Did you ever experience hostility toward something without having a reason?
If yes, you will understand exactly my complicated relation
with Paris.
Last year, I visited Paris for the first time and I had a great time
with my friends. Everything about this city was stunning and striking. Walking
down its streets gave me the feeling of travelling in time, every building has
a story and every corner is a part of history.
The Eiffel Tower with its lighting and 2.5 million bolts did not
fascinate me. I cannot deny its beauty when lighted at night or its perfection in
the daylight with the surrounding fountains and lakes. Regardless the
inimitability of this Tower, I cannot see how it defines Paris.
Paris, is the city of history. The huge buildings with their
captivated architecture stand there witnessing the flow of time, reflecting the
greatness of France through ages and creating a poetic atmosphere
that leaves you feeling out of space. It
comes a moment when you cannot but wonder: “Is that real?”
Photo credits: ACE shooting
The tour on the Seine is one of my best souvenirs there. On
its banks, Paris looks so natural and pumps with life.
Bridges over the Seine create a wider horizon and the sunlight reflection
over the water charms you and leaves you out of words.
This city is beyond beautiful, it looks like it came out of dream. Despite that, I could not love it. Despite all my effort to throw
away my prejudgments, to forget that I do not like France or the French
language, to enjoy to the maximum this mixture of history and modernity, the
bitter taste of eeriness never left me.
When I came back from Paris, I tried to understand what I
really did not like about this city and I ended up discovering the truth. I do
not hate Paris. I am just jealous of it.
I am jealous because I wish Beirut were not that crowded with cars so I
could walk freely in the streets….
I am jealous because I wish Beirut did not have power outages so I could
always enjoy its beauty….
I am jealous because I wish Lebanese people were calmer so I won’t have to hear people shouting for the
stupidest things.
I am jealous because I wish Lebanese people took care of the environment
so we would save the green Lebanon.
I am jealous because I wish
Lebanon respected human rights so anyone of us could enjoy his
freedom…
I am jealous because my friends went to Paris in order to finish their
degrees instead of staying here… I am scared that this city would put them
under its spell and they will never come back.
Yes, I despise Paris for all the reasons that make it a better city than
Beirut… I despise Paris because every time I remember it I understand
how much we are ruining our country… I despise Paris because it reminds me that
change comes from revolution, a revolution we are failing to start… I despise Paris for all the reasons that makes it more adorable than Beirut!
