Thanks to all of you for your feedback and helpful suggestions. I'm not
going to use them all - obviously, 'cause in that case they'd be staying in
Paris for a year. But some of the suggestions might work out wonderfully in
other fics. so. I'm not done writin' just yet!!
JoolsFan
Chapter 2 - Sightseeing
When they finally got outside in the warm Paris sun, Maria was overwhelmed by the beauty of the city. She'd never been outside of Austria, and although Vienna and even Salzburg held their share of interesting sights, they could not compare to the splendour of Paris.
She had been eager to see the view from the Eiffel Tower, but Georg told her he wanted to save that for later.
"It's so much nicer when you can see all the sights you've been to from up high," he explained to her. She saw his point, and was happy enough to discover the city from the ground first.
They decided not to take part in any guided tours. All the tours seemed to want to cover as much as possible of Paris in one day. Why hurry, they reasoned, when they had all the time in the world? Besides... They didn't want to pin themselves down to a schedule. What if, for example, Maria forgot her purse and they urgently needed to return to the hotel room to fetch it? That might take all afternoon...
So, they easily took their time, strolling down the Champs Elysées arm in arm, wandering from the portrait painters in Montmartre up the stairs of the Sacré Coeur, spending hours admiring the architecture of the Nôtre Dame and shopping for souvenirs for the children in Lafayette's department store.
The Louvre took them a whole day. Maria had never imagined the size of the museum and even though she knew little about art, she enjoyed looking at the different paintings and sculptures.
When they reached the Mona Lisa, Maria couldn't hide a hint of disappointment.
"It's a pretty painting, surely," she said to Georg, cocking her head slightly at it. "But it's so small! I'd expected something, well.. .. more impressive!"
Georg chuckled.
"Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about," he said, as he walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. "The most beautiful smile in the world is right here in my arms!" And he kissed her neck in the middle of the museum.
Maria blushed, at the compliment as much as at his caress.
"Georg...People are watching," she warned softly, and edged away from him a bit.
"What if they are.. I'm allowed to kiss my wife, aren't I?" he whispered onto her soft skin. Then, realising it was indeed rather crowded around them, he moved to stand next to her. Not wanting to break the contact completely, he still kept one arm around her, and with a last look at the Mona Lisa, they walked on to the next painting.
****
The Eiffel Tower proved to be everything Maria had anticipated. As it towered over everything, they'd already seen it from a distance several times, but when they got out of the taxi which took them to the actual site, it seemed even bigger than she had imagined. The metal structure itself was very impressive, if maybe not really pretty, from up close, and she almost fell backward while letting her gaze travel ever higher to its top.
"How high is it again," she asked, leaning into Georg while still looking up.
"It's 300 meters," he answered. "It's not the highest building in the world anymore, the Crysler and Empire State Buildings in New York are higher now. But it's impressive enough anyway, I think."
Maria nodded in agreement.
"Come," said Georg, and putting his hand on the small of her back, guided her to the entrance.
When they'd reached the top platform, the view of the city at their feet filled them with awe. The weather was still gorgeous, and the lowering sun gave a golden glow to the city, making it look like something from a fairy tale.
"Look, the Sacré Coeur," pointed Maria enthusiastically, spotting the dome which shone orange in the evening sun. "Oh, and the Arc de Triomphe, and the Île de la Cité!" She flashed a happy smile at her husband. "Georg, you were right, it is so nice to see it all from up here!"
Georg didn't quite know what entranced him more; the view of the dwarfed city at his feet, or the youthful, lively enthusiasm of his wife at the sight of it.
As the sun lowered, they watched the lights of Paris popping up around them. Maria stood against the chest-high fence, a look of admiration on her face. Georg walked up next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and they stood together, enjoying the beautiful view without speaking.
Maria broke the silence.
"What's that dark spot over there," she asked, gesturing with her hand toward a distant area where there were no lights twinkling.
"I think the Bois de Boulogne, the forest," Georg replied. "The countryside around the city should be quite pretty as well."
An idea formed in his head.
"Maria," he asked.
"Mmm," she murmured in return.
"We could go out in the country tomorrow, if you'd like? I mean, we don't have to stay in the city all the time. Maybe, go for a nice, quiet picnic?"
"That's a wonderful idea," she agreed.
Georg squeezed her tighter to him.
"We should leave early then, tomorrow, so maybe we should go back to the hotel. Get an early night?"
She half turned so that she faced him.
