Two years ago, I spent six and a half months in Europe. I was living in Brussels then. Way before I packed my bags to set out to the other side of the world, I already had travel plans in mind. Paris was one of the default destinations that I told myself I absolutely have to visit. The good news: I did go to Paris. I even spent a weekend in Euro Disney where I had the time of my life, being a kid again. The bad news: I didn’t get to experience the city. I guess you could say the cliche “So little time, so much to do” very well applied here.
There were plans to visit the city for my birthday (my 28th, at the time) but due to unforeseen events, the plans never pushed through. Fast forward to 2013, few weeks shy of my 30th birthday, I was finally able to visit “La Ville-Lumière” (The City of Light).
Here are my best memories of Paris, and what could be the best weekend of my life, so far..
Getting There
Paris is just less than 2 hours away by train from Brussels. Thalys (photo above, not mine; thank you, wikipedia!) is an international high-speed train that can take you from Brussels’ Gare du Midi station to Paris’ Gare du Nord station, in no time.
On the train, there was a cute Asian couple in front of me (by the looks of it, most probably on a honeymoon) and although I couldn’t take a proper photo of them (without looking like a stalker), I managed to capture this shot of our table.
Disclaimer: The pink hat isn’t mine.
The Hotel
Hotel Appia La Fayette (more information here: http://www.hotelappia.com/) is just a few blocks (5-min walking distance) from the train station. It’s nice little hotel, perfect for a weekend stay. Its close proximity to the train station made it even more appealing. Although, I must admit, late night walks around the area freaked me out a little bit – the neighborhood isn’t really as chic as you’d imagine Paris would be. But it was pretty safe, although ‘calm’ isn’t the really the word I’d use to describe it. On our last night, a bunch of college kids (obviously not French) had this rowdy party down the street, boys in suits running around, bottles of champagne in their arms. Talk about youth! Haha!
Breakfast is very French – the usual croissants, jams in mini bottles, fruits, etc. Coffee is so-so. The only reason I devoured 2 cups every morning is because I needed to wake up. Then again, it wasn’t so good that a search for a decent coffee shop is always in mind.
Where To Begin?
Exploring Paris during the weekend is an ambitious goal. There are just sooooo many things the city has to offer and and there lots of things to do/see. I’m not the type of traveler who’d try to cram as many sights as possible in one go, sacrificing precious moments to take it all in. I’m never amused by people who’d go to one place (i.e. monument, park, whatever), have their photos taken, then go running to the next place. Sorry, I’m not like that. I’d rather choose really special places, walk around and experience the city. I’m the type who needs to sit down for a little while, take long drags from my cigarette, browse the photos I’ve taken, and update my Instagram account, if wifi permits.
It was the case for me in Paris. Of course, you have the must-see places: Eiffel Tower, Avenue des Champs-Elysées, The Louvre, Sacré-Cœur Basilica and my personal mecca: the Christian Louboutin boutique and the bookstore of my dreams, Shakespeare and Company. These places were all taken into consideration weeks before the trip. Thanks to my French boss/teacher/friend, Monika, who gave me a detailed map of Paris (she lives there, btw) including which trains to take, and the many, many conversations we had about the city, I never felt like a headless chicken. Merci, Madame!
Anyway, after a pretty tiring Friday night (my journey began in the afternoon from Brussels, switching trains and some walking), a much-needed rest was in order. I fell asleep excited for the next day. That night, the best weekend has yet to come.
(To be continued…)
something fishy 