Paris And The Beloved Scarf

Bonjour!

This love letter to Paris is all about that sacred Parisian fashion accessory…the scarf

They are everywhere! Souvenir shops, the department stores, and the tiny boutiques. Scarves are a thing in Paris. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my first scarf when I went to Paris for the first time. I told myself I was going to come home with more than just one.

It sure didn’t take me long to find one.

The very first day our tour bus stopped at Notre Dame. We were free to explore. I took off by myself and went inside the cathedral. I wandered around in complete awe of the rose windows, and the quiet opulence of the inside. I took many photos (many of which did not turn out), but after awhile the crowds made me feel a little claustrophobic so I made my exit.

We were given a certain amount of time at Notre Dame and I had plenty of time left. One of the advantages of being by yourself is I was free to do what I wanted. I spotted a string of souvenir shops just down the street from Notre Dame and I decided to take a look. I didn’t spot anyone from my group but that was okay. I knew I wasn’t going to wander far.

I had a mission to complete.

I confess at this point in my life I was a dedicated shopper. One of the main goals was to see how much I could stuff into my suitcase to bring home. I secretly had a short list of things I wanted to purchase in Paris, some inexpensive, some not so much.

One of these was like I said a scarf.

So I started browsing the crowded souvenir shops and I began the hunt for the perfect scarf.

Oh my!!! There were sooooo many to choose from.

That’s when I spotted just the right one.

I picked up the black with multicolored flowered scarf. It was big enough to wrap around my shoulders on a chilly night. I could wrap it around my waist.

But wait!! Then I spotted another one!

This one was black with cream colored lace with black rosettes sewn on it. How would I decide?

I didn’t have to choose! They were cheap enough that I took both!

I checked out and checked the time. I’d better head back to out meeting point.

Soon our group gathered to board our tour bus to be on our way. A few curious ladies spotted my bag and asked what I had. When I showed them, they were surprised I snuck away while the rest of the group was still inside the cathedral. A few were envious of my little purchase. I just said I had to make sure I got a chance to buy a scarf in Paris.

I didn’t know it then, but I had plenty of chances to do some shopping on my own (which I did) so I didn’t have to buy my scarves the first day, but it didn’t matter. In fact I would buy two more before the week was over!

To this day nearly ten years later, those scarves that I bought that first day at a cheesy souvenir shop remain two of my favorite things in my closet. The lace one has seen better days from lots of wear, but I will never part with it. The story about how I decided to just go off on my own even for a few minutes in Paris that first day brings a smile to my face. This whole trip was about stepping outside my comfort zone and paved the way for many big changes in my life.

You may see just a scarf, but I see a symbol of self discovery.