If I Were a Ghost, Living in Paris…
In my book, Getting a Life, Even If You’re Dead, Loic attempts to solve the mystery behind his death. The fact that he is dead makes it easy for him to access the crime scene and evidence. Of course if I were a ghost, I would secretly help the police solve crimes, along with other worthwhile endeavors. But like Loic, who copes with his death by playing pranks and haunting people, I’d also want to have a bit of fun. Hopefully I'm not a ghost for a long time, and it's under different circumstances, but here are the top five things I would do as a ghost living in Paris.
1) Research books. As a ghost, I would still be writing books. I would have carte blanche access to everything I would need to conduct research. If I wrote a book about a Parisian chef, voila, I could pop into the famous Maxim’s restaurant and shadow a chef for a week. For a book about haute couture in Paris, I could strut down a catwalk and hang out at photo shoots with super models. And I could get the scoop at police stations and pen the best crime novel ever.
2) Admire the Mona Lisa up close. The first time I saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, I couldn’t believe how small the painting is for being the most famous painting in history. At that time, I was fortunate that I could walk right up to the painting and study every speck of paint and fine line. Now, she’s enclosed in bullet-proof glass and a wooden barrier prohibits you from getting within five feet of her.
3) Visit tourist attractions after closing time. Not only would I visit the Mona Lisa, but all the museums after they closed to avoid the overwhelming crowds. During the summer, the lines for the Eiffel Tower are daunting. You have to fight throngs of tourists to catch a glimpse of the city. I would stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower, gazing out at the boats along the Seine and Sacré Coeur Basilica in the distance, my only companion the faint sounds of the city below.
4) Sleep in a different bed every night. Even though as a ghost I probably wouldn’t need to sleep, I would stay somewhere different every night. After all, I could finally afford to live in Paris. I would spend one night in Marie Antoinette’s bedroom at the Palace of Versailles. Another night at the prestigious Hotel Ritz, where I would stay in the Hemingway Suite, named after the famous writer who resided there for years. And I would have no problem finding spots the other 363 days of the year.
5) Shop till I dropped. I would hit all the haute couture shops and try on Chanel gowns. Then I’d be off to Cartier for some jewels. Of course I would return them all in a timely manner, after I sashayed down the steps of the Louvre in a red gown, like Audrey Hepburn did in Funny Face.
1) Research books. As a ghost, I would still be writing books. I would have carte blanche access to everything I would need to conduct research. If I wrote a book about a Parisian chef, voila, I could pop into the famous Maxim’s restaurant and shadow a chef for a week. For a book about haute couture in Paris, I could strut down a catwalk and hang out at photo shoots with super models. And I could get the scoop at police stations and pen the best crime novel ever.
2) Admire the Mona Lisa up close. The first time I saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, I couldn’t believe how small the painting is for being the most famous painting in history. At that time, I was fortunate that I could walk right up to the painting and study every speck of paint and fine line. Now, she’s enclosed in bullet-proof glass and a wooden barrier prohibits you from getting within five feet of her.
3) Visit tourist attractions after closing time. Not only would I visit the Mona Lisa, but all the museums after they closed to avoid the overwhelming crowds. During the summer, the lines for the Eiffel Tower are daunting. You have to fight throngs of tourists to catch a glimpse of the city. I would stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower, gazing out at the boats along the Seine and Sacré Coeur Basilica in the distance, my only companion the faint sounds of the city below.
4) Sleep in a different bed every night. Even though as a ghost I probably wouldn’t need to sleep, I would stay somewhere different every night. After all, I could finally afford to live in Paris. I would spend one night in Marie Antoinette’s bedroom at the Palace of Versailles. Another night at the prestigious Hotel Ritz, where I would stay in the Hemingway Suite, named after the famous writer who resided there for years. And I would have no problem finding spots the other 363 days of the year.
5) Shop till I dropped. I would hit all the haute couture shops and try on Chanel gowns. Then I’d be off to Cartier for some jewels. Of course I would return them all in a timely manner, after I sashayed down the steps of the Louvre in a red gown, like Audrey Hepburn did in Funny Face.
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