PARIS IN MOTION
Who knew, a few years later, I'd be on my 5th trip to the City of Light.
My first Paris trip was a few years ago, travelling with my mum for the first time after I've decided to take French lessons (which didn't last too long by the way, shame on me). Along those memories, the ones I remembered distinctly are spending hours walking around Le Marias , tasting the best crêpe, and having the sorest legs at night.
That's pretty much all I can recall.
Yet who knew, fast forward to 2017, I would be on my 5th trip to the City of Light, combined by two work trips and 3 getaways. And this time, it's a 7-day family trip which we had been planning for a while. Trust me, when all of you are located in different cities, it can be hard to get together at once. Anyways, we did it...cheers to that. Today is only our fourth day, but things have been looking great. Here's peek of our current trip (in motion).
回頭想想，人生第一次走訪巴黎是與吳小姐，也是在報名法文課後第一次踏上這片土地；那時，憑藉著少少的法語單字搭配著英語，與這浪漫之城邂逅。模糊的記憶中，比較清晰的是在瑪黑區挖寶的時光、嚐著熱騰騰的薄餅，以及每晚回飯店酸到發疼的雙腳。
初次記憶也就僅限於此。
晃眼過去，怎麼沒也想到，如今已第五次來到巴黎，其中包含了兩趟出差，剩餘的都是藉由地利之便的週末之旅。這趟，則是與家人相約，為期一週的小旅行。抵達當天，隨著火車的進站廣播響起，這才驚覺因為一家三口分別落腳於不同城市，近幾年已經很少有人數到齊的家庭旅遊。想著想著，對於接下來的七天也就更加期待。行程雖然目前只進行到一半，卻早已心滿意足；趁今晚晚飯結束的早，打開電腦整理照片寫寫字，來與你們分享。
I could go on and on about the booths along the Seine. Or how many old post card and newspaper I've bought as part of my prop collections. It's a place I'll never miss, and perhaps always my first stop. I feel like I'm constantly drawn to vintage prints on the road, because they gave me slightly more glimpse to my destinations. I explore better this way, and I love the creativity that comes within.
塞納河旁的舊書攤，絕對都在每趟的走訪清單中。在這兒入手的泛黃舊報紙、稍稍褪色的明信片，與看不太懂的法文書籍，每個都是我作品中常出現的道具。對於紙本本來就沒有抵抗力，富含復古味的更是會讓我雙手投降，心甘情願地交出皮夾。此刻輕撫一旁的舊書本和照片，想著一座城市與光陰錯落的複雜關係；心裡雖不禁為過去感到可惜，卻也同時期待著未來。啊，時光匆匆，說的就是這份感受吧。
Paris turns out to be pretty warm this time, so instead of my usual hot chocolate, I ordered the ice version in Angelina. It served as the perfect summer indulgent.
Just like most of my other trips, my schedule is pretty minimal, narrowing just one little area per day. Plus, travelling is all about spontaneity, and being in the moment, right? With Paris being the fashion & art capital of the world, I love spending most of my time exploring all the cool little shops & alleys, in hopes of discovering the most unique pieces (more about this on another post!).
We spent our first day in Le Marais. It's probably my favourite neighbourhood, because I can get everything I want — the best crêpes, stationary stores, and the coolest perfume shop. As I wander around the stores with a box of Macaron from Pierree Hermé, I know I'm happy to back.
六月份的巴黎，天氣很好，都是陽光普照的藍天。於是，把平時愛點的 Angelina 的熱可可換成了第一次嘗試的冰飲。濃稠的巧克力香並沒有因此減少，依然可口，是熱天中令人滿意的好選擇。
如同在其他國家的旅遊行程，我的走跳計畫十分鬆散，一天盡量只安排一區。況且，就是這樣輕鬆的節奏，才能有更充足的時間深入小巷，發現不在行前筆記中的美麗意外。有著豐富時尚與藝術歷史的巴黎，是個極其適合挖掘寶藏的城市；而那些自成一格的小陽台與灰色屋頂，更是讓人不停地按下快門。
出了車站直奔旅館。隨著車窗外略為熟悉的街景，在腦中迅速掃過以前的記憶，決定重回瑪黑區的懷抱；在哪兒，有我鍾情的文具坊，獨愛的法式薄餅以及小巧可愛的香水店舖。避開假日高峰期，放慢腳步，聽著某家店裡播放的輕快曲目，看看手中剛替自己選好的一盒馬卡龍，我不由自主地笑了。
I've been to markets for more than a handful of times, but the Marche Aux Puces-St Ouen is a perhaps the largest scale I've never encountered. The authenticity of Parisian market is so powerful in its second-hand goods. I'm talking about old magazine editions published 50 years ago, and vintage designer collections in perfect condition (real stuff, of course!). Like the city itself, the market provides an immense romance that makes you appreciate the beauty of history. There is so much to learn, even from the smallest lifestyle elements. And I'm certain, a place like this feeds the mind, more than any textbook we've ever read.
At the end of the day, I went home with two old magazine copies and a vintage designer scarf I bought from the most adorable French lady.
歐洲的假日，有許多店舖休息的，市集變成了當地人白天最愛的去處，而每個市集有名原因都不同。位於北區的聖圖安跳蚤市集，是規模最大、最完整的。裡頭包含了古董傢俱、皮件與銀飾等等。二手物品之所以吸引人，不外乎就是其背後的故事，那「似曾相識」的感覺。舉例來說，我老愛在舊雜誌攤位逗留，明明這些刊物與我早已相差半個世紀，卻還是忍不住深受翻閱、好奇地咀嚼當時的字句。此刻想想，其實挺浪漫的，如同這法國首都一樣；透過這些老件，讓我們再度見證歷史與年代的美麗。最後，就算沒有滿載而歸，心中充實無比。
一上午過去，我帶走了兩本舊雜誌與一條品牌的經典絲巾（到時候會再另一篇分享，等等我）。在絲巾店舖雖然只待上了短短十分鐘，但在與可愛的法國女老闆交談後，彷彿迅速修了幾個時尚學分（笑）。
There is always something intimate about travel photography, since travelling itself is already a pretty personal thing. You see, though I had wander around the street of Paris with my camera before, my photos will be distinct. I see the city differently each time, and thus, I shoot & edit them differently.
No trips to Paris are ever the same.
All that said, we still got about 4 days, so I'm open to any suggestions!
Singing off (for now).
在網路上、書本中讀過許多關於巴黎的故事，但即便敘述再詳細，總不及自己親自走一回來的過癮。而且，就算是反覆地往返同一地點，回程後的感受也並不一樣；那怕是站在同一處拍下的照片，傳遞出的還是截然不同的氛圍。或許，正是旅途中人事物間的奇妙連結，上升了溫度，最後造就了我們想不停再訪的情懷。
巴黎，是杯回甘的好茶，讓人欲罷不能。
說到這裡，我們的旅程還剩四天左右，歡迎大家推薦自己的名單。
我們下篇文章見。