“Why can’t you just chill out?” said the Buddha, his face calm and steady before me. It was my day off in Paris today after a long week of work, and I had big plans. Big plans, I tell you! I wanted to cram way too much Parisian activity into a weekend, starting with visiting the Guimet Asian Art Museum.
By the time I arrived there, I was a sweaty mess. I had walked way too fast because of the limited time to see the Buddhist sculptures exhibit before seeing a friend. I huffed up the stairs, bought my ticket and then ran into a slow-moving tour group. Move out of my way, I have to see some Buddhas!
Of course, the Buddha’s peaceful face mocked me. How can I possibly enjoy the gorgeous Angkor-era Buddhist statues and bas reliefs in this gorgeous museum when I’m rushing around? I couldn’t possibly enjoy the moment. Traveling isn’t about ticking the boxes and cramming a gajillion activities into a weekend. It’s about exploring the moment and soaking up the culture and everyday life around me.
So for the rest of the day, I abandoned my to-do list.. After drinking tea and eating yummy macarons with an old friend, I explored the Marais, the hip shopping area with small windy roads, and I got lost. Gladly. I did manage to find Place des Vosges, a bustling park, and I read a book and watched a group of teenage girls munch on cheese and crackers as they gawked at boys nearby doing the same.
I’m reminded again of how I can get so caught up with doing it all, seeing it all. that I miss out on the main reason why I enjoy traveling: to explore a new place and to live in the moment.
Well, tomorrow’s a new day! Off to bed…will keep the Buddha’s calm face in mind.
Loved this! So true. Sometimes it’s good to stop ourselves and put away our to-do lists. (Something that isn’t always easy while traveling and there are things to see!)
Erin, I agree – I often catch myself running around with a huge list in my head of all I want to see, and then I don’t really get to take in everything. I loved your post too – a great reminder for the start of the week!
Hello Debbie. I just read this post and the one about coffee-breaks in Rome, loved both of them! 🙂 It’s crazy how often we keep running and rushing, and in the end, we get the same results! So, let’s all take more time to do what we do, might it be for work or when traveling! As for Paris, it certainly isn’t a city that should be explored in haste.