I went to Paris!

I went to Paris. I had an ok time. I went to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, saw La Louvre, visited the Jardin des Tuileries, went on the big wheel there and saw amazing Parisian landscape, ate crepes and ice creams, went to the Catacombs (and was pretty freaked out by all the skulls), wandered the Latin Quarter, went to Notre Dame, sat beside the fountain at the Jardin Du Luxembourg, took the Metro, the RER, a bus, and a taxi, and finally, I came to the realization that I really need to work on my French, because I just can’t say very much at all.

I noticed many things that were different from the UK. For example, French beggars actually come up to you with little bowls and ask for money, whereas in the UK they are usually slumped in doorways in a drunken stupor. Cars do not stop for you on pedestrian crossings, even though the green man is showing. French women dress in a more classical, demure way. When you go for a meal, you sometimes get complementary bread and water. I know all seasoned travelers already know all of that, but I’m new to this.

Paris actually reminded me a lot of London, only Paris is better, more compact, cleaner…..I like Paris.

I still can’t quite believe that I did it. Once I was in Paris I felt ok, but the journey there was fraught with anxiety. It was a case of just holding on. And once in Paris, it was amazing how quickly I got used to it. There were 4 solid days spent with the boyfriend, and I hate to say it but 24 hours a day for 4 days did test my patience a bit. I guess I like being alone sometimes.

The big wheel at the Jardin des Tuileries was a pretty exciting thing to do. We had to share our little carriage with an american lady, who had veneers. She told us she liked to ski, so heights didn’t bother her at all. I clung to the bars, because heights bother me very much. But the views were amazing, so it was worth it.

We found a falafel place on some little street in the Latin Quarter. I had my first falafel in Paris. I had a MASSIVE ice cream in the café down the road from our hotel. I mostly pointed at things on the menu and hoped for the best.

There was a transport strike while we were there, which was a pain, but luckily we were situated close to a lot of things, so we could walk to most things. The Metro was running but much less frequently and it was crammed with people. The buses were crammed too, so we walked A LOT.

So I did it, and for me it was a major achievement. I will always be a nervous traveler, but now I KNOW that I can do it, and now I am free to travel, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. My life will now be a little less restricted, a little more interesting, less of a waste.