Young Traveller s Diary. Part 2

she developed a very interesting habit for herself while living in this city. it happened quite unexpectedly but she enjoyed each second of it and didn’t want to change it at all. it might sound a bit autistic but this routine calmed her and she felt herself a part of this city, of this world. it is so strange that not a single artificially created routines in her home city never made her feel the very same way. here she realized it once again, it came to her head so clearly and distinctively - she didn’t belong to her place. it was not hers. her mind kept rolling that she took someone’s place there and someone took hers here. that there she felt like a mistake and nothing could fit her in, but here, even being alone felt so good.

everyday after finishing her classes she would go to this very very small cafe in Quartier Latin where a smiling waiter or hostess would offer her the formula of the day. she would eat her soup and pancake. hot food would fill her stomach and head with calmness and nutrition. to a cup of coffee she would start reading a book. it would be a very slow reading, sometimes she would even be distracted by passers-by or other visitors who would order their crepes and coffee. without any single reason she would smile at them, at the street, at the sun and she would be happy.

during her stay in paris the weather was unusually warm and sunny. that’s why after having her dinner she would go to her favorite park - Jardin de Luxembourg. it was a bit posh but still she loved it. though there were many people at this hour - lunching students, school children on some outside activity, joggers, tourists speaking all the languages in the world, retired french ladies and gentlemen - she could always find a spot to be on her own.
she would find a vacant chaise long in a shadow and doze a bit under the autumn sun and light midday breeze. she would close her eyes and hear all the sounds of the world. and it was soothing and exciting at the same time. like you were out of it and completely in it all the time: cooing of birds, babbling of people, rustling of fallen leaves, ground whisper under pedestrians and joggers feet, sirens wailing in distance, wind playing with the trees. all of this were all the time in her ears. and she loved it.