Soon, Masha and I set off on our first big trip across Europe. She had long dreamed that we would go on a bus tour, something she’d told me a lot about, since she had already traveled that way with her mother two years before. For me, it was my first trip to Europe, except for visiting my grandmother in Lithuania, and I eagerly awaited new experiences. The bus journey itself seemed like something special, as we were about to cross several countries, which sounded to me like a real adventure.
We bought the tour, I took a vacation, and we set off. Our route ran through Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with most of our time spent in France. Our first stop was Warsaw, where we strolled through the old city, enjoying the atmosphere. From Poland, we went to Germany, where Dresden left a particularly strong impression.
Dresden immediately struck me with its old buildings, blackened by time. One of the first places we visited was Schlossplatz—a beautiful square that literally breathed history. We went on a city sightseeing tour (Die Dresdner Stadtrundfahrten), which helped us immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the ancient city. I was amazed by the architecture of Dresden, which combined the power and elegance of past eras.
I especially remember the famous Sistine Madonna, one of Raphael’s most renowned works, which is housed in the Old Masters Gallery. Seeing it with my own eyes, I felt awe and reverence before the genius of art. The painting seemed to come alive, and standing in front of it, you felt a connection with the great past. For me, Dresden became not only a city of architectural masterpieces but also a place of spiritual enlightenment, where art is intertwined with history.
The next stage of our trip was France, where we spent four eventful days. However, from the very first evening, Masha and I began having problems. Masha, being a sociable and open girl, quickly found contact with other members of our group. We made new acquaintances and decided to take an evening walk in Paris together. I, dreaming of finally seeing the famous Arc de Triomphe, was already mentally heading for the Champs-Élysées, because that’s where, at the end of the avenue, my goal was located.
We moved toward the Champs-Élysées, and I was already anticipating the moment when I’d see the Arc de Triomphe. It was an important goal of my visit to Paris, and it seemed my dream was about to come true. We walked down the famous street, enjoying the evening city atmosphere. Everything was going well until our group stopped near one of the perfume shops located right on the Champs-Élysées. I thought it would be brief—just a regular stop for the girls to check out some fragrances.
But time passed: half an hour, then an hour, and we were still in that shop. I waited patiently, keeping my main goal in mind—to see the Arc, which now seemed so close. When, finally, everyone finished their shopping, I felt relief, as now we could continue our journey. But suddenly, Masha suggested returning to the hotel, arguing that the metro would soon be closing.
This was a real shock for me. I had waited two hours while they picked out perfumes, only to be told that there would be no Arc today. I was completely bewildered and disappointed. I was accused of irresponsibility, and it hit me hard. That night, we went back to the hotel, and from that moment, my attitude toward Masha began to change.
The next day we decided to visit the La Défense district—a modern business center of Paris, known for its futuristic skyscrapers and the symbol of modern Paris, the Grande Arche. This district strongly contrasts with the classical architecture of central Paris, and walking around La Défense immerses you in the atmosphere of a business metropolis.
The weather was wonderful that day, and we were in a great mood. I took a metro map and noticed that two lines went to La Défense: one had three times fewer stations than the other. Tempted by the shorter route, Masha and I boarded a train. When a double-decker commuter train arrived, I felt a little uneasy, but I didn’t think much of it.
We got off at La Défense, and then the unexpected happened. The turnstile at the exit wouldn’t accept our tickets. I looked at Masha, and she at me, but at that moment a strict-looking man approached us, who turned out to be an inspector. He declared that our tickets were invalid since we had taken a suburban train instead of the metro. His words sounded like a sentence. At first, I tried to explain that we were tourists and didn’t know about this, but he insisted we pay a 50-euro fine.
Masha was silent, but I could feel her tension. When I finally took out the money to pay the fine, she said that with such irresponsibility on my part, she simply didn’t feel safe. Those words cut to the heart. We continued the tour, but the mood was no longer the same.
This incident left a deep mark on our relationship. Although we managed to reconcile, I felt that something had changed. After two unpleasant situations in Paris, things between Masha and me became tense. It was as if we were growing apart. Masha, it seemed to me, was deliberately distancing herself, hurt, and I couldn’t understand what exactly I had done wrong. The word “irresponsible” became something she repeated, but I didn’t understand what I was being blamed for or why there was so much pressure on me.
I felt lost and didn’t know how to fix it. Our relationship became cold, and though we continued to travel together, a wall had arisen between us. We were together, but each lived in our own world.
A bit later, near the Géode cinema, with its huge mirrored sphere, we reconciled a little. This place, with its futuristic design and calm atmosphere, helped us to find common ground, at least for a while. But honestly, after that, each of us still remained on our own, and when we returned to Moscow, things were no longer the same.
Masha’s mother, Elena Alexandrovna, noticed this immediately and tried for a long time to reconcile us. Probably only thanks to her efforts did we manage to find some sort of compromise then, but that Paris conflict left a mark that I felt for a long time afterward.
We were lucky in a way, because France gave us multiple-entry visas. I don’t remember exactly now whether they were for a year or even three, but the fact remained—we now had new opportunities for travel. I suggested we take advantage of the situation and visit my grandmother in Vilnius together, since those visas allowed us to freely travel to Lithuania. Masha agreed, and we set off.
This trip became special for me. First, it was my first visit to my grandmother in many years. The last time I had been there was when I had just started school. It was important for me to see her again, and especially to introduce her to Masha. However, unfortunately, the meeting didn’t go as I’d hoped. Despite all my efforts, my grandmother and Masha were unable to find common ground. Perhaps it was different worldviews, or different approaches to communication—but some tension immediately arose between them.
Besides my grandmother, we also met with my cousins—Vika B. and Natasha N. This was an unexpected and pleasant meeting, as I hadn’t seen them in a long time. Vika B. and Natasha N. are energetic and cheerful girls, and although both have long been married, they still retained their lightness and openness. Masha and I went to visit them.
Vika B. and Natasha N. decided to show us a few interesting places in the city. This gave us a bit of a distraction from the tense atmosphere surrounding the disagreement between Masha and my grandmother.
But despite this, the trip to Lithuania remained in my memory as an important event. Masha and I spent a few days in Vilnius, soaking up the city’s atmosphere. Its quiet streets, old town architecture, and the taste of national dishes left pleasant impressions. Even though my grandmother and Masha didn’t become friends, I was glad I could show Masha part of my family.
