Un Rendez-Vous

Champs Élysées at DuskThis week I accomplished one of my original goals for Paris. I went on a date with a real, live French boy, more specifically, a date that involved a moped.

Since I arrived in Paris, I have been drawn to these mopeds that you see everywhere you turn and admittedly the cute boys to whom they belong. I immediately decided that before I left I would have no choice but to procure a ride. Think The Lizzie McGuire Movie combined with Passport to Paris. So last weekend, as I left the nightclub with my friends and exchanged numbers with the cute guy I had been talking to the whole night, I was certainly excited to learn that he had a “bike,” as he called it.

Within the next few days, a time for the date had been arranged. My Tuesday class just happened to be cancelled, so I told him I would be free for the afternoon and left the plans up to him.

Much to my happiness, he suggested that he pick me up on his moped so that we could cruise around Paris for a while and then stop for a glass of wine or a café somewhere. When I started walking to meet him near my apartment I realized that I was really nervous. I have never been on a moped before… what if it is actually scary? What if my French isn’t good enough to carry on a conversation for the entirety of the date? (I think I may have forgotten to mention this, but he hardly speaks any English! Good practice for me, but a little intimidating.)

I forgot about my fears as soon as I put my helmet on. I have to say, that the actuality of this experience definitely lived up to my expectations. I am almost tempted to rent a moped for myself for the rest of my time in Paris!

Our destination: Café Marly, overlooking the pyramids at The Louvre. It was nice out, so we sat outside and ordered chocolat chaud and cheesecake to share. (Another side note: If you are in France, be sure to try the cheesecake. It’s by far my favorite dessert.) After we were finished eating, we walked over to the gardens of the Grand Palais, which were also wonderful.

At the end of the afternoon, we got back on the moped and headed back to the 16th so that he could drop me off. The date and my French were great, which of course pleased me and as we rode past the Champs Élysées, with the trees and the Arch de Triumph looming in the distance I have to say that I was having the ultimate, “I love Paris” moment.