Paris: From Somebody Who Did It Wrong. 

What Happened?

I’ll be the first to tell you that I didn’t do Paris right. I didn’t give it the time of day. I came in with expectations and not an open mind. I heard things from past visitors that affected my perspective. You can’t do Paris right in 2 days. We bounced around from tourist destinations. Tried to check things off the list as we went. A city like this isn’t just a checklist. It needs to be appreciated. It needs to be experienced. 

There are plenty of travel blogs that will tell you about what you “Need To Do” in certain places. I don’t see very many from the perspective of what they did wrong. Realistically, you’re not going to have the greatest experience in every place whether Instagram shows it or not. I was lucky enough to make it to Paris but left feeling like I still hadn’t been. 

I’m here to tell you what NOT to do. 

I did not have much time to treat Paris the way it needs to be treated. In 1 day we went from the Eiffel Tower to Notre dame, stopped for a quick bite and moved to the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. 

To be clear, I’m not telling you to NOT visit these places. Just take your time. Don’t be in a hurry to see everything at once. In true American fashion, I needed to do as much as I could in as little time as possible. I regret bringing this attitude to a city that doesn’t think that way. It felt like the local people were there to enjoy their time. No stress. 

What TO do. 

Sit outside

The city is set up with places to relax and grab a bite to eat. Chairs at restaurants and cafe’s even face towards the street, not towards each other. To sit and watch the world go by as you relax. These are a great place to do some people watching and catch tourists like me. I skipped over all of those lovely places, rushing to get the next picture. 

Plan on going back this fall. 

I plan on going back this fall and doing it right. I want to immerse myself in the daily lives of the people who live there. I look forward to feeling that sense of not needing to be anywhere but where you are right now. It’s the city of the present moment.