If you want to get somewhere in the shortest possible time, don’t follow me. I have major problems with maps and follow my intuition instead. I guess my intuition is a little off kilter because I will lead you someplace exciting just not where you originally intended to go.
My first time being a tour guide in Paris is a great example. I was on vacation with my sister and niece. About five minutes away from our apartment was a famous church called Saint-Sulpice.* About one hour later, we ended up at the Louvre and at one of my favorite spots, Angelina’s Tea-House.
Later in the week, after a wonderful wine and cheese tasting class, we were headed to the Palais Royal. This is a huge palace and we were just blocks away. Did we find it? No, but we did find the Opera de Paris.
Also “close” to our apartment was the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter is a very lively place to dine in the evening. People are pouring out of sidewalk cafes, music is playing and in general, it is a happening place. The three of us went to the Latin Quarter for dinner several nights that week. I had to admit it was a little quieter than I remembered on trips with my husband. But nonetheless, we had some great meals there.
Several days later we met up with my husband and daughter. Of course, my husband wanted to have dinner in the Latin Quarter. Ah ha, I knew exactly where it was. “Follow me honey”…my famous last words. When we got to the Latin Quarter, he started laughing and said “This is not the Latin Quarter.” With all the dignity I could muster I replied: “This is MY Latin Quarter.” Three blocks away was the real one.
*You may recognize this church from Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
