The Hidden Wonders of Paris
As this being the last stop on my European tour, you would think I’d be upset; well, the complete opposite happened. Okay, I shouldn’t say that I am not upset to be leaving, but I’ve taken on more of a grateful attitude. We all have those cities on our bucket lists we desire to see; Paris and London being my top two, I’m more than gracious I was able to bask in their magic.
Everyone quotes Paris as the most romantic city in the world. The city of lights. Let me tell you something; it truly is. Even though we weren’t able to fully see the sparkle of the Effiel Tower, my friend Abigail and I were able to just be. I’ve never been to a city where I just was. To my remembrance, Paris was the the first city I just enjoyed walking around and not rushing to all the tourist traps. I didn’t think about whether or not I was going to return (okay, that’s a lie) I did a little bit, but not much as I normally would. I was fully present in the culture of this city and it changed my entire experience; because of this, my two days felt like a week.
There’s so many encounters to cherish, but my absolute favorite has to be waking up in my little air bnb, stepping out onto the balcony and smelling the fresh baked goods escaping the windows of the bakery next door. The way the Parisians eat is so simplistic yet so captivating. Its like they rewound in time. Parisians romanticize everything. From sitting in the cafes eating, starring out onto the street watching the people flirt, talk, and just embrace, Paris really is the city of magic. It’s not just for their sites, but for their environment, for their people and for the passion in their food.
With all that being said, you have to be careful as well. If you read my previous article about Barcelona, you know what transpired. One thing I have learned is to be open, to stay alert and make sure to constantly embrace your belongings. Don’t let one city or one incident ruin the rest of your time, unless you don’t enjoy the vibes. Always trust your own intuition. Just make sure you know your surroundings. We almost fell into a pickpocketing scam here as well. At any of the tourist locations, they had out pamphlets of all the signs. The number one is a group of young children asking if you speak English and to sign their petition for deaf children. If you encounter this, grab onto your bags and just keep walking. Don’t look them in the eyes, engage or sign anything. Unlike Barcelona, Parisians hand out a 750,000 fine in euros plus up to 7 years in prison. Again, don’t let this be your soul encounter, just stay alert and take it all in. Trust me when I say, every where you look, Paris in itself is a piece of art and has become one of my favorite cities. XOXOXO