Wandering Around This All-American City Reminded Me of a Long Ago Trip to Paris, France

In November 2001, I traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Brussels, Belgium, to visit a close friend whose mom had been relocated from work. We'd stayed in touch via email and long-distance calls (this was before iPhones!), so my parents purchased me a round-trip ticket months in advance when deals were cheapest.

In between them purchasing the tickets and my trip, September 11 happened. I wasn't sure if the trip would still be on, but two months after 9/11, my family said goodbye to me at the TSA checkpoint and I set out on my European adventure, which involved me tagging along to school with Ariel for the school week with a day trip to Paris that weekend.

The trip to Paris was the highlight of the trip (obviously!). I loved everything about the adventure—the train ride, the walking, the architecture, the museums, the cafes, the people watching, the culture. Everywhere we walked felt important, every building relevant, each cathedral more impressive than the last. There was art everywhere—sculptures and fountains and galleries—and I have a distinct memory of sitting inside a cafe outside Notre Dame, sipping a cafe au lait and watching fashionable Parisians walk through a public square as snow fell softly from a moody gray sky.

This memory resurfaced on a recent trip that was decidedly different from the trip I took as a high school senior: I was in Philly with a best friend who now lives just outside the city, sitting at an umbrella-topped cafe table at Dilworth Park, on the west side of Philadelphia's City Hall, while my 11 year old dodged splash pad fountains in an effort to cool down on a 90 degree day. (This trip was part of my mission to travel one-on-one with each of my kids).

I was talking to Joe and fully in the moment, relishing his company and taking in the energy and vibrancy of the city. I was so happy Harvey was enjoying himself—it was a hot day for exploring, and the fountains were a welcome reprieve. I was telling Joe that Philly felt European in so many ways—the architecture, statues, and city layout all reminded me of Paris. And then I was struck by an intense feeling of deja vu that took me back to that memorable Saturday morning, 20+ years ago.

It's funny how moments sneak up on you like that, a startling reminder of the passage of time and the journey of life.

After this moment, I saw Philadelphia from a different lens, appreciating and admiring the city for its rich sense of history. Over the course of that hot, sticky day, the three of us wandered around Philly without aim or agenda, stopping when something caught our attention, or simply an air-conditioned reprieve. We saw everything from the World's Largest Clothespin and Love Park to the Liberty Bell, Independence National Historical Park, and Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Walking is my favorite way to experience a place, especially a larger city, and while Joe and I could have kept exploring, Harvey definitely hit a wall (and rightfully so... it was hot!) after lunchtime, so we called it a day. Joe told us where to find the Rocky statue and Reading Terminal Market (two places I'd really wanted to see), so Harvey and I headed back into Philly the next morning, early, to experience those. (Reading Terminal Market is another place that makes Philly a European dupe; this massive market is located in a National Historic Landmark building circa 1893 and offers a taste of global and local cuisine, artisan wares, and specialty foods that's bigger and more diverse than anything I'd ever experienced.)

There's a quote I'm sure you've heard: wherever you go, there you are. I love this quote, but it's not entirely true. Because when we travel, we take all of our past trips and life experiences with us and because of this, we meet new (or familiar) places anew each time. On this particular day in July, I might have been in Philly with my best friend and 11 year old, but I was also, briefly, a 17 year old experiencing Paris for the first time.

What a wonderful way to experience the world.