From Munich to Paris

As with all Australians who travel to Europe, due to the long travel time to get here, we are making the most of our trip by hopping across to see other European cities. When flying from Munich to Paris takes about the same time as it does from Sydney to Melbourne, and with travel within the European Union so relaxed that no one even asks to see your passport, you literally can hop across. We had checked in online and were travelling with hand luggage only, which meant all we had to do was to rock up at the airport and make it through the x-ray machines by boarding time. The convenience of it all is still doing my head in.

So, why Paris? Well, not for the usual reason of it being “the most romantic city in the world” etc etc. Apart from it being a cultural, historical and fashion hub of Europe, France in general has held a special place in my heart for twenty-odd years. Having grown up in Sydney and receiving no formal Chinese education, I attended a Canadian-run English-speaking school when living in Hong Kong from the age of 10 to 14. French is a second language in Canada and taught in all of its schools, including the one I was at albeit offshore. Thus my affair with the French language began, which was continued through high school upon returning to Sydney. My French is far from fluent, but there is enough of it for basic survival.