Once Upon a Time in Paris
In 2017 I returned to Paris after 20 whole years.
Frenchie lives in Paris so it was a pretty easy decision. Him and I are very alike, so I trusted I wouldn't go the usual tourist route.
Paris was never at the top of my list. I love Barcelona, I love London... Paris was an okay option for me, since I always wanted to return there. We were supposed to go see Lady Gaga at AccorHotel in Paris, we booked tickets, I booked my travel tickets, a month prior to the travel the concert was cancelled. Ok, deep breaths, I was still going to Paris.
Travelling surely refreshes you, landing in a new land in the middle of the day does not. You realize that, when you are exhausted and sleepy and meet your French friend who's cheerful and ready to start our journey.
Nope. Home until night.
Then the Eiffel Tower was making a return in my life. Maybe it was the people gathered at the balcony behind the Champ de Mars station and right across the tower, maybe it was the full moon, maybe it was the lights on the tower and around it, the view was mesmerizing.
Frenchie lives in Paris so it was a pretty easy decision. Him and I are very alike, so I trusted I wouldn't go the usual tourist route.
Paris was never at the top of my list. I love Barcelona, I love London... Paris was an okay option for me, since I always wanted to return there. We were supposed to go see Lady Gaga at AccorHotel in Paris, we booked tickets, I booked my travel tickets, a month prior to the travel the concert was cancelled. Ok, deep breaths, I was still going to Paris.
Travelling surely refreshes you, landing in a new land in the middle of the day does not. You realize that, when you are exhausted and sleepy and meet your French friend who's cheerful and ready to start our journey.
Nope. Home until night.
Then the Eiffel Tower was making a return in my life. Maybe it was the people gathered at the balcony behind the Champ de Mars station and right across the tower, maybe it was the full moon, maybe it was the lights on the tower and around it, the view was mesmerizing.
Paris
The rest of the night was multicultural. We had dinner at a French bistro ( Le Campanella ), I ate American burger, and then we had mochi, which is a Japanese dessert(rice cake with paste made of red beans and it was yummy).
You know, when I announced that I was going to Paris, people were asking me whether or not I was afraid (given all the terrible things happening to the world). Actually, once you were there, everything felt safe. The next day we went to the Forum des Halles, which is a mall. All the security at the entrances made you feel secure.
We walked a bit until we reached Centre Pompidou which is now one of my favorite museums. It was named after George Pompidou, the Prime Minister of France from 1959 until 1962 and president from 1969 until 1974. There was a David Hockney exhibition at the time so our visit was even more special At its balcony, I had the chance to see the sunset; on the one side was the Eiffel Tower and on the other was Montmartre, with a street musician playing Spanish music at the museum's front yard.
The rest of the night was multicultural. We had dinner at a French bistro ( Le Campanella ), I ate American burger, and then we had mochi, which is a Japanese dessert(rice cake with paste made of red beans and it was yummy).
You know, when I announced that I was going to Paris, people were asking me whether or not I was afraid (given all the terrible things happening to the world). Actually, once you were there, everything felt safe. The next day we went to the Forum des Halles, which is a mall. All the security at the entrances made you feel secure.
We walked a bit until we reached Centre Pompidou which is now one of my favorite museums. It was named after George Pompidou, the Prime Minister of France from 1959 until 1962 and president from 1969 until 1974. There was a David Hockney exhibition at the time so our visit was even more special At its balcony, I had the chance to see the sunset; on the one side was the Eiffel Tower and on the other was Montmartre, with a street musician playing Spanish music at the museum's front yard.
The next day...well the next night we thought of visiting the Nuit Blanche, the annual art festival where various installments are, well, installed around Paris. We were given maps et al and the whole experience was incredible, although a bit exhausting. Light shows were taking place in a church, ice skating took place in Forum des Halles, street dancing happened outside Forum des Halles, many art installations were positioned around the city, video projections took place, about a gazillion people showed up.
By the way, I was lucky enough to visit Colette, a month before it permanently closed (December 2017). That store was heaven. You don't even need to ask how many things I bought there and, still, I was holding back.
Moving on, next day we finally visited Musée d'Orsay which is a fantastic museum for everyone. Statues at the ground floor, and a gallery with the work of impressionists at the first floor. Once you got to the first floor you faced the extraordinarily gorgeous big clock that oversees the city (the photo on the header of the page). I was waiting in line then when my moment came to pose, naturally I took my time. Frenchie was taking pictures of me for a few minutes and when I finally looked his way, I had a crowd of about ten Asians taking pictures of me. That's all.
On one of the best nights, we spent our time drinking in a bar, on a wooden boat. Rosa Bonheur, floating at a small port of the Seine was our spot for the night. Neon lights, flamingos, '80s music and tequila shots, what else could we possibly ask? Even the toilets had a great sign and you know that's the picture I'm posting here (see gallery below).
Bastille became my surprise destination, as in I didn't ask for it, but Frenchie took me there. We had lunch at Cafe Hugo near Places de Vosges and then homemade ice cream from a very nice Argentinian store (Clasico Argentino) with a very nice Argentinian lady that spoke Greek.
