Last days in Paris

Moving from Paris to Bombay – a big life change! We’re still unsure how it will all play out, but we’re taking a leap of faith. Naturally, this decision raised eyebrows and questions from friends and family.

This post isn’t about the reasons behind our move, but rather a look back at our last week in Paris. We wanted to capture the essence of what makes Paris such a desirable tourist destination, a city undoubtedly famous for landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées.

As our departure loomed, we prioritized visiting some of the well-known brasseries and bistros, venturing beyond the tourist areas to explore hidden passageways. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side. August was an unexpected washout, with a constant blanket of clouds and rain. It seemed everything in Paris slowed down during this month – bakeries, fashion stores, even offices. “Tout le monde” (everyone) headed to the seaside (“au bord de la mer”) for some sunbathing and “bronzage” (tanning). Coming back pale meant your vacation wasn’t considered a success!

Beyond just taking pictures and uploading them to our gallery. We embarked on a meticulous process of reorganizing them. Sorting through thousands of photos and adding details was a lengthy task, but a rewarding one that deepened our understanding of Paris. A big shout-out to Pamela for taking the lead on this project.

With less than 16 hours before the movers arrived, I had a crazy urge (but totally worth it for an amateur photographer like me) to capture the skyline of La Défense. The rain had washed the sky clean, creating a perfect backdrop for the towering buildings.

While I can’t guarantee anyone visiting Paris will read this post and browse our photos, the experience has instilled a sense of accomplishment in me. It’s a feeling of “been there, done that,” and a deep satisfaction for having embraced the Parisian experience.

Our last two days were spent cleaning up after the movers and preparing to hand over the apartment keys to the landlord. These final moments were filled with a flurry of last-minute tasks like closing bank accounts and collecting official paperwork. Exhausting as it was, we simply didn’t have the energy left to chase after photos of “Parisians in roller blades.”

This post is getting a bit long, so I’ll split the last few days and hours into another one. Stay tuned!