In Paris sometimes the plan will be a lack of a plan – going wherever the wind takes you. This lack of a plan became apparent for the start of our free weekend, after me and my girlfriend Ashlee’s plans to visit Disneyland Paris had fell through. I’ve found that the best way to experience the city is to be thrown directly into the unknown without a clear path in mind. With Ashlee being sick, I left her some time alone to catch up on rest while I could explore on my own.
I began walking from our hotel in the 14th Arrondissement to the metro station and caught the first train on line 4 heading North. With no clear goal in mind, I chose a random stop to get off at. After around half an hour on the metro I decided to get off at Château Rouge, a stop far north towards Montmartre.
Leaving the metro station, I passed a number of small cafes as I started towards a large staircase, climbing probably around 300 steps. When I reached the top, I was greeted by the Sacré-Cœur Basillica- a beautiful and massive historical church that is overlooking seemingly the entire city of Paris. Sitting at the highest point in the entire city, it’s no wonder that the building is known for its amazing views of the city.
I had already been in Montmartre earlier in the week and saying that Montmartre is my favorite spot in the city wouldn’t be an overstatement– the live music and incredible view in front of the Sacré-Cœur is enough to make anybody return here. Looking out onto the city I could see Notre-Dame, The Eiffel Tower, Pantheon, Louvre and so much more. The feeling you get while looking out onto the city with the music in the background compares to nothing. This is probably what I will remember the most about this trip. If it wasn’t so hot, I would have stayed in Montmartre all day to take in the stunning view.
On the move again I left Montmartre in search of some refreshments. I took Line 2 to connect me back towards our hotel stopping at a supermarket on the way back to avoid spending too many euros.
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Slightly later in the day I got dinner with Ashlee at the Bistro down the street (Bistro 32). We have been there multiple times this trip as the service and food are really good, while it also offers cheap prices. Places like this are a great example of how there are plenty of affordable options within an expensive city. I ordered a Caesar salad and a drink before calling it a night. Caesar Salads are very different here compared to back home. Each time I’ve ordered a Caesar salad here they always add fries as a topping– which I can’t complain about!
Day 10
Next morning with Ashlee feeling much better, we awoke and went out for a coffee. Riding the metro for around 20 minutes we finally got off at Odéon, a stop near the Seine River and ordered iced coffees at a more modern café called Goodnews. I had one of the best Matcha drinks I think I have ever had here. Ashlee clearly agreed judging by the large amount of my drink she had.
Walking with our coffees, we walked around for a while before reaching Place de la Concorde, a large gathering location with two beautiful fountains, view of the Eiffel, and an iconic Egyptian monument (Obélisque de Louxor) in the center. The Obelisk is a 3,300-year-old ancient Egyptian monument which was gifted to France in 1829 as a diplomatic gesture between leaders. I had seen the obelisk earlier in the week during our tour of the Seine and can say this is one of my favorite structures in Paris. Something about the mystery behind the hieroglyphs, gilded top, as well as its central location in such a vast square make it very appealing to me.
Leaving here, we walked to Petit Palais, an art Museum across the street from the Grand Palace. We toured inside to see many pieces of art, sculptures, antiques and beautiful architecture. I actually enjoyed this museum a lot more than the Louvre, I found the art and layout of the building to be less draining, and I had a larger appreciation for each individual piece.
After finishing the museum and on the move again we looked for some refreshments. We stopped at a bowl and smoothie bar and shared an Açaí bowl before returning to line 4 back towards the hotel. The bowl was amazing – literally all of the food in Paris is so much better than back home.
Today was a great example of how you can stumble upon interesting and historical things without planning in Paris. This makes it a great city for exploration, even if you can only stay a couple days.