Paris along with London was part of my first trip to Europe. My aunt recently obtained her U.S. passport and France was on the top of her bucket list so we took it as our sign to go. We went in 2013 from August through September. We spent a total of 8 days 7 nights in France. For a list of Paris top attractions see my other post. Below is a recollection of my own personal experience in Paris.
Journey
Chicago (ORD) → Dublin (DUB) → Paris (CDG)
Total Flight Time: 9 hrs
Culture
Paris exuded a romantic atmosphere from its Renaissance architecture to its cobblestone streets. The vibrant city was buzzing with life with locals and tourists alike. French chatter filled the air. Sweet aromas flooded through the pastry shops. Cafes were packed with outdoor diners. People were dressed stylishly which aligned with Parisians’ fashionista reputation.
There was heavy traffic filled with aggressive drivers. The chaotic maneuvering of cars around the notorious Arc de Triomphe roundabout was an unforgettable sight.
The illegal street vendors pestering you to buy something were annoying persistent.
Although I anticipated “La bise” greetings I somehow managed to awkwardly tense up every single time without fail.
Memories
- Freezing my butt off at the top of Eiffel Tower (pictured above)- be prepared for the temp drop at night
- Eating the perfect eclair- absolutely divine
- Being utterly surprised by how small the Mona Lisa painting is in person
- Laughable attempts at communication with my French cousins
- Almost dying dodging traffic through the roundabout to get to the Arc de Triomphe- discovered afterwards there was an underpass…DUH!
- Having a panic attack when we came close to losing our aunt at the train station (background: she speaks very basic English, zero French, and didn’t carry a phone; she got on a train and the doors closed right before we made it in; thankfully somehow via my sister’s hand gestures through the window my aunt understood to meet us at the next stop)
Last Impression
I know a lot of people lovvee Paris but to be honest I found it a little bit overrated. Don’t get me wrong, it’s one-of-a-kind and it definitely has its own charm. However, I guess with all that I’ve heard and seen in the media it just didn’t live up to the hype for me.
Next time I travel to France I would like to explore more of the countryside.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience in Paris! Here are 10 photos to inspire you to visit.
For additional content on Europe, check out my list of must-see attractions in Iceland.
Have you visited Paris before? Was it how you imagined it would be? Let me know in the comments!
