Longing for Paris

It is incredible how much I miss Paris at the moment. This time last year, my dear friend Cris and I were having a ball, the best time ever in there.

I never hid from anyone my love/hate relationship with France during the last years we were "held hostages" there and how relieved I felt while driving in a cab direction the airport to leave the French, their winters and bad mood behind me. And move to my beloved Rio and have my first child.

That was 2002, I was in my eighth month of pregnancy with Antonio and I couldn't stand one day longer of grey skies, rudeness and incompetent gynecologists.

2008 finds me leaving with my 5 year-old "baby" in a sunny land, with friendly people and a huge mix of very interesting cultures. And... no art, music, museums.

Patrick laughs when I say I miss civilization but it's true. I do. I miss the buzz of a big urban centre, to shop till I drop, beautiful restaurants, great food, fashion.

I start asking myself if I will ever be 100% satisfied with my country/city of choice. My best bet is I was a gypsy or a Mongolian nomad in my previous life and must be constantly on the move, exploring, learning.

Ah! But the good news is we will do a pit-stop in my beloved "city of light" on our way back from Oslo. Counting down...30, 29, 28...