Ignite My Soul

Chapter 7.2 - Dip me in hot oil. I'm your French Fries: Day 13 - The Love City

🎼
She's crazy to put up with you
Oh boy, I won't be no fool
Let you like what you see

It ain't easy to get with me
But it's dumb to put up with you
I won't be no fool
Let you like what you see

It ain't easy to get with me
She would probably leave you alone
She would probably curse you out and unplug her phone
I bet she'd be glad that you was gone
And then she wouldn't have to worry
🎼

I hate to admit it, but I've started looking forward to Khaya's texts. Let's just say the picture he sent me last night left me yearning for more—more of him, more of it—like so much more. Yet I refused to send any of my pictures. One step at a time, right? For now, he'll have to settle for my amateur dirty talk. Ping...

📨

Khaya: "So, did you like what you saw?"

Me: "Maybe, but the catch is, it could belong to anyone, so I would rather see it in person to validate its existence."

Khaya: "Hard nut to crack, aren't you?"

Me: "I can't confirm that. Last I checked, I have no nuts to crack." 

Blushing.

📨

~~~ 

Nkele walks in from the bathroom. 

Nkele: "Mmmhhmm, let me guess, chatting to Khaya, right?!"

Me: "Shhhhhhhh!"

Nkele: "You are so whipped, my friend. You are texting, not calling. So he can't hear me."

Me: "Yeah, okay, yes, I'm chatting to him." Side eye.

Nkele: "Better get ready because we are leaving soon."

Me: "Fine."

~~~

Back to the phone:

📨

Me: "Heya. I got to go. Chat tonight."

Khaya: "Go ahead, Miss Tourism. Chat later, but I have to work late tonight, so let's see how it goes."

Me: "Laters." 

Khaya: "Sharp."

Me: "You are supposed to say, Laters Baby."

Khaya: "Huh"

Me: "Never mind. Clearly, you are not a fan of Christian Grey."

Khaya: "You'll find out soon."

📨

~~~~

I smile like an idiot as I log off, rush to the shower, and drag my luggage downstairs. We really need to fuel up because Interlaken to Paris is a minimum of seven hours' drive. That gives Bella enough time to make us watch the movies—Ratatouille, A Good Year, and Moulin Rouge.

The scenery along the route is simply amazing. It feels like driving through a countryside with lots of vineyards. At some point, I fall asleep but I wake up as we approach the City. Upon arrival, we check in. As part of the next tour, we are given a lesson on how to use the train to get around Paris. The convenience is that although the announcements are in French, you can follow the map and train station indicators displayed by the door.

Most of the countries we have been to thus far consist of chapels and small apartments, but Paris has huge buildings. These buildings look like Castles and mansions. We get off at a train station and walk a bit before we have to climb up the stairs to The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre. Each time you see the name Basilica, you know it's a huge cathedral, and most have been turned into galleries or museums.

There are options to get to the top. You may either use stairs or a cable car. I've had 12 days of walking practice, and Pravin Gordhan is not my Sugar Daddy. In simple terms, the rand is low. We still have lots to do, and this is the second last paid guided tour.

The next two days are free, though day 1 starts with the last tour, and then from 12 midday, we are on our own. There are four suggestions, all costing money. So girl, best take off her shoes and start properly counting because Paris is hella expensive.

At the top of the stairs, you get a panoramic view of the City of Love. We are all excited to spot the Eiffel Tower, *Grin*. Similar to Florence and Venice, the roads are very small, but at least more cars are driving around here, and the buildings are massive. Paris is yet another artist hub. There are painters everywhere you turn, around the buzzing market areas.

The temperature has dropped, and we pass a stall selling local, touristy t-shirts and sweaters. I buy myself an ' I love Paris' sweater. It's grey and warm. The day was hot, so I only had a T-shirt on. Like Johnnie, we keep walking. We pass a couple of cute restaurants and we decide we'll eat later.

Some of the group members are going on a sunset cruise that includes dinner. We haven't decided yet. As the cruise time approaches, we choose not to join. Those willing depart to catch the boat.

Our walk leads us to what I'd consider the main road. On this road, you find things that will both shock you and bring a smile to your face. It almost feels like walking in a mini Red Light District, only you are in Paris. We walk towards a brightly lit building of a famous Cabaret Club.

Can anyone guess the name? Clue: remember Mandingo; if you can't guess. The ticket price to go into the Moulin Rouge club is a bit pricey, so we settle for taking pictures outside. It is getting pretty dark out here, so it's time to call it a night.

Along the road towards what I would call the Hillbrow of Paris, there's a docking station for electric cars to charge overnight. We turn to our left, and there's a shop with a laughing 'Buddha' statue, except there's nothing holy about this guy unless you are thinking of other types of holes. Opposite the guy is a naked lady draped in just a cloth around her loin, titties all out. When you look at the display window, there stands a chair I would love to own. I think many ladies would appreciate this particular chair. It is a vintage steel chair covered in fur with a hole between your legs and a paddle. When you paddle, three tongue-shaped materials take turns pushing through the hole between your legs.

In a bit of a far distance stands the majestic Eiffel Tower, currently lit in yellow. The spotlight is calling my name. It keeps saying, " Khwezi, you can finally take a selfie just like Khaya's." I cannot wait for tomorrow, so I get to do exactly that.

We walk back to the hotel, but we are famished, so we stop by one of those corner Superettes to get ourselves some Russian and Chips. Thank God Somalians open shops all over the world, or we would have been stuck.

After dinner, we go back to our rooms and charge our phones while we shower. I spend the first 15 minutes chatting to family and friends, then another 10 minutes uploading pictures on Facebook while I use all my might not to open Khaya's message. 

He has become part of my first and last chats, and besides the contents from the previous night, we are actually getting to know each other. What we like, dislike, family history and stories in general except discussing Tsholo. Music and movie quizzes and comparisons are the most fun part.

Guys, I really like this guy. With that last thought, I fall asleep.

~~~

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