Bags packed, id’s safely tucked in the zipped pocket of our handbags, we slid into uber to catch a flight to Paris, the city of light. Our driver, a young Afghan, shared his story while driving us to the airport- narrating the dismal state of affairs in his motherland where the Taliban’s crackdown on human rights, especially women, and a state of utter chaos has plagued peoples’ lives, most left with an income too meager for survival, let alone a dignified life. Humbling to hear such stories, especially firsthand. Hopeful that his wife will get a visa soon but that his mother would stay back with relatives, he left with a bitter-sweet note. Wished him well and headed to the Air France check-in counter.
Paris earned its nick name ‘City of light’ during the period called ‘Enlightenment’- when it became a hub for learning, arts, and new ideas. Here, a group of Avant Garde artists broke norms to dismantle the hierarchy in art, changing not merely the way art looked, but pushing the envelope to include common people and scenes from everyday life. Paris’s rich history, iconic architecture, art museums, culinary excellence, fashion, lavender fields in the countryside, to name a few, allure travelers from across the globe all year round. Given the brief duration of our trip, we skipped Louvre this time. Because I didn’t want to walk past those masterpieces without meaningfully engaging with them and having my moment of ‘awe’- an emotion that has recently garnered attention of psychologists.
For convenience, we booked a hotel close to a train station. There’s a train every few minutes during rush hours- with waves of passengers ebbing and flowing- from frazzled commuters to curious travelers, avid shoppers, art lovers and the list goes on. Hopped on a train with an online day pass to the city center, bursting with sights and sounds, to get immersed in the city’s history, art and architecture. Following the sound of live music, we discovered a young street performer singing & her partner playing an instrument that looked like violin. A bowl placed on a wooden stool in front of them offered an opportunity for onlookers to display gratitude coupled with kindness. Behind them was an apartment building, and right above where they were performing was a balcony with geraniums and petunias growing in hanging pots fitted onto the iron railings. The experience left us soaked in the local atmosphere. Everywhere in Europe Public squares, there is public art and community music, reinforcing a sense of shared humanity.
Cathedrals, museums, charming streets, cafes, parks, and everything else allude to the city’s history and culture, providing a variety of experiences. Humans love variety- it stimulates the brain and boosts happiness, keeping things fresh & interesting. Even in our daily lives, we sprinkle a bit of variety to remain engaged & prevent a dulling effect- from trying new recipes, planning an afternoon with a friend at the neighborhood café, popping in those fresh zinnias from the garden in a vase on the mantel piece, or something else. Likewise, in art, strokes of muted orange here and there perk up a distant blue mountain, break monotony and draw attention.
Just a couple of minutes from the city center was a small park, not a landmark, but effervescent with life. I treasure visiting parks- they’re a perfect vignette of life. We found a partially shaded spot to relax. An elderly couple stepped out of an apartment building to play table tennis- the table under the canopy of trees outlining the garden. What a delightful way to spend an afternoon, I thought! People walking their dogs, moms with their toddlers, dads with coffee in one hand and stroller in the other, all basking in the sunlight streaming through the canopy of fluttering leaves of Sycamore trees. A few youngsters hooked on to their iPhones- evidencing a creeping intrusion of internet in our lives. Vivid glimpses of life! And puppies that look like toys coming to life! Nature’s infinite ideas never exhaust. Something for everyone! Besides, trees and their collective mass of leaves, flowering bushes and shrubs- all enhanced a sense of serenity.
Shops in Europe close quite early. While it can be disappointing for shoppers, it models a healthy work-life balance. Some early closings are also rooted in traditions or religious observances. So our next destination had to be a place to dine! We’re picky about food, and being vegetarian adds up to the challenge. An assiduous search lead us to a restaurant whose menu included decent vegetarian options. It’s common for restaurants in Europe to not have air-conditioning, and with our planet’s temperatures rising, it’s a bit of a disappointment to not find an air-conditioned place. Affluent countries in Western Europe not having air-conditioned restaurants comes as a surprise, but it also speaks of the unexpected change in weather patterns which the restaurant owners/hoteliers had never anticipated. Changing gears, it also denotes our over-dependence on modern conveniences. Anyway, we found a nice table in the patio outside and the food was delectable- least processed, fresh ingredients, made from scratch. We still rave about it. Risotto with a twist, an inspired take on salad with fresh greens from the restaurants terrace garden, and a hearty soup, satisfied our gastronomical cravings.
