My host family and i went to Paris for the weekend and visited versailles today. One thing that stood out that is less prominent in tours is how important nature and aesthetic are to French people. All throughout the day I saw details in our travels that differed from day to day life in America- there was a chandelier in the train station, but in America there would probably be a dingy, boring and old light. Also, the insides of their trams/busses were orange and yellow, which was really bright and cheery compared to the public transit system of America. When we were taking the trams I had a chance to see a lot of Parisian roads and blocks, and I noticed a multitude of nature in such a busy and populous city. Wherever there was space there was green- and it wasn’t the uniform and tidy cut grass of typical American lawns. There was biodiversity everywhere, from uncut grasses of varying types to wildflowers growing in the medians of the roads and under the tram tracks. It was really unusual to see so much nature and so much diverse nature so seamlessly integrated into a busy and fast paced city. It brought some calmness to the busy atmosphere and probably helped the air quality too! All in all, i really appreciated the artistic and natural elements of Paris that aren’t present in most large American cities.