"That, Captain, might be the best suggestion you have made today." And, laughing at his surprised expression at her suggestive look, she tugged him to the exit with her.
Chapter 2 - Sightseeing
When they finally got outside in the warm Paris sun, Maria was overwhelmed by the beauty of the city. She'd never been outside of Austria, and although Vienna and even Salzburg held their share of interesting sights, they could not compare to the splendour of Paris.
She had been eager to see the view from the Eiffel Tower, but Georg told her he wanted to save that for later.
"It's so much nicer when you can see all the sights you've been to from up high," he explained to her. She saw his point, and was happy enough to discover the city from the ground first.
They decided not to take part in any guided tours. All the tours seemed to want to cover as much as possible of Paris in one day. Why hurry, they reasoned, when they had all the time in the world? Besides... They didn't want to pin themselves down to a schedule. What if, for example, Maria forgot her purse and they urgently needed to return to the hotel room to fetch it? That might take all afternoon...
So, they easily took their time, strolling down the Champs Elysées arm in arm, wandering from the portrait painters in Montmartre up the stairs of the Sacré Coeur, spending hours admiring the architecture of the Nôtre Dame and shopping for souvenirs for the children in Lafayette's department store.
The Louvre took them a whole day. Maria had never imagined the size of the museum and even though she knew little about art, she enjoyed looking at the different paintings and sculptures.
When they reached the Mona Lisa, Maria couldn't hide a hint of disappointment.
"It's a pretty painting, surely," she said to Georg, cocking her head slightly at it. "But it's so small! I'd expected something, well.. .. more impressive!"
Georg chuckled.
"Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about," he said, as he walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. "The most beautiful smile in the world is right here in my arms!" And he kissed her neck in the middle of the museum.
Maria blushed, at the compliment as much as at his caress.
"Georg...People are watching," she warned softly, and edged away from him a bit.
"What if they are.. I'm allowed to kiss my wife, aren't I?" he whispered onto her soft skin. Then, realising it was indeed rather crowded around them, he moved to stand next to her. Not wanting to break the contact completely, he still kept one arm around her, and with a last look at the Mona Lisa, they walked on to the next painting.
****
The Eiffel Tower proved to be everything Maria had anticipated. As it towered over everything, they'd already seen it from a distance several times, but when they got out of the taxi which took them to the actual site, it seemed even bigger than she had imagined. The metal structure itself was very impressive, if maybe not really pretty, from up close, and she almost fell backward while letting her gaze travel ever higher to its top.
"How high is it again," she asked, leaning into Georg while still looking up.
"It's 300 meters," he answered. "It's not the highest building in the world anymore, the Crysler and Empire State Buildings in New York are higher now. But it's impressive enough anyway, I think."
Maria nodded in agreement.
"Come," said Georg, and putting his hand on the small of her back, guided her to the entrance.
When they'd reached the top platform, the view of the city at their feet filled them with awe. The weather was still gorgeous, and the lowering sun gave a golden glow to the city, making it look like something from a fairy tale.
"Look, the Sacré Coeur," pointed Maria enthusiastically, spotting the dome which shone orange in the evening sun. "Oh, and the Arc de Triomphe, and the Île de la Cité!" She flashed a happy smile at her husband. "Georg, you were right, it is so nice to see it all from up here!"
Georg didn't quite know what entranced him more; the view of the dwarfed city at his feet, or the youthful, lively enthusiasm of his wife at the sight of it.
As the sun lowered, they watched the lights of Paris popping up around them. Maria stood against the chest-high fence, a look of admiration on her face. Georg walked up next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and they stood together, enjoying the beautiful view without speaking.
Maria broke the silence.
"What's that dark spot over there," she asked, gesturing with her hand toward a distant area where there were no lights twinkling.
"I think the Bois de Boulogne, the forest," Georg replied. "The countryside around the city should be quite pretty as well."
An idea formed in his head.
"Maria," he asked.
"Mmm," she murmured in return.
"We could go out in the country tomorrow, if you'd like? I mean, we don't have to stay in the city all the time. Maybe, go for a nice, quiet picnic?"
"That's a wonderful idea," she agreed.
Georg squeezed her tighter to him.
"We should leave early then, tomorrow, so maybe we should go back to the hotel. Get an early night?"
She half turned so that she faced him.
"That, Captain, might be the best suggestion you have made today." And, laughing at his surprised expression at her suggestive look, she tugged him to the exit with her.