Local

A slight smile plays on my face as a man briskly walking in the opposite direction, wearing a black coat with a scarf catches my attention releasing a fond memory from not so long ago.

I am brought back to the cosy evenings in Paris, walking along a chain of restaurants and letting the warmth and ambience emitting from them decide where I will eat. Walking through tables outside with the hot air coming from the heaters warming my legs as conversations fade in the background. Caught up in the briskness of so many things going on around me, I’m brought to a sudden stop at a road as a deliveroo motorcycle rushes past.

Just on the corner of the street opposite the road is a small restaurant, with someone emerging from the door and holding it open for me as he sees me cross over. I find myself in a queue in this tiny cramped place with two others in front. One is talking to the waiter whilst another waits for their order, and behind me a couple come in already seating themselves, giving a slight nod to the waiter in mid conversation.

I place my order and seat myself by the table next to the couple. The waiter comes to the table where the couple are with a bottle of wine and two glasses, which he pours for them as he greets them and asks what they’d like to have. The man takes of his scarf which the waiter takes and places it behind him, on his chair. As the waiter walks towards the back leaving them to their drinks, the couple turn to me with pure bliss and content displayed on their faces asking if I have been here before and boasting about how it’s the best restaurant in Paris. They’re not shy to introduce themselves and tell me a bit about themselves, how they’re from the states and have an apartment here and come often. It doesn’t take long for me to warm up to them. In a daze, pure joy flutters inside of me as I move along the herd of people walking briskly to their platforms. I look forward to when I will be back in my favourite city.