There had been no time for excitement for this upcoming trip to Paris, with so much to attend to before leaving, I could barely wrap my head around the idea that I would be leaving the sweltering Queensland summer heat and humidity and after a 35 hour journey, I would arrive in Paris, snuggled up in my favourite coat and scarf, strolling the streets of Paris and performing my annual ritual of placing my feet upon Pont Zero. The brass disc embedded in the pavement in front of the Notre Dame measures all distances in France to the centre of Paris and rumour has it, that if you perform this act, you will be certain to return to Paris.
Waiting by the luggage carousel, finally the excitement had started to ripple through my body. There was a lot to be excited about, I had finally arrived to a chilly Parisian morning, a driver would be waiting outside to whisk me away to my apartment, I had been upgraded to business class for the longest part of the journey from Singapore to Helsinki, which meant a lovely sleep in a flat bed, complete with a doona, I had to sprint through Helsinki airport to make my final leg but I made it just as they were about to close the gate. Luck was on my side!
My name sounded so nice as it rolled off the tongue of the French man calling it through the PA system at Charles de Gaulle airport but I instantly knew it could only mean one thing. I made the flight out of Helsinki but my luggage didn’t.
Memories of arriving in Paris on a snowy Christmas morning four years ago with nothing to wear but a fur coat for two weeks dulled the excitement. Had I learnt my lesson? Yes. All important items now travel with me in my hand luggage but the thought of hauling a big heavy coat wasn’t appealing and yes, you guessed it, I packed it in my check in. It appears that I had had enough good luck for one day!
With a promise that my luggage would be delivered today, shivering from the cold, I set off for my apartment and was not only greeted with a warm welcome from the apartment manager but a mysterious parcel was waiting for me on the dining room table.
A dear friend from Canada had timed it perfectly that a surprise package arrived the same day as me! Ripping open the parcel like a five year old child, a bundle of gorgeously wrapped Christmas gifts tied with pretty red bows spilled out. and a note of warning that they are not to be opened until Christmas morning. How deliciously exciting and mysterious ….. thank you Robert, what a wonderful surprise and what better way to raise my spirits.
An adventure is planned for tomorrow that requires a coat – let’s hope I have one …..
A very shaky and …
Joyeux Noel from Paris …
There are no prizes …