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I fell in love with France.

The first time I set foot in France was during the opening scene of a spectacular thunderstorm show, May of 2023. The streets of Pamiers, a 5th century town in southwest France, had rivers of water dancing through the town’s gargoyle spouts and gutters and ancient trees hung against a densely clouded sky which flashed alive with every strike of lightening. Illuminated throughout the town was it’s medieval stone work, le style Art Nouveau signage, rich garden flowers and an old world water fountain staged in the neighborhood square. Some people ohlala l’amour under the Eiffel Tower’s sparkling lights. Pour moi, it was a rainstorm that roused my love for France.

View of the thunderstorm from my window at the Hôtel de la paix Pamiers, France.

I watched the rainstorm display through the open shutters of my 2nd floor nightly rental, my eye glasses frosted with condensation, humidity thick at my temple. I watched and listened as the rain sang and danced outside. Water poured from gargoyle spouts along rooftops and crashed towards the thresholds, an orchestra concert of drums and bells and the wind was it’s choir. As midnight came and went, it seemed as if the performance was for me alone. With no one apparently awake on the streets below, I grabbed my room key to join the chorus outside and become one with the display.

Nighttime view of a weathered building with a blue shuttered window, a small open window above, and a street sign attached to a post beside it.
Black and white image of a window with a circular design surrounded by unique wavy steel bars, mounted within a concrete frame.
Narrow alleyway illuminated by a single overhead street lamp at night, showing textured walls and wet pavement reflecting light.
Nighttime view of a dimly lit street with a pedestrian crossing sign illuminated by a streetlight, next to a tree and in front of an old building with shuttered windows.
A rainy night on a narrow street lined with old buildings, illuminated by streetlights reflecting on the wet pavement. green foliage arches across the street near a "no entry" sign.
Nighttime view of a vintage building with ornate balconies and aged signboards reading "boucherie moderne" and "villamou" in a rustic urban setting.
Image of a nighttime street view showing the facades of two old buildings with contrasting doors, one modern with glass panels numbered 53, and the other traditional and solid at number 17.
A nighttime scene of a street with a three-story building illuminated by a streetlight. the building features closed brown shutters except for one window with a blue curtain.
Old red door with a faded textured surface featuring a black metal mail slot labeled "lettres" and a sticker reading "ladepeche" below it.
A dimly lit urban street at night, slick with rain, showcasing closed shops with red awnings and reflections on the wet pavement, under the glow of a street light.
Two tall, narrow doors painted red with golden handles and diamond-patterned frosted glass panels, illuminated by warm light, creating a cozy, inviting glow.
A beautifully crafted ceramic tile mural on a building facade at night, illuminated by streetlight, featuring ornate blue designs and the word "villanou" at the top.
An ornate, black metal fountain with detailed embossed designs, illuminated by street lamps at night, wet surfaces reflecting light, set against a backdrop of trees and dimly lit buildings.

I fell in love with France on that stormy night. In those dark and rainy moments, my mind and thoughts stepped away from their frantic starting line. I wasn’t built to constantly race and finally I was able to quiet my mind to feel simple, true appreciation and contentment. In that moment, I felt a unique sense of hope and grateful adoration for France. I was already quickly understanding that among other things, a social and economic structure was on display. Something constructed much differently than in the US. It wasn’t the cheese, Paris, the lavender fields, burgundy wines or beautiful coastlines that prompted me to fall in love with France. It was the display of savoring the gifts of this beautiful land and life that allowed or even insisted one to dive in and enjoy.

Bedtime finally found me after a warm shower and changing into dry clothes back in the room. The next morning we woke up refreshed from our stay at Hôtel de la Paix. Our booking was the most comfortable and charming experience, with garden parking behind locked wrought iron gates and neo-classical architecture throughout the Inn, even in the expansive breakfast room which was well stocked with an enticing variety of hot foods, local pastries, coffee and juices in the morning. I fell in love with France during that stay. I’m pretty sure my daughter fell in love with croissants. I know our family fell in love with hope.

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