Exploring the magical garden of Paris

With the realisation hitting me of being the only (slight exaggeration) person left in my friendship group not going to Europe this Winter, I feel a little lost. Travel has always been my ‘thing’, something I have strived to do every few months. It’s something I feel I need and want. The act of uncovering raw and untouched beauty in the world around me makes me happy. So since I am not going, I have begun to relive my past trip. And whoa the memories are flooding in thick and past.

There was one day in Paris, France that was almost magical. I have dreamed about Paris since I was a little kid, the allure of love and lights is always hard to resist, but for me there was also the culture, so poised and dignified, the champagne and fancy wine, the clothes and fashion, so elegant and classic. My friends and I had decided to wander around the city that day on foot, to really explore what Paris had to offer. It was my first day of being the ‘tour’ guide, but I can’t read maps to save my life so we found ourselves in this quaint little garden located god knows where. The air was so fresh and crisp, a slight chill to the weather but nice nonetheless, the grass was green and carpeted the ground making it soft underfoot, rows of perfectly planted flowers and small trees flourished under the soft kiss of the sun. Sunflowers bloomed from the earth, their yellow faces turned towards the sky, little white flowers shrouded the earth below, creating a splash of colour between the dark green leaves. There were orange flowers, red flowers and even purple and blue flowers. If fairies were to exist, they would be dancing along the stems and flitting from flower to flower. The faint lullaby of birds sung in the background and wooden seats sat at the end of each row forcing the people sitting to marvel at the rows of flowers. It was picture-perfect. Yet it was also an experience you don’t get in your ‘to-do-list’ of Europe, moments like these aren’t written into your Guide to Paris book, these are moments you get from exploring, from getting lost and seeing something new.

Cuba

My godmother, Fiona and her Cuban husband, Osiel are back in Australia and made me realise I hadn’t yet told my experience of visiting Cuba. That little island in the Caribbean’s that’s been closed to tourists for years.

Its an island with untold stories that few get to experience. Culture and history embedded in society. Its like the country has been frozen in time, the people keep moving yet somehow its not developing.

Wifi, laptops, fridges (although these are growing in popularity) are items we all take for granted. IPhones are a necessity, a material possession perceived to be crucial to our social and business life, yet somehow Cuban society manage fine without such items. People drop in on each other to say hey, invite them out, to celebrate a birthday or event and all without the internet.

The buildings in Havana are extraordinario. They are remnants of the past, pictures of wealth and glory, marble staircases and intricate detailing, high arched walkways and cobblestone streets. They are beautiful and breathtaking invoking questions of how, why and what. Such buildings line the streets casting your eye and forcing your tired legs to walk just that bit further in hopes to see something spectacular, and you always do.

Sometimes its not always the buildings that stand upright and tall, showing off their glory that are spectacular, sometimes it’s the buildings that once stood tall but now cower in the corners. Buildings that are literally crumbling and breaking down. Walls, roofs, doorways and windows completely gone. Rows of mid-rise apartment blocks with gaping black holes on the top floor, middle floor and even bottom floor, show where a home once existed but has now fallen away. You have to wonder how people can still live there when their neighbors home has just disintegrated and what happens to these people when their house falls away.

But Cuba isn’t all buildings. As part of the Caribbean you can be assured it has beautiful beaches and parks. White sandy beaches stretching for miles with clear blue water. Its almost like a painting. Untouched and pristine.

As well as the beach are the parks. We went for a hike in parque guanayara which was beautiful. Lush green areas, gushing waterfalls and still lakes. Giant rocks make the perfect place to sit and absorb the surroundings.

Clambering into caves, the air around you changes. Its like an invisible line you can cross where the air becomes cooler. Moss covers the rocks making a slippery green carpet you need to be wary of.

Waterfalls descend from way above you, forcing your neck to crane upwards. If you get close enough you can feel sprays of water hitting your skin. The contrast of white water, green plants and blue sky feels like another world. An untouched world that’s never know commercialism, and hopefully that’s just how it stays. A precious wonder for all to experience.