Paris, I love you, but you're bringing me down.

It's amazing to me to think that 3 years ago I was in Paris. So much of my life has changed since then, it's almost as if I'm a different person. In many ways, I am, but some things just never change.

I've decided I'm finally ready to go back to Paris. I find that when I'm there I have mixed emotions. Paris is like that annoying person in my life that tells me everything that I don't want to hear but need to, the person that shows me all my worst qualities but pushes me to be better. The person that I LOVE to be around but can't stand for more than 10 minutes at a time, no matter how much I love them.

I went to Paris for the first time in 2003 and came back completely different. I was fresh out of high school and had never been to Europe, let alone away from my family for more than a week. That summer in Paris was EPIC. I came back feeling beat up though...not wanting to leave, wanting so badly to come back, just completely and utterly confused. I didn't go back until 3 years later, when I left for my study abroad trip in January of 2006.

That trip is a whole series of blog posts in itself, but I was so happy to come back to L.A. that I never wanted to go back to Paris again. I was convinced the city was a minefield. Every little thing reminded me of things I wanted to forget.

Fast forward to 3 years later - and I'm ready to go back. I guess I am just one of those people that loves the abuse. That seems to be my pattern nowadays.

In any case, I look forward to going back to Paris this fall and having a crepe from my crepe guy in the 7th, going to Pub St. Germain for a Desperado, walking back to the Bercy metro at 6:30am after a night at Batofar, picnics in front of La Tour Eiffel with .99euro bottles of ass champagne, Cecil sightings all over the place, hearing everyone gasp when the Eiffel tower lights up, boat rides along the Seine, and being in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Paris, tu me manques toujours...