I have to admit I do enjoy a good romance from time to time. Since Valentine’s Day just passed I’d like to share a story of one of my favorite dates.

Living in Paris, the majestic city of lights, I dated a very lovely French man. I met him through my host family, in a very traditional set up. He was a gentleman, dark and handsome, and he spoke to me in both English and French.

One of my favorite dates with my French love was just plain classic.

I wish our love affair had ended like this.

We began the afternoon strolling through historic district of Le Marais, where he told me of his background, his aspirations and his studies. He then took me to this little studio near La Bastille where he volunteers helping children and we listened to poetry readings that some of the children wrote.

A short promenade along the Port de Plaisance de l’Arsenal and La Seine, we ended up at a sushi restaurant near Hotel de Ville. The restaurant on the top floor of the building overlooked Notre-Dame and La Seine, it was breathtaking.

Post sushi, mon amore and I walked along La Seine, seeing the beautiful city lights begin to gleam, we made our way to Le Tour Eiffel. We sat in the grass on the Champs de Mars and listened to musicians softly play their music while we watched as Le Tour Eiffel sparkled for ten minutes on the hour. It was out of a dream. Just wonderful.

If this love affair could have lasted a life time, I would have been content. Sadly enough with our differing religious backgrounds, we could never actually date. But I will always mark this date down as one of the most classically romantic dates I’ve had.