Have you already recorded a Love Letter and posted it for the world to see? Or are you still feeling shy and need a little inspiration? Carminella from the UK recorded a Love Letter for France (especially Paris) and was so inspired and inspiring that we just felt we had to dig a little deeper
Love for Europe is real and we are are seeing evidence of that every single day. At KAYAK we are offering you the platform to record and upload your own video Love Letter to either Instagram or Facebook.
And every day we receive hundreds of hilarious, cheerful, touching, gloomy, thoughtful, but always poignant and personal video clips starting with “Dear England”, “Dear France”, “Dear Italy” or “Dear Iceland”, etc.
To explore some of these videos for yourself simply visit the project page and immerse yourself in these very real stories; to see Carminella Knight’s Love Letter and her heartfelt message for Paris and France just click on the link.
Europe is, simply put, diversity, life and inspiration on a scale so much bigger than the political and restrictive belt some people see it as.
We liked Carminella’s “Dear France” video so much that we wanted to know more about her and the experiences and relationship she has with France that drove her to share such an honest and refreshing Love Letter.
KAYAK MGZN: Carminella, your Love Letter to France, specifically Paris, is so lively, fresh and enchanting. How did your love affair with France begin?
Carminella Knight: My love for Paris began when I visited as part of my university degree, I was studying fashion at the time, and we were there to attend a large conference which was exhibiting various fashions, unfortunately, I cannot remember the name, but the impact the city had on me was very long lasting and deep. One friend of mine that I made during my studies was a French girl studying cinematography, we worked together on my final year fashion film, and our friendship began there so when she returned to Paris I vowed I would visit her!
KM: So, what happened next?
CK: Life meandered on like the continuously flowing river it is. A couple of years passed by and my partner and I decided to go there for my birthday in 2014, the memories of the city still so prominent in my mind. On my return it was like visiting an old friend, the city has a kind of personality of its own, one that welcomed me back after being away so long with a warmth not many cities have. I spent a long weekend there staying at a hotel, the days we were there we explored Montmartre, visited the Salvador Dali Gallery ‘Espace Dali’ and spent time sitting outside in the cafes observing life go on. It creates an almost meditative state on what it is to be human, to have good company, good food and time to live, which is so rare now, having time to live.
Flights from the UK to Paris from:
KM: And did Paris continue to haunt you even after you’d returned home?
CK: Returning home a kind of love sickness took over, a home-sickness for somewhere that felt closer to me than where I actually resided, so this is when I saved up and arranged to stay with my friend from university, she was looking after a flat near Père Lachaise, so I ended up staying with her for a week in 2015, she invited me to social gatherings with her artist friends and I had many a great evening discussing philosophy and art over good wine.
KM: How many times and for how long did you visit Paris?
CK: I went for two long weekends in 2013 and 2014, then for a week in 2015.
KM: So you visited in 2013, -14 and -15. Where did you stay while you were in Paris and what was memorable about these places?
CK: The first two times was in hotels then the week long stay was with a friend in a flat near the Père Lachaise cemetery, the view of Paris from the window was beautiful and the apartments had the smallest lift I have ever been in – which was a great laugh! That week I created some most amazing memories with amazing people.
KM: You’ve mentioned inspiration and creativity a lot. How does the city feed your imagination?
CK: The combination of the beautiful historical architecture and the lifestyle of streets of cafes with seats outside, ideal human observation spots for philosophers or artists dabbling in what it is to be alive.
KM: And how does Paris speak to your soul?
CK: I suppose as quite a spiritual person and a creative I am susceptible to impressions, or feelings that certain places evoke. I feel a deep connection with Paris and I can’t quite put into words why – in a way it’s the rich history it has, the aesthetic beauty of the smallest things, to the garden spaces and views of the city, the socializing by the river in summer, the gardens opposite to the great Notre Dame, the cafes with good food and good wine, the vintage and antique markets/small stores, proper food produce on the streets, it’s closer to life, real life, not the economic and work-obsessed culture I experience at home. It also historically important for art and fashion, and more esoteric elements such as alchemy, these are key things that inspire me and speak to my soul.
Check out how to see as much of Europe as possible in our guide: Europe’s Greatest Hits: 10 Countries, 11 Flights, 30 Nights – All For Under £1300
KM: How do you maintain and use that energy and aura in your current job and life?
CK: It’s hard to recapture the feelings Paris gives me, and near impossible to recreate it as the lifestyles differ greatly, the architecture is harsher, and the feeling of this city can be creative but it’s much colder, not temperature wise but in approachability, walking the streets of Paris at night is totally different to walking the streets of London at night, I love London, but aesthetically it does not inspire me as much, so I try to visit Paris as often as possible to get ideas for my writing, my art, fashion, and way of life.
KM: What else do you love about Paris?
CK: The feeling when you walk the streets you are only separated from its history by time. You feel you can connect to great thinkers and artists when spending time there.
Are you looking for the perfect hotel in the shopping, sightseeing or party district? Use KAYAK Heat Maps to search for what you want, and we’ll display all the hotels close by on a city map. Simply click on ‘Map View’ in the upper left corner on the hotel search page. Now just click which filter you are most interested in, like ‘Nightlife’, and the party zones and corresponding hotels are highlighted.
Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.co.uk on June 20th, 2017. The prices are quoted in GBP. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
