Pete Vs. Paris

Pete vs. Paris 

Pete has lived mainly as a bachelor, except every other weekend when he has his 9-year-old daughter. His job keeps him on the go as a top sales rep, visiting doctor's offices up and down the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic states for a big Pharma company. Most weeks, he is on the road Monday through Thursday, coming home on Thursday to either his weekend with his daughter or on his own. He has been in the sales business for 20-plus years and doesn't know how to relax and just "be present." 

On weekends alone, he is in home-improvement mode, fixing and updating his already beautiful, newly custom-built house. New crown molding, planting, landscaping, installing new carpet, remodeling the guest bathroom, and finishing the basement are just a few projects he has completed since moving in 2021. He might sit still enough to watch a movie or sporting event on TV, but not without the latest version of his iPhone in hand, checking emails or the stock market (probably both at the same time).

On his daughter's weekends, he is in absent-dad mode, trying to fill up the days with fun or bringing her to one of her many activities. She is also not used to having unscheduled time; she is involved in soccer, basketball, track, golf, swimming lessons, and tennis. He is a great dad and loves watching and cheering for her, and he posts videos and photos after every game or meet.

Pete walks fast, eats fast, and talks fast. A vacation to him is filled with planned activities, things he can schedule online to save time when he gets to the destination. Booked tours and excursions to keep him and his daughter busy without delays or complications. He is always onto the next thing, with the perfect Instagram photo taken to prove he was there. Fortunately for Pete, his brother, Paul, has a different take on what constitutes a vacation. Seeing Pete in this perpetual motion, Paul invites Pete on a week-long trip he will never forget, a journey that will change his life forever.

Enter Paris, the City of Light! The City of Culture and Arts! The City that celebrates long conversations over dinner and a glass of wine! The City where one can sit on an outdoor terrace undisturbed for hours with only a cafe creme and a sketch pad! Can Pete learn to slow down and relish all the City offers? 

Paul made all the trip arrangements, causing "Pete the Planner" much anxiety. Paul drove them to the airport, only telling him what time he was coming and telling him to pack comfortable shoes and 2 or 3 books. Pete didn't even know the flight number or airline they were taking—this was difficult for him! Paul said, "Bro, I have things all under control. Just sit back and enjoy the flight." Pete began to relax as their first-class flight attendants started with champagne, followed by bottles of red wine and a dinner of beef bourguignon with crusty French bread. After dinner, he drifted off to sleep as he watched an in-flight movie (without his cell phone in hand).

In Paris, Pete expects to use a taxi or car service to take them to their hotel. He is used to staying at posh 5-star hotels, usually near the airport or wherever he is traveling; those are the easiest and quickest places to stay. Paul has other plans for their stay as they hop on the RER B train that will take them into the heart of the City, the 6th arrondissement. Pete is shocked to hear that after this 45-minute ride, the brothers still need to take the Metro to their 3-star hotel. Pete looks out the window as the train takes them through the outskirts of Paris; this is a new experience for him. He feels the jet lag but can't stop watching the world outside this window. The houses with their little backyards and people going about their day, he hasn't really ever thought about other people's lives before. When he realizes he hasn't looked at his phone once since they landed, he wonders if he is dreaming and shakes his head to make sure he's not sleeping. Out of the corner of his eye, his brother sees him and smiles.

The train takes them to the Gare Du Nord station; it's bustling with commuters, and for the second time that morning, Pete is wondering if he is awake because it's a weekday and he isn't thinking about work. Smartly dressed professionals walk through the station to the Metro just like the two brothers. Standing on the platform, he hears his heart beating, he is usually too busy to notice. 5 minutes before the Metro arrives, Paul gives him a tutorial on how easy it is to get from place to place, how the lines are numbered, and how they intersect to join other lines. Paul has bought them each a 7-day Navigo pass for unlimited Metro trips. The Metro arrives, and the brothers hop on. Pete can see the map above the doors; Paul tells him that their stop isn't coming up soon, so Pete sits back in his seat, marveling at the language he hears coming from the intercom and seeing the artistic splashes at the other stops as the Metro takes them to the Luxembourg station.

