All the Photos not Taken

February 9, 2018

Winnipeg fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera walks through the Palais Royal in Paris wearing white Grlfrnd Karolina jeans and carrying a Celine trio bagOutfit details fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera, including a Celine trio bag and Marled blouseCanadian fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera twirls in the Palais Royal, wearing Jonak mules and a Marled white blouseOutfit details on fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera, wearing Grlfrnd Karolina jeans and Jonak mulesFashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera at the Palais Royal in Paris, wearing Celine Audrey sunglasses and Grlfrnd Karolina white jeansMarled blouse (c/o) (similar)
Grlfrnd jeans (c/o REVOLVE)
Jonak mules (similar)
Celine bag
Celine sunglasses
Keltie Leanne Designs earrings (c/o)
Location: Palais Royal – Paris, France

Last week, Canadian airline Westjet announced they would begin offering flights to Paris in May of this year. I don’t normally report on airline news, but this story piqued my interest because the announcement came with an incredible seat sale. Flights from Winnipeg to Paris were priced at just over $500 return. We are serious about sticking to a budget when we travel, and we have still never paid less than $900 return for flights to Europe. As far as I know, they simply don’t exist.

We had made plans not to visit Paris this year, but as you all know, I was already wavering. The seat sale pushed me over the edge. We would never be able to visit Paris for cheaper, I told myself – and for once, I knew I wasn’t just rationalising my desire to be there at any cost. I thought of all the cafes I haven’t yet sat outside of, all of the places I love and the friends I miss… and most of all, I thought of all the photos not yet taken.

I think I could spend the rest of my life taking photos of the French capital and still feel like I hadn’t finished yet. We’ve taken photos at the Palais Royal, where we snapped these shots, a dozen times or more (see exhibit A, exhibit B and exhibit C… and the list goes on.) But there are still new angles I want to capture it from. And it felt, briefly, like that could be reality, like it was possible that we could go back and continue our neverending project of photographing Paris from every angle. My excitement may actually have been palpable.

And then came the inevitable disappointment. It was inevitable, really – I keep forgetting that we are in a new place, still not really settled, and that things will not just fall into place the way they used to. My boss authorised my vacation time without blinking. Ian’s, on the other hand, informed him that vacation approval happens in mid-April, not before. Meanwhile, the Westjet seat sale ended on February fifth. The $500 fares slipped through our fingers like so much glitter in the wind.

So here we are, once again, back to not going to Paris this year. The initial disappointment left me reeling, but I’ve recovered in the last few days. Still, when I look back at these photos from last year, I can’t help feeling nostalgic for the holiday that might have been. We’ll be back in Paris again, of course. Probably soon. But as long as I don’t know when, it isn’t soon enough. On the bright side, today is Friday. And we do have another holiday on the horizon, one that is just a few weeks away. So I guess things aren’t so bad.

8 comments so far.

8 responses to “All the Photos not Taken”

  1. I swear the exact same thing happened to me last year when I was hoping to make a quick trip to San Francisco to take advantage of a flight deal – I’m basically my own boss at work so me taking a few days off was easy but Shaun’s vacation year didn’t start until March so any attempt to book some days off between January and then was a no go. It was beyond frustrating!

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

  2. Lyddiegal says:

    I can feel your disappointment, mourning a trip before it even really materialized. But those amazing fare prices are bound to come around again, even if it’s not for another year. In the mean time, you’ve got all these beautiful photos still waiting to be shared, keeping the memories of your last trip fresh and vibrant.

    http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com

  3. Lyndi says:

    There is just never enough time in Paris. Even when you live there and take photos every day.
    This set really is lovely, and is making me dream of warmer days with bare ankles 🙂

    Enjoy the long weekend!
    L xo

    http://www.stylecalling.com

  4. I’d love to wear more all white outfits this spring. Such a pretty & fresh look. And always such a fan of those jeans. They’re absolutely gorgeous + love them on you!! As for Paris?! Oooh was getting excited you’re going again, sorry to hear it didn’t work out, but no doubt, you’ll have another epic trip in Paris soon. I’m almost certain if I went… I’d never return. Haha! 😉

    http://www.girlandcloset.com

  5. tu as du faire cette série de photos il y a longtemps, car cet endroit est en travaux actuellement. ton look est canon, j’adore.
    https://photographe-de-mode-paris.com/

  6. Sherin says:

    Hopefully you’ll be in Paris soon!
    Love this all white look – looks really cool with the backdrop.

  7. Oh no Cee! What a deal! I’ve been in that situation as well. Just know that there is a reason you shouldn’t be there at that time. Maybe God is keeping you away for a reason. That’s the way I look at disappointments. When it is right, it will happen. Your outfit in these photos are absolutely beautiful. So effortless. I love your top & bag 😀
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Cee Fardoe is a thirty-something Canadian blogger who splits her time between Winnipeg and Paris. She is a voracious reader, avid tea-drinker, insatiable wanderer and fashion lover who prefers to dress in black, white and gray.

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