Trip to Europe

As soon as I arrived, I had to experiment with the Paris public transport network to get to where I was staying for the next 4 days. Unfortunately, it was not so simple. First of all, from the airport I had to go to the train / metro station on foot. From there, it is not very complicated, following the indications of the person of the information booth, I have only the RER B to take to go to LaPlace station. However, I was not told that it was necessary to make sure beforehand of the stops served, because they are not necessary all served at each passage. So you guess I did not take the good, and I realized that only inside the car. So I went down one stop earlier than the station LaPlace, but at that moment, I still did not understand. I thought that the RER B was simply not serving this station. So, I left the station where I was to inform the staff and I was finally made to take the same train, but this time serving my destination, forcing me of course another ticket then that as normal, there would have been no place to be. After this event, I managed to use public transportation without problems throughout my trip to Paris.

I lived in an apartment of a local resident, who was in transition between two apartments. By his generosity, I hosted his house for free and I had access to the whole apartment. It gave me autonomy. It was located about 30 minutes by public transport from the center of Paris.

I visited Paris solo, which was a first for me. Going alone to discover excites me a lot, I forgot the worry. Paris immediately impressed me at first sight, among other things, by its architecture that stands out from the one I'm used to seeing in Quebec. The architecture is steeped in history and it is clear that time has left its mark. This is another reality completely. Urban planning is also very different and very particular in Paris; street names are not always displayed and when they are, their positioning awkwardly indicates the direction of the street. So, it's easy to be wrong. That said, people tend to get their bearings and make appointments with subway stations rather than at an intersection between several streets.

As far as people are concerned, I did not have the opportunity to talk to the locals much. Some people approached me, but the majority was to compliment my "dreaded mane". In general, I have observed many people from a foreign background. During the 4 days in Paris, to my surprise, I was generally approached in English rather than French.

I had the opportunity to meet Alina and her friend who welcomed me very well. Among other things, we shared a meal in a charming and very popular restaurant, where I ate a good duck breast.

From the first evening, I went to discover Paris. My challenge was to reach the Eiffel Tower without "GoogleMap". I was exploring the streets in the direction of this gigantic tower that serves as a landmark in the city. Throughout, I was able to capture several scenes of the tower approaching me step by step while discovering some fascinating alleys in an illuminated and charming atmosphere. Honestly, the Eiffel Tower, all in light, is beautiful at night!

The next day, I continued my visit to Paris where the various monuments, public squares, gardens and others accumulate; Jardin Luxembourg, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Place de la Bastille, Pompidou Center, Pantheon, etc. There is really a lot to see. I enjoyed every perspective of the city. When I was walking the streets, I was constantly impressed by the architecture around me. This is the wealth of Paris.