Thursday, November 16, 2006

Beaujolais Nouveau

Today is the day the year’s new wine, Beaujolais Nouveau, is unveiled to the public. I love this time of year at home and in Paris as well. The fall colors, the crisp weather, and the excitement of the approaching holiday season just gets to me.

I arrived in France August 27, 2005. I remember liking Paris and being impressed with it, but having an overall feeling of disappointment that I didn’t find the city to be breathtaking. Granted, I had a serious of horrible experiences (which now seem really comical) in France that I am sure tainted my feelings for Paris, but I still expected to love the city. And I didn’t. I wanted to, but I couldn’t force myself to have an emotional connection with the city.

But, the night I went out to celebrate the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, I fell in love with the city. It was a bitterly cold night and I remember feeling some sort of excitement in the air. I stayed out until the wee hours of the morning barhopping with my friends and was completely enamored with the beauty of Paris. (It really is better in the winter!) Yes, I was three sheets to the wind, but it was the first time I didn’t feel like an outsider. Feeling like maybe I wasn’t a tourist anymore made me see the real beauty of the city.

10 comments:

hellomelissa said...

mmmm... wine! here's a virtual toast to you, angela, and your life in paris!

Elizabeth Tarney said...

Wine always makes the jagged edges a little smoother!

tk said...

Don't forget to bring a couple bottles with you when you come to Amsterdam...c u soon.

D

savvycityfarmer said...

I would love to find that label in the states...have a glass for me...cheers.

Unknown said...

well wine is exciting especially since you can buy it for an affordable price in france, not here...

at least you know it's getting better as time goes by. :)

Unknown said...

I suppose being in love with a city, involves a willingness to truly live in that place..versus a tourist who just visits and then leaves.

sc@vp said...

good alcohol can make almost anything better ...

blueVicar said...

Beaujolais...good for drinking and good for stories...

The list of (mostly expatriate) blogs reporting celebrations of the new wine is growing!

Santé!

Meilleurs vœux!

starbender said...

Bar hopping all night long makes every city look and feel soooooo much better!
' ]

Lotus Reads said...

Let me join Melissa in a virtual toast to you, Angela - wishing you many, many more happy evenings in Paris,cheers!