End of Paris Stats
My update on my Paris stats now that this leg of my trip has ended.
Days spent in Paris: 21
Euros spent: € all of them
(annoying house lady wanted the payment for my homestay in cash on the first day, as I found out upon arrival, so I forked over 80% of the euros I had printed for the trip and rationed the remaining. I have 35c to my name at the moment. All bigger purchases, like train tickets, I can do online via card so I’m fine)
Metros boarded: no more than my first day! Walked everywhere! Boom!
Steps: an average of 19,838 steps per day
(I think if I include all the steps I took without my phone, which was essentially all the walking I did at school, then this would realistically be well over 20k average)
Poops taken: 4
(an average of 1.3 poops per week. Don’t ask, I have no answers and just as many questions as you).
I have survived Paris. I think that’s an accomplishment in and of itself, it’s a big city!
Did I have a good time? Yes
Do I feel the need to return? No
I didn’t even scratch the surface of getting to everything there is to do in Paris, but I saw enough to get a feel and transparently, it’s not my vibe. That’s okay! My placement was so wonderful, everyone I met was friendly, and the Parisian sights I visited were beautiful. I’d rather try something new and realize it’s not for me than never try it at all. I am coming home with only good stories of Paris, so I can’t complain.
My last weekend was great. I went to the Louvre; stunning and swamped, both as expected by this point. I’m having a blast people watching and picking the right tourists to take my photos. There’s a strategy here, and I’m catching onto it.
I also went to this town called Mont Saint-Michel. This was a smart move. It was this super old, historic, and compact town all build onto a mound and isolated entirely by a bay. There’s a kilometre-spanning bridge to access the town. I attached a photo here of the Mont Saint-Michel postcards which will paint a prettier picture of the scene than my iPhone 9 photos will. The streets were entirely pedestrian and cobblestone, all narrow, winding and uphill. I saw the abbey of Saint-Michel, which reminded me of the Sound of Music and fuelled my burning desire to see those movie sights in person even more.
The only downside to today was that it was extremely windy and cold, so all my layers made me look either like an old babushka or a pre-pubescent boy, depending on the angle. Both captured below.
It was a 10km walk from Mont Saint Michel to the next town, and there was a shuttle that ran between the two every 15 minutes. I don’t know if I’m just ungrateful and flighty, but none of these tourist sites ever take me nearly as long to explore as people recommend. I had tons of extra time, so I decided to walk back to the main train station. It took me two hours, but it was so invigorating! This was a taste of the french countryside that I’ve been craving! I did get oddly hit on by a creep who pulled over to talk to me twice, a creep who I can only assume was a gay pedophile based off (1) I looked like a little boy, and (2) he drove a Kia Soul. You would think of all places to be safe, peaceful french countryside would be among the top, but nope. A sad reality.
My walk home from the train station back in Paris was very wholesome because there was a France soccer game on so all the bars looked like this. I need to get into soccer (watching, not playing), because this seemed like a HOOT! Somebody give me a team to cheer for, preferably one with cute players.
All in all, I am grateful for my experience. I learned a lot, a vague and generic reason I wanted to travel. I reflected a lot on myself, my life, and my future; my primary reason for wanting to travel. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and making the most of a city that isn’t exactly my scene, I’m proud of myself for doing it alone, I’m proud of myself for fully embracing my placement, and lastly, I’m proud of myself for putting it all out there and sharing these experiences, reflections, and stories with my friends and family! I think grumpy and confused little Aleda from four years ago spending her “england year” isolating herself in her parents basement would be proud too, and that makes me happiest. I’m feeling ready for a whole bunch of new steps around the world. Thanks for tuning in to my Paris thoughts. The adventure continues as I explore Southern France; a scene I expect to suit and excite me a lot more.
Here are my Paris tips (skip this read if you have no intention of visiting Paris, it’s not funny and really has no other use).
Never go to restaurants of cafés with images on them. They’re touristy and inauthentic
All the bread in bakeries is made fresh throughout the day, so buy your breakfast baguette in the morning and your dinner baguette in the evening for them to both be warm and fresh
Guerrisol is the cheapest thrift store
Their metro system is so advanced and developed. I know I walked everywhere, but I genuinely recommend buying a week-long or month-long metro pass if you’ll be touring the city for a while. It’s so worth it, you can get anywhere in minutes and it also covers “île de France” which includes a huge area spanning hours away from Paris
Don’t drive downtown Paris, honestly don’t rent a car there at all unless you’re planning on road tripping France
Don’t pay to go up the Eiffel tower, you’ll have far better views of the tower itself from (1) university ave, (2) quai du seine, and (3) trocadero staircase, and better views of the cityscape from Montmartre basilica
You really don’y need cute outfits because there are so many people that you are nothing but an annoying, sweaty dot in someone’s way.
Don’t buy any fresh foods from the grocery store, there are markets everyday
Parks are such a rip off, you can’t sit on the grass, it’s literally fenced off just to look at. Green space is non-existent and the air smells of cigarettes, vape, and pee, so don’t come to Paris expecting park picnics and refreshing deep breaths.
That being said, the Versailles gardens are accessible for free from a forest behind the property. Still can’t sit on the grass, but if you miss trees, that’s a good place to find them for free
Parc Monceau is the prettiest park in Paris
You can’t be a fast walker, there are just too many people and you’ll rip your hair out before you get around them all swiftly
À bientôt,
Béda
