The Streets Talk...

When I woke up this morning, I gazed out the window and in the distance I could see the Eiffel Tower. An audible gasp came out of my mouth. It was absolutely breathtaking. I immediately began to get ready. Not more than 2 hours later, I was exiting the metro stop for the Eiffel Tower. As I came up the steps and into the streets, I didn't see it. I took a guess and began walking. As I turned a corner, not 30 seconds later, there she was. The same thing happened again; I audibly gasped and basked in all it's glory. It has been a very long time since I've had that childlike feeling of being astounded by something inanimate. I could not believe how much taller it was in person and how far it's shadow was cast.

Then out of nowhere, I found my mind drifting to a famous photograph. Not just any photograph but rather a particularly disturbing, dark photograph. The photo of Hitler and his forces marching into Paris during World War II. I stood there and thought why? Why did my mind go there? As I continued walking through Paris, I began to feel as if each street and neighborhood had their own personality. The city was/is alive. It's streets were talking to me. In that moment, I realized I had been standing exactly where Hitler stood in the photograph. The Eiffel Tower was literally speaking to me. Even though I don't speak any French, I didn't have to in that moment. History speaks for itself.