The next morning, after exploring the winding hills of Montmartre and visiting some of the awe-inspiring, iconic buildings like Notredame, admiring it for its scale, craftsmanship and endurance, we grabbed a falafel wrap and went to another vibrant park, surrounded by apartment buildings. We found a bench by the side of a Lavender bed, under the big and beautiful Sycamore tree. To our right was an ebullient group of 6 adults and two little girls in pink frocks, their blonde hair flowing in the wind while sunshine shining through them. As if bored with adult company, the little girls decided to do something “worthwhile” and getting a nod from their mom (?), leaped into the opportunity to do something ‘more meaningful.’ Starting head-on, they began picking dirt from one of the beds- cupping it in their tiny palms and emptying it in an inbuilt pot that hung by a signboard with the park’s name on it. Too little palms, while too big a task- so they hopped from one spot where they collected dirt from, to the other, where they filled the built-in pot. Indeed, their hands were full, literally and figuratively!!
Every now and then, they glanced to read their mom’s (?) expression, trying to gauge if it reflected approval, and inferring consent from her relaxed face, they plunged into their project. Frolicking around the park, their shoes would at times get completely soiled in the puddles here and there, which they inadvertently stepped into while ‘at work.’ Deeply engaged in their job, they seemed to be in a state of ‘flow,’ oblivious to the puddles. But when the shoes caked with dirt felt too heavy to hop around, they would appear in front of their mother, again trying to infer from her facial expression if she was on the brink of losing patience. Their relieved look on finding she wasn’t was a sight to behold!
On our way out, I peeped into the built-in pot to see what the little girls in pink frock were up to? Growing new grass: plucking grass from one place and just dropping it gently onto the dirt they had been depositing in the built-in pot, innocently upbeat about their gardening skills. Perfect example of Hands-on activity! Kids love ‘real world’ tasks.
It was time to refortify ourselves with some café latte. Found a local café on another side street bustling with people. A young boy in a yellow t-shirt and blue trousers served coffee, in real mugs: sustainable, porcelain mugs! I tilted my cup and delighted to see engraved on its underside, made in Germany. Evidenced indomitable human spirit- After the defeat of Nazi Germany, it took a few years to rebuild the German pottery industry. While the nazis may have clamped down on modern ideas or those that reflected Jewish culture, they couldn’t destroy the inherent human spirit of expression! Reminds me of Robert Browning’s words, “Out of the wreck I rise.”
The next day, we thought of visiting the Alsace region where the French and the German influences converge, weaving together a tapestry of natural, cultural and culinary diversity, underlined with history. Took a train to Strasbourg- a city on the border of France with a great deal of German influence. Got off and wended our way to the La Petite district that has many several well-preserved old streets with wooden houses, as well as picturesque canals peppered with colorful boats. Browsed sundry items in a farmer’s market – ranging from hats to History books, and macaroons to mufflers- all under the azure roof with boundaries extending to infinity.
In about 2 hours we were ready to board a train to another charming town called Colmar, known for its enchanting medieval old town with half-timbered buildings, and canals that explain its nickname “Little Venice.” Colmar is where France meets Germany and the two cultures come together to create a unique mix. A peep into its history reveals that the ownership of this region called Alsace has been passing back and forth between France and Germany over the years. Walking the streets made those childhood fairytales come to life. Dazzling colors, tiny cottages, window boxes bursting with blooms, half-timbered buildings, meandering streets that open up to squares- like a vivid illustration on the cover of a fairytale book!
It was barely 3 PM and we were excited there was still time to explore yet another city, or even a country! Often, especially on a short stopover, we don’t plan ahead much nor follow the Lonely Planet etc. itinerary, but follow the off the beaten path and welcome chance. Hopped on a train to Basel- Switzerland. Honestly, it wasn’t that smooth. We booked our tickets at 3:10 for a 3:30 PM train, and we were 15 minutes away from the station. A bit of a marathon before we hopped on the train, PANTING!
Embraced with lush greenery, snow-capped mountains & crystal clear lakes in Basel. Besides the natural beauty, Switzerland like many European cities has something else to offer- it’s the way these societies have preserved their traditional homes. Alluring, tiny cottages, antique doorways surrounded with flowering bushes and vines, evoke a feeling of warmth and coziness. Every little nook has a Tea Rose, a flowering vine, or something else, adding beauty beyond the boundary of homes. No sprawling lawns with fancy fountains and ponds- just a few bushes & shrubs to add a splash of color and fill up the little spaces.
Time to catch our flight back home. Excited to dig into the rich trove of memories to ponder and discover lessons they might be imbued with!
Like always, I’m going to use my lens of educational psychology, a subject that deals with how people learn and what facilitates learning experiences and what inhibits, to make sense of my travel experiences. So watch out for my next blog!
