There’s something about Paris that always mystifies you, wherever you go. It could be the stunning and vastly diverse architecture that never fails to leave you in awe and reminds you that you are very far from home. Or perhaps the landscape and the world renown symbols throughout Paris that all visitors flock to see. Or maybe it’s the food and the Parisian joie de vivre. Or maybe it’s just the really cheap but excellent wine.
At any rate, after only 3 days here in Paris, I know that I love it.
The plane ride, while certainly shorter than my massively draining trek to and from Australia, was decent. Air Canada actually surprised me by serving me edible food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep at all on the plane, which left me feeling some jetlag up until yesterday.
Arrival was smooth at first; a guy in a suit with an Air Liquide sign escorted me to his taxi and brought me to my residence, Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris. After that, I was pretty much on my own to find my key and then my house, the Maison du Portugal (funny coincidence!). It was apparently a holiday that day, which for some reason is called “Ascension”, apparently for the same religious reason as Easter Monday, even though they celebrate both. I don’t get it. Anyhow, turned out that no staff was available, everything was closed, and only a few security personnel were around to ask for help. Tough luck, and it was a little frustrating.
The residence itself is gorgeous. There’s about 40 different houses scattered on campus, each representing a different country with its own unique architecture. Some are really stunning, and I hope to post some photos soon. There’s also many parks, sports fields, and green spaces everywhere on campus. Jogging seems to be a major part of French culture, there are people working up a sweat EVERYWHERE. I guess that’s how they work off the calories from all the food!
After finally settling in, with no information, no metro pass, and no internet, I was at a loss for what to do. So I decided to explore the campus, and was fortunate to make friends with an awesome girl from Colombia who had come to visit her sister on campus. We ended up spending the day walking the streets of the 14e arrondissement and buying some groceries and necessities. We even watched a large group perform capoeira, an amazing Brazilian dance and martial art. Oh, and we played Frisbee, too! It was one hell of an action-packed day!
The next day everyone was back at work, so luckily I was able to get all the info I needed, including my new free metro pass that I could use to travel anywhere in Paris. Jetlag got the best of me though. I unintentionally slept through the entire afternoon, when I had planned to go exploring the city. Not a big deal though, when I woke up I headed straight for the nearby RER station (train) and made my way to Quai d’Orsay and La Seine. I then trekked through the streets, searching for the first Paris icon I absolutely had to see: the Eiffel Tower.
It really is spectacular, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s way bigger than I thought it would be in real life, and it looks structurally complex. I guess my only complaint is the number of tourists and souvenir salesmen all over the place. They take away some of the charm, but I guess that’s true for most of the tourist hotspots in Paris. It is the world’s most touristed city after all!
Well, this is to be continued, since I’ve got to go to bed. My short vacation has come to an end, as of tomorrow, I’ll be starting my first day as an Engineering Intern at Air Liquide!
Some quick things I’ve noticed about France:
- The French know immediately when they’re speaking to someone foreign. You can’t fool them. Don’t bother trying.
- The Parisians aren’t all that rude or snobby at all, despite the stereotype. Well, that’s mostly true.
- Yes, they do carry baguettes around. I see it everywhere.
- I’d heard that Paris smells, and not in the good way. I guess it depends where you are. It smells fabulous near any boulangerie, patisserie, or restaurant. But you often get a whiff of something that isn’t particularly pleasant, especially in some metro stations. It’s like a mix of urine, sewage, and fish. But it really isn’t all that bad.
- There are way too many tourists in the busy areas, and it’s a little annoying.
I’ll post again soon!
Cheers,
Sean
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