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Paris, je t'aime (and Berlin too, I guess)
Over fall break, I discovered something very important about my relationship with Paris. It struck me suddenly as I was boarding the questionable EasyJet airplane. I realized that I really, truly love Paris, and that I couldn’t wait to get myself out of the airport and onto the streets filled with French conversations and cigarette smoke. I spent the majority of my 3 days in Paris with a good friend from high school. Together, we roamed the winding streets of Montmartre and munched on the best falafel in the world on Rue de Rosier (not kidding; I really think it is the best I’ve ever had). To quote one of my former roommates: “New York is my home. I would marry New York and live here forever… but Paris is my secret dirty affair. I LOVE Paris, but I’m IN love with New York.” This still accurately sums up how I felt while I was there. I was tickled by being home felt simply scandalous. I had left my dear home of New York City for the mysteriously cool Berlin, and then left BOTH of them for Paris. I speak mostly English in Berlin because my German is extremely basic. This is perhaps a bit of a low blow to Berlin and gives New York more reason to remain hopeful that I have not deserted it for some far-off European land. Then, with little warning, I was swept back off my feet by the alluringly beautiful Paris and found myself happily speaking French and left both New York and Berlin behind for a few whirlwind days. During the Paris leg of my vacation, I found out that I had a mad itch that is purely unreachable. I have been to Paris multiple times and thought that after my last trip, this bug was crushed out of me. It did just the opposite - I came to terms with the fact that Paris was no longer a vacation destination for me, but a familiar city where I could be comfortable. 
Mischievious On a separate but related note: If Paris is my sneaky affair to whom I always sneak out, Copenhagen was the peculiar man you meet on the train. He is well-dressed and clean-cut, but simply too lofty and harsh to talk to. At the end of a painfully drawn-out conversation, you realize that he would have struck you as incredibly handsome under better circumstances. On top of my revelations about Paris, I discovered something else rather important: the end of autumn is not the time to visit Copenhagen. In short, it was my first trip to Scandinavia and I absolutely recommend it… in July. It was too cold and windy to explore much. By the end of my second day with Copenhagen, I was ready to return to my tried-and-true love, Berlin.
Thanks for the feedback!!
@ Sartorialista: I've only been to Chez Hanna. A girl I'd met who studied abroad recommended the other places up the street but I loved Chez Hanna too much.
@ Dana: Berlin is huge. I'm still fascinated by it and I know that there are so many neighborhoods that I still won't get to see in the next few months.
Maybe the reason I wasn't so keep on Copenhagen was because it was Sunday and too cold to wander around long enough to find somewhere that was even open. We didn't really give it enough of a chance, unfortunately. Thanks again for the comments!
European cities
I loved this post too. I really like the way you describe how you feel about these cities, because it's true, they become almost living things that you can fall in love with, or not. It's funny that the four cities you talked about are the four big cities in my life as well. I think Paris might be my secret love affair too: I love it, it's thrilling, I want to keep coming back after this semester, but I don't think I could stay forever. New York was my first love, I've known that since I was young, growing up in New Jersey and counting the days until I could get out. I spent less than a week in Berlin this past summer, but I'm still fascinated. And Copenhagen... I think this is where we differ. CPH for me is interesting without being overwhelming, and it's most of all comfortable (this probably has a lot to do with the people I know there). The past few months, I've felt homesick for CPH maybe more than for New York, and I'm so excited to spend Christmas and New Years there. But you're right, it is really really cold. Were you there when it snowed?
Paris, personified
Loved this post--Not to mention the picture! I think its all very interesting because when i visited Paris, i was not in love. I thought of Paris more in the way you described Copenhagen--well manicured, good looking, even, but not for me. I have a feeling a large part of that comes down to the language barrier- translated into personafiable terms: cute as sin, but unable to speak the same language. Reading your post has made me want to learn French/ have an affair with a hot french-man (Luke from brothers & sisters, anyone?)…who knew class could be this…stimulating?!
Paris
I really loved this post. For the first time, someone has actually described my relationship with Paris. “New York is my home. I would marry New York and live here forever… but Paris is my secret dirty affair. I LOVE Paris, but I’m IN love with New York.” Thank you! No matter where I go, I will always be in love with New York. I think your post really summed up just how lucky we all are to be studying abroad, but also to be able to call New York home.
And I'm just curious, but which Falafel place did you go to? L'As du Falafel? Because I definitely recommend Chez Hanna on Rue des Rosiers.
Enjoy Berlin!