www.womanthismonth.com 103 March 2014 While minding my own business, two American tourists (a middle-aged husband and an older wife) walked past me. Cameras around their necks, they approached the large metal structure behind me. Mrs America says out loud in a thick accent, “Oh isn’t it breathtaking.” Mr America hesitated for a second, looked towards the Eiffel Tower and says, “Well, it is awesome, honey.” The hair on the back of my neck stood tall. How could he refute the comment that it is breathtaking? Not many countries have a man-made structure this old that comes close to the visual and dramatic splendour of the Eiffel Tower. I was just beginning to calm down when her shrilling voice continued, “Take a photo, honey!” “Nah,” he says, “everyone at home knows what it looks like. Besides, we’ve been here. Why waste the shot?” Why waste the shot? In the age of digital photography, what shot is there to waste? I sat there aghast. What a futile life he must lead if that was his attitude towards travel? I have been to Paris many times and can’t help but take a photo of the cultural heritage sites every single time I’m there. A few minutes passed and I heard the laughter of a young child. Walking towards me was a young Asian couple with three little girls. There was such affection among them. The couple shared long romantic looks. The three young girls hugged each other while the parents took photos of them. This was a happy content family. As they walked past me, not once did they turn to look at the Eiffel Tower. I’m sure they were not ignoring the sites and monuments of Paris, but at that moment they preferred to enjoy their family rather than anything else. And I thought to myself, “You know, I think Mr America might have been right.” It was not the configurations of metal behind me that was breathtaking, but the enjoyment, love and bonding occurring in front of me. Their togetherness and love made me pine for a family of my own. As I finished my five euro packet of sugared nuts, drank the remainder of my seven euro bottle of water and licked the last of my six euro candy floss from its stick, I turned to the tower of metal I had once held in such high esteem and took a breath. Taking a deeper breath I looked at the family in front of me and thought, “Now that really is breathtaking.” At my age it is rare to learn major lessons about oneself and about the things we believe are true. Even harder is to admit them to the world. That day in Paris, this proud old dog learnt something. Sometimes it’s the little things we miss, that we should spend more time appreciating. We should take photos of moments rather than monuments. he says A Day in Paris by JAMES CLAIRE A recent trip to Paris saw me seated by the Eiffel Tower, enjoying a packet of freshly sugared peanuts and a large cane of candy floss. Life does not get much better!
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