to express yourself no matter what the situation. Especially when you're me, and words are currency, breath, blood. It's a strange kind of dull pain when I can't convey my true thoughts or feelings because my (now) very limited French vocabulary won't allow me to speak except in generalities. It's like losing your chisel after the first few blows to the marble. Or trying to paint the intricate night sky with your knee.

In any case, click here for some photos of my trip to Scotland, and watch out for photos of Paris to come.

Oh, and I'll be in the United States of America (what a thrill to write that out) in just two days now...!