I love being reminded of why I love living here. Human beings thrive on assurances which is why love is such a pain in the ass..but that’s besides the point. Having a long time friend with a long time adoration for art and art history come to Paris for a week was a fruitful prompting on what makes this city beautiful. I get used to what I see on a daily basis, even those out of the ordinary things like the posting of a recipe for what was deemed to be the best chocolate chip cookies ever on a wall in the metro or some guy rocking out to music and barrel-assing down the bike lane on roller blades with no shirt on. You know, the kinds of things that are unusual and leave you smiling. Showing the major tourist sites of the city is what you gotta do as a resident showing around friends. Then comes the fun part when I get to spend a night out and later wander around in the wee hours merrily drunk with friends gives me new perspectives on things. Under the influence, I am more likely to notice how good looking the statue of whatshisface is, and I’m not afraid to admit it! Beer goggles are hilarious. Anyway, seeing the expression on my friend Amanda’s face when we strolled through the ever majestic Tuileries gardens was exactly the kind of reminder I needed. She’s been one of my best friends for years and it’s funny how time and land masses may separate us and yet we still pick up where we left off every time. The mark of no airs, no expectations, just friendship. I’ve been somewhat homesick (off and on..but god bless Skype) and that week made me appreciate all over again why I love to live in Paris. Dubbed the most romantic city in the world, I wanted to put that to the test. Well the results are in and it’s true. It doesn’t mean that you have to necessarily be with someone or be married or anything. I find it’s more about you and your relationship with the city. It’s true, and I’m a total lame ass for this city now. It’s just so damn pretty!