By the way, I was lucky enough to visit Colette, a month before it permanently closed (December 2017). That store was heaven. You don't even need to ask how many things I bought there and, still, I was holding back.
Moving on, next day we finally visited Musée d'Orsay which is a fantastic museum for everyone. Statues at the ground floor, and a gallery with the work of impressionists at the first floor. Once you got to the first floor you faced the extraordinarily gorgeous big clock that oversees the city (the photo on the header of the page). I was waiting in line then when my moment came to pose, naturally I took my time. Frenchie was taking pictures of me for a few minutes and when I finally looked his way, I had a crowd of about ten Asians taking pictures of me. That's all.
On one of the best nights, we spent our time drinking in a bar, on a wooden boat. Rosa Bonheur, floating at a small port of the Seine was our spot for the night. Neon lights, flamingos, '80s music and tequila shots, what else could we possibly ask? Even the toilets had a great sign and you know that's the picture I'm posting here (see gallery below).
Bastille became my surprise destination, as in I didn't ask for it, but Frenchie took me there. We had lunch at Cafe Hugo near Places de Vosges and then homemade ice cream from a very nice Argentinian store (Clasico Argentino) with a very nice Argentinian lady that spoke Greek.
Montmartre
In reality, don't fully grasp the beauty of Paris until you see it from above. There's no place more beautiful than Montmartre. You first walk through a bunch of souvenir shops (you know I stopped a few times) then you're lifted up from the elevator.
You stand on the balcony and see the whole city from above and suddenly you feel better about everything. Every single thought leaves your head and you're now filled with tranquility and peace. The whole city in front of you, a cool soft wind and a street musician playing the harp. Dreamy.
There's always the Wall of Love in the Jehan Rictus park, with the word ''love'' written in every language of the world. (It's written 311 times in 250 different languages).
After all these, yes, you can leave me in Montmartre (gallery below).
In reality, don't fully grasp the beauty of Paris until you see it from above. There's no place more beautiful than Montmartre. You first walk through a bunch of souvenir shops (you know I stopped a few times) then you're lifted up from the elevator.
You stand on the balcony and see the whole city from above and suddenly you feel better about everything. Every single thought leaves your head and you're now filled with tranquility and peace. The whole city in front of you, a cool soft wind and a street musician playing the harp. Dreamy.
There's always the Wall of Love in the Jehan Rictus park, with the word ''love'' written in every language of the world. (It's written 311 times in 250 different languages).
After all these, yes, you can leave me in Montmartre (gallery below).
The breathtaking view from Montmartre
Disneyland
Of course I went to Disneyland. 20 years after my last visit, I went to Disneyland. We prebooked our tickets online for €90, access to both parks.
First we visited Walt Disney Studios and after a couple of rides (The Twilight Zone Tower, oh dear God!) and then I kinda lost Frenchie's ticket, which meant no entrance to the Disney Park. After half an hour of stress, he managed to get a new free ticket from the offices and I still don't know what he did (he says its his "charm").
At Disney Park, we watched the parade and I met Sulley from Monsters Inc and I tried to meet a few more but they stay to greet people for about 2 and a half minutes. I've been to Space Mountain (scared AF). Frenchie suggested that I bought a "Grumpy" jacket, because my best friend knows me well. I don't really think there's enough to say about Disneyland, you have to be there (gallery below). The store had a photobooth thing and you know very well Frenchie did not like the picture again (see Amsterdam). You also know very well that I love it and I'm not taking down (he will soon stop taking pictures with me, but until then...).
Of course I went to Disneyland. 20 years after my last visit, I went to Disneyland. We prebooked our tickets online for €90, access to both parks.
First we visited Walt Disney Studios and after a couple of rides (The Twilight Zone Tower, oh dear God!) and then I kinda lost Frenchie's ticket, which meant no entrance to the Disney Park. After half an hour of stress, he managed to get a new free ticket from the offices and I still don't know what he did (he says its his "charm").
At Disney Park, we watched the parade and I met Sulley from Monsters Inc and I tried to meet a few more but they stay to greet people for about 2 and a half minutes. I've been to Space Mountain (scared AF). Frenchie suggested that I bought a "Grumpy" jacket, because my best friend knows me well. I don't really think there's enough to say about Disneyland, you have to be there (gallery below). The store had a photobooth thing and you know very well Frenchie did not like the picture again (see Amsterdam). You also know very well that I love it and I'm not taking down (he will soon stop taking pictures with me, but until then...).
Entering Disneyland Park
Yes, I'm an Instax maniac (the T-shirts with the gold letters say "What happens in Paris stays in Paris" and they're custom made)
You know, Paris is for everyone. You find all kinds of people on the streets and that's what's so good about it.
I spent five days full of fun, art and good company. We had Spotify on shuffle all the time but one song stuck with us:
I spent five days full of fun, art and good company. We had Spotify on shuffle all the time but one song stuck with us: