The time I went to Paris <3

The end of the semester is near, and it feels like Christmas is around the corner. I'm trying not to think about the two inevitable papers dooming over me, so instead of writing one of my papers, I wanted to write about the time I went to Paris.

Lately, my entire TikTok feed has been filled with Paris videos, which feels cruel, given how much I miss Europe and want to return, but it's been making me reminisce about my trip there, which was one of my favourites of this year.

Paris was a blend of magic and reality; it exceeded my expectations, to say the least, and I fell in love with the city, just like so many tourists do.

When thinking about what to write, I wanted to write about all my favourite parts, the picture-perfect moments and focus on the positive that Paris gave me. However, I have this blog to express my honest and genuine opinion. Therefore, instead of bombarding you with different photos of the Eiffel Tower sparkling (at least until the end of the post), I wanted to begin by stating that, at times, Paris was an actual reality check.

Travelling can have its ups and downs, with excitement and sometimes absurd moments, but it's all part of its charm. It's a good reminder that no matter how much thought and planning goes into a trip, sometimes things you could never prepare for happen to you.

For example, I saw a man pee on the sidewalk in Paris.

I know.... little random.

It's not every day you're bombarded with public nudity, but believe it or not, this wasn't the first time this has happened to me; the same thing occurred in Copenhagen, weirdly enough...

Regardless, I remember brushing off the sight, and the reality sunk in. I realized then that I, too, had fallen victim to the romanticized notions of Paris we often see on social media, and I have no shame in admitting that.

Paris is undeniably a beautiful city, rich in history and culture. However, like any other big touristy city, it has good and bad aspects.

Either way, I'm not the person who would let one bad or weird situation ruin a trip. The random naked guy was the only out-of-the-ordinary thing that happened while I was in Paris, so I would argue that I got pretty lucky that nothing horrible happened, like getting pickpocketed.  

Due to my experiences travelling Europe, I knew something absurd might happen (like seeing a man pee on the street), but regardless, among all my trips at the beginning of the year, I was the most nervous about Paris. I was mainly worried about getting pickpocketed and how expensive it could be. As a student on a budget, my trips were never glamorous, so I knew I wouldn't be staying in an Airbnb with a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower.

However, given my short stay and limited budget, I had a fantastic time with what I could afford. The city surpassed my expectations, and Paris became one of my favourite trips this year.

At least for me, Paris was one of those cities that didn't feel real when I visited. Even though I was just another tourist in Paris, visiting Paris meant a lot to me. I felt very blessed to be there, and here are some of my most unforgettable moments.  

The Little Parisian Apartment:

I travelled to Paris with five other girls, one of whom was my very good friend and official travel buddy, Christina. The six of us stayed in a little apartment that was way better than I expected and factored into what made my Paris experience unforgettable.

This apartment was absolutely adorable and just perfect for six girls! Situated in a vibrant neighbourhood with numerous restaurants and shops, it offered the ideal setting for touring the city. Plus, a short 15-minute metro ride from the Eiffel Tower made it incredibly convenient, and after splitting the cost with six girls, the apartment wasn't that expensive either.

The apartment was very aesthetically pleasing; it fit the Parisian Vibe, and my favourite part was the open windows that gave the prettiest views of the streets.

Considering almost all my trips at the beginning of the year were spent in hostels, it felt nice to treat myself and stay somewhere that fit the Parisian aesthetic.

(I want to clarify that there is nothing wrong with hostels. I like hostels a lot and always had good experiences with them.)

However, the most crucial factor for me when searching for a place to stay is feeling safe.

I felt safe and at ease staying in this apartment. I didn't have the extra worry about locking my backpack in a locker at a hostel like I usually did when travelling or worrying about sharing a bunk bed with a stranger. Knowing I was secure in Paris took much of my stress away and allowed me to enjoy the city more.

Les Catacombes:

While in Paris, I did one of the coolest and possibly creepiest things I have ever done. I went to Les Catacombes.

If you don't know what the Catacombs are, it is an underground cemetery built in the 18th century beneath the city that holds the remains of six million people. 

You heard that right.... the remains of six million people.  

It sounds straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, and as I walked through the Catacombs, seeing the skeletons literally shook me to the bone—no pun intended. 

I have never seen human bones before, and suddenly, I walked in underground tunnels for two kilometres, where every square inch was covered in bones. Only two kilometres of the catacombs are open to the public, but the Catacombs in Paris span over 320 kilometres, which is insane and I can't even comprehend.

This whole experience was mind-blowing, and I never thought seeing piles of human bones would be so fascinating.  

Château de Versailles:

Alight, now for a slight aesthetic change; next, I wanted to write about the Château de Versailles.

The Château de Versailles was just magical, and it was my favourite site to tour in Paris.

I was blown away and in awe of its extraordinaryness.

As a fantasy book lover, I thought Versailles was a fairy tale.

Versailles offered a glimpse into France's royal history, art, and architecture. It truly felt like I was walking through a time capsule or a Bridgerton set. The gardens were also stunning, and all the years of reading fictional stories of princesses running through gardens seemed to come to life.

I cannot stress this enough: Versailles was dreamlike and, by far, my favourite historical site in Europe.

I would return to Paris on day JUST to experience the Château de Versailles all over again (and the macaroons I ate in the gardens). 

Now, if I can make one recommendation, it would be to tour the Château in the morning, it will be less busy and better for pictures!

(photos from inside the château)

(photos of the gardens)

The Eiffel Tower:

Ahhhhh, finally... the Eiffel Tower.

I visited the Eiffel Tower both during the daytime and at night, and I can confidently say that seeing it at night is a different experience and is way prettier.

The tower is beautifully lit at night, and witnessing it sparkle was just the cherry on top of my trip.

Maybe it's cheesy that I got so excited about seeing the Eiffel Tower, but I don't care if it's cheesy. Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle has been on my bucket list for years, and I had one hell of a good time taking all 43 photos of the tower sparkling from every angle.

It was worth running out of iPhone storage.

I have nothing more to say about the Eiffel Tower because the photos speak for themselves.    

As I mentioned, Paris surpassed my expectations and was one of my favourite trips this year. The key to Paris is to go there knowing that the city is highly romanticized and that you might have to adjust your expectations slightly before going. At least, that was my experience, and in the end, I loved Paris.

Even though I was there for only four days, I felt like I could stay an extra week, walk from cafe to cafe and bookstore to bookstore, and just be in absolute heaven. At one point, I think every girl dreams of what it's like to be in Paris, and I feel very grateful to have gotten a glimpse of that dream.

Of course, this blog post didn't cover everything I did in Paris; honourable mentions go to the Shakespeare & Co bookstore, Musée d'Orsay, and Jardin du Luxembourg.

Anyways, thank you, Paris, for making my experience memorable.

(Seriously, from historic architecture to male nudity, I think I saw it all)  

Au revoir et merci, Paris <3