The Sweet Escape

With midterms around the corner, you can find me hibernating in my room (away from the arctic tundra), slaving away at school-work, and getting my munchies on. No one said braving this Canadian winter was going to be easy, but I sure found a way to do so. I’ll let you in on a little secret I like to call an escape.  Imagine yourself in the summer heat, strolling through the streets of a foreign city, indulging in the finest cuisines, and best of all, not having a care in the world. Visualize yourself in a place other than school (even though we LOVE Queen’s), because at times life can get a little hectic, and all we really need is a perfect getaway.Come escape with me to the city of Paris: the capital of love, fashion, art, and food. Imagine waking up each morning to a warm croissant and cappuccino only steps away from your bed. Let me translate that. It’s like Starbucks at every corner – but better, far better. Now if you are anything like me, food is always on your mind, but not just any food: sweet, savoury, and mouthwatering treats. Lucky for us, Paris is well equipped with a large number of patisseries (that’s French for bakery).  One you might be familiar with is Laduree. In this alternate form of heaven, a plethora of macarons in an infinite range of flavour and décor are made. I’m talking chocolate, vanilla, and everything in between. One bite into these chewy and creamy treats, and you’ve got yourself a case of the extreme salivations. So whether you’re reading this at home locked away in your room, or at the library or Cogro, take a second to imagine indulging in these sweet, flavourful, melt in your mouth, all-you-ever- wanted-in-one-bite delights. This experience can only be described as otherworldly. Speaking of otherwordly, Paris’s Galeries Lafayette—a  high-end monstrosity of a department store—will make you feel like you’ve entered a different realm. Sure retail therapy can be the best cure for our anxiety-ridden days, but never mind the endless selection of clothing and accessories here, this building’s ceilings are the main attraction. What’s so special about these ceilings? Let me tell you. Close your eyes. Now, you are standing at the center of this towering structure, looking up at an illuminated glass dome. Purple, pink, and gold colour the ceiling, and for a second, it’s almost like you’ve been transported to a funky- looking candy land, in other words, my happy place.There is one last place to visit on our escape’s agenda. At a whopping 324 meters tall, the Eiffel tower is a must-see site. After climbing an extensive amount of stairs, reaching the top is very rewarding. You know that moment when you feel on top of the world? Well, you can say that again once you’ve reached the top of this enormous structure. The view from the top of the tower is indescribable. Imagine looking out onto one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and its breathtaking views (literally). It really is an escape… 324 meters high in the sky.I hope I didn’t take you too far away from your loads of school-work, average munchies, and arctic-like outdoors. After all, a perfect getaway can only last so long, and hopefully one day we can not only dream it, but live it too. Yours creatively,Erika Streisfield, First Year Representative  Images: Erika Streisfield, The Coveteur