The relationship we have is very much a love/hate one. This is where I did my most learning - and I will always remember that about France. I've got to separate my lessons: one from Paris, and one from the rest of France. We did Paris in about 1 1/2 days. I would love to go back to Paris. It was my favorite part about France, hands-down.
France also began the game of "Worth it or not" ---
- France is where I left my family to join Heather. This is the point where my entire view on how I carried myself and presented myself to strangers began to shift. I mean, I was paranoid when I was with my dad. But now that we were two young, attractive (at least Heather) women traveling alone --- my paranoia increased by about 77%
- When you pick a meeting spot, stick to it. If things aren't looking so good...pray. God is the only one who knows where you are, and who knows where they are, and can make the universe collide in such a way that you two will meet. (hey, that sounds like love, too. If you don't know what you're doing - just stay where you're at and pray, and God will lead you to them. Interesting side note).
This makes everything all better.
-When you make a reservation for a hotel, print off your reservation number, the phone number, the address of the hotel, and the exact name of the hotel. Unless, of course, you want to get off at the wrong bus stop because there are TWO hotels with the same name in very close proximity to each other and then when you tell the French dude you obviously don't have the address with you or else this mistake wouldn't have happened, all he can say to you is, "Wow..." with a cocked eyebrow, roll of the eyes, and a loud sigh.
-You can sleep in a dirty, hairy bed. You can. It's just one night. You will survive. (although I'm not entirely positive you won't get bed bugs, or something closely related to them, as I noticed a bunch of small, itchy red dots on my arms and hands when I got home. Meh. oh well -they're gone now!)
-Pick a good travel buddy. One with whom you can exercise patience and receive patience in return. Or at least where you fit each other's gaps. I planned the big stuff (airplanes, hotels, destinations), Heather implemented the little stuff (which train to take to get to the Louvre, when/who to ask for help, etc)
-Hostels are interesting specimen. They have a very warm, welcoming atmosphere that I immediately gravitated to, clinging onto anything familiar in such strange places. Everyone is young (well...usually....), everyone is traveling, everyone is out on an adventure. Are hostels worth it? It's a good deal for the price. The downside is, of course, when you're LDS and don't drink/party and/or you're married and are therefore an old geyser and like to go to bed early, you must be prepared for late-night disturbances. I would suggest earplugs to drown out the midnight returns, and a sleeping-mask to blind yourself from the little Asian man with no sense of privacy who strips down to his skivvies before making his bed (which requires a lot of hands-and-knees-type-bowing when you're on the top bunk).
Steps in Paris Hostel
Our first hostel, in Paris, we loved. The next one in St Malo was more like a cheap hotel with a toilet in the room, hidden behind a curtain (no number two's in there - nuh-uh. Not allowed.) We felt a little sketched there, but that was mostly due to an incident at the bus station that pretty near got us involved in a gang fight.
Our hostel in Montpelier (one of the
days we were supposed to be somewhere else) was quite sketchy, too, but we fixed that problem fast (more on that later). Nice, Bern, and Austria Hostels were similar to our Paris one - the youthful, friendly environment. And I think the difference is that they were actual hostels, and not just a cheap hotel (be careful with that one - it matters). If you want the names of where we stayed, email me and I will get them to you.
-The line into the Louvre is definitely do-able. And worth it. And, so is the Mona Lisa.
People said she was small, a let-down, disappointing....blah,blah,blah. She is amazing. Just to be in that room, cheek smashed against the shoulder next to me, raising my camera high above my head just to get a decent shot of her above the crowd until I could weasel my way to the front (and weasel I did) Thrilling, and yes, worth it.
(oh yeah, other things in the Louvre are worth it, too, once you stop caring about getting lost/looking for specific exhibits and just enjoy the art and beauty of it all. We hit up the crown Jewels and Napoleon III's apartment display, both lovely.)
-We visited
Notre Dame; This became one of those, meh, check-it-off-the-list type of touristy destinations for me. I decided from day one in Rome that I was going to respect all signs that said "No photos" inside churches (wouldn't I want the same from them if they were visiting a temple open house?), and it is nearly impossible to take a picture of the outside that hasn't already been shot before. If you like old beautiful cathedrals, then by all means! But, I think I could have enjoyed other parts of Paris more.
Worth it? Not as much.
-Eiffel Tower - Worth it? DEFINITELY. I had had people tell me that the Eiffel tower was just a touristy waste of time and to only see it if I "absolutely had to." Well, apparently I did absolutely have to and I'm soooo glad I went. It was one of the biggest
surprises about Europe - how ENORMOUS it is. I seriously had
no idea it was so stinking huge. I loved it. It is such a big ugly construct, but I fell in love with it.
-Crepes from a street vendor are heavenly. They are worth every cent you will ever spend on them, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
-
Champs-Elysee/ Arc de Triomphe -
not so worth it. We took a picture of the Arc (on the run, even), and left. I'd rather shop at stands along the side of the river than in shops on this street.
-Jardins de Luxembourg - very worth the break. We rested here when we didn't know where else to go, and stumbled upon a relaxing afternoon break. Flowers, Eiffel Tower in the distance, green grass, trees that seem to never have lost their leaves.
-
Sacre-Coeur - our hostel was directly at the foot of this church, so it was
worth it because it was easy for us. Had the day not been cloudy and gray, the view would have been incredible.
- Despite what I'd heard from other people, Parisians were friendly, warm, and helpful. I approached them with what little French I knew and they replied with what English they knew and we just made it work in Paris.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
