8. Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore – River Walk

River Walk

We finally pull ourselves together and come out into the dusky colors of the setting sun. The hues of blues, purples, and pinks in the sky amaze me. We walk to the Rue de Rivoli and follow the river to the metro stop. We watch the sunset over the water, holding each other tight. The sky lights up like fire, with the virga from the rains not quite coming to the ground, but giving the sky an astounding image for my camera. I set my camera on the bridge’s wall to take some pictures since I didn’t bring a tripod. This is the perfect spot to watch the Tower come to life. I was afraid I would be too far away, but with the water and the landscape, it is breath-taking to behold.
Suddenly the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle, it looks like they are setting off fireworks. It looks like a giant sparkler in the distance and then the golden lights start glittering and running up and down the struts of the tower. I know I am holding my breath in awe. As the spotlight starts rotating in the top of the tower. I try frantically try to set my camera settings to get the perfect picture. I feel foolish doing all this in front him, but I want the picture so badly. He smiles and waits. I must have taken hundreds of photos both with my DSLR and with my phone before I was satisfied enough to say, “Let’s eat, I’m starved.”

The skies have now turned to a beautiful cerulean blue, and the lights of Paris have come on. The river is lit up. All the buildings are lit up. The sidewalks are bright. It is a gorgeous night for a walk along the Seine. He takes me to a small restaurant close to Notre Dame where we met, we sit on the second floor and overlook the city. We have a wonderful view of the river and as we wait for our dinner, he pulls out a small box and hands it to me. I’m surprised. “What’s this?”, I say as I open it. It’s the little gold necklace I admired in the Latin quarter with the aquamarine crystal. I look at him, “This is beautiful, but,” and he stops my sentence midway. “I saw you admire it, it’s your birthstone, isn’t it? It is beautiful like you. I want you to have it.” I smile and blush, lean over to kiss him as my lips brush against his, I say, “Thank you, you really shouldn’t have done it, but I love it. Thank you.”