It is a short walk from Luxembourg to their place. Paul leads the way through the quiet, winding streets to the tiny lobby of Hotel Saint-Andre des Arts, where a lovely young man speaks to them first in French, and then, realizing the brothers aren't understanding, he switches to halting English. They comprehend every other word, and with hand gestures, they take the stairs up to the 5th floor as the elevator isn't working, and by the look of it, the 6'2" brothers wouldn't fit into it anyway. Pete is underwhelmed when he first sees the room they will share for a week. Paul is excited to know that it has 2 double beds and a stand-up shower! Pete can't believe this is how his brother likes to travel and begins having second thoughts about this trip. Paul throws open the curtains, and voila! There's a wrought-iron balcony overlooking their new neighborhood. The sun is shining, and the light beautifully paints the room. The room isn't huge, and certainly not luxurious, but Paul's enthusiasm for the small amenities has a positive effect on Pete; he smiles and starts to unpack.

After settling into the hotel, the brothers realize they are starving. Pete looks for the room-service menu (as he would usually do at any hotel), but Paul takes it from his hands and says, "Grab your book; we are going to one of my favorite cafes; it's just a few blocks away." Before Pete can protest that he is too tired, they are out on the street heading to Les Editeurs; Pete is wondering why he is bringing his book but listens to his brother and puts it in his daypack. 

Les Editeurs is busy with the smartly dressed professional-type people Pete has noticed on the Metro. They are working, having meetings, and talking over coffee. This is an excellent way to do business, he thinks. These people aren't in a rush; they are sipping and eating while conducting business. The cafe is comfortable with red chairs and warm, elegant lighting. The only decor on the walls are shelves with books lined up, making the large room seem cozy. The maître d' seats them at a window, and Paul makes Pete sit facing the sidewalk. After reading the menu, they chose the "Grand" Petit Dejeuner with croissants and coffee creme. Paul's excitement about the late morning meal makes Pete curious: Could it really be that good?

Is his jet-lagged brain fooling his taste buds, or was he eating the best breakfast he has ever had? The croissants are fresh, light, and buttery with a superb strawberry jam; they just melt in his mouth. The cafe creme is hot, and the milky foam is so delicious; Pete finishes it too quickly; his cup is already empty. Seeing this, Paul signals to the waiter that they would each like another cafe round. It is strange for Pete not to get up and leave the minute after eating. When the second cup arrives, Paul takes a long whiff of the rising steam, gives a contented sigh, settles into his chair, and starts reading; Pete copies his brother and starts reading his book, too. He has never done this before in his whole life; he's not sure what has come over him.

Pete alternates between reading his book and staring out the window. He finds it fascinating to watch the people walking by; he wonders who they are and where they are going. The brothers have been sitting for over 2 hours, but to Pete, it feels like a fraction of that time; he cannot believe he has sat still for that long. The brothers walk back to their hotel and see a little wine bar on their street. Paul says they should rest and have dinner at this place in the evening. Pete is unsure of this plan; don't they need reservations? Paul assures him that it will be fine, that they can wait for a table if need be, and that they have the time to wait.

The dinner was perfect; the wine bar staff is friendly, and the food was terrific. The brothers shared life stories and laughed about their childhood. Pete hasn't talked with anyone in this personal way in a long time. It felt good, and the brothers spent another two hours together like it was no time at all. They walked back to their hotel, exhausted, and fell asleep immediately without TV or scrolling on the phone (this is so strange for Pete).

They spend the rest of the week in basically this same manner: Waking up without an alarm, finding a cafe for breakfast, visiting just one Paris landmark or museum per day, afternoons reading at a brasserie with a pint of beer or another cafe creme, and the evenings spent over a fine dinner and conversation with a stroll afterward before heading back to the hotel for bed. 

The week goes by fast, and both wish to stay, but all good things must end. As they are on the flight back home, Pete can now see how his fast-paced life has made him miss so much around him and how having no unscheduled time has affected his daughter, too. He takes out his cell phone, cancels his next business trip, and makes a dinner date with his daughter for a new cafe he's always wanted to try. He will also tell her to pick out 2 or 3 new books from the library for their next weekend together.