Look Back in Bunny

Paris went by real fast when all you got was 5 days.

It took awhile for me to believe that a week ago I was in Paris with P’Pai (a lovely ex-colleague). Paris was a city equivalent of a unicorn unless the tales I heard and the nice pictures I saw on the book pages were very real. Anyhow, it was legit that the two of us were wandering around Île-de-France from November 17th to 21st.

It started a few months ago, we booked the tickets as soon as we discovered a certain special deal. It was going to be my first time ever in Europe and it’s going to be France. The emphasis for I studied French in high school and thanks to the French teacher’s genuine love for France, Paris sounded charming. To testify her stories, I went through the process to get a visa. And this was what happened.

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Day one

Champs-Élysées – Arc de Triomphe – Eiffel Tower

We landed on Charles de Gaulle Airport early in the morning and took a Bolt taxi service ride to the city center. We were out all day, believing that would get rid of the time difference issues for the rest of the trip.

On the way out, P’Pai asked a girl, French probably, what we shouldn’t miss in Paris. She recommended Montmartre. However, we decided to save Montmatre for the day after because it’s a place that would require some real energy from a good long sleep.

We walked slowly to get to know the area. The weather felt clean and fresh but someone was always smoking on the street (fortunately smoking isn’t allowed in door). The Haussmann styled buildings were giving traveling back in Medieval ages. Literally life imitates art. Speaking of art, at some windows, there were plants or tiny flowerpots attached to the balcony looking adorable. It’s a hell of a lovely city.

Our energy shifted because the vibe was that good. So good that we headed to the closest attractions, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. That’s the point it’s getting real. There weren’t as many people as I thought. They were most inside the luxury shops perhaps.

I later realized that the Champs-Élysées connects with the Place de la Concord. It was that square in French Revolution where the public executions of figures such as Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Robespierre took place.

After some delicious hot chocolate from the Champs-Élysées (what a life), we walked another 30 minutes to the Eiffel Tower.

The tower was very real. I didn’t expect it to be pretty (in a feminine way) looking at its pictures. The color is 5 shades to 10 darker than rose gold not mere black or silver. It’s big and could probably represent power or greatness well but the structure was also delicate and flexible-looking. The best part is that it’s free.

Then we took a ride back to our Airbnb, Baan Paris. The place was very cozy, clean, and well-decorated, like those pictures of minimalistic accommodation in light and soft cream color from Pinterest. The location was also very convenient, it’s less than five-minute walk from Europe metro station.

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Day two

Place de La Concorde – Tuileries Garden Christmas Market – Le Bon Marché

There was constantly a light drizzle. Unfortunately, jet lag happened to P’Pai and so I went ahead. I walked to the Place de La Concorde, the largest square in Paris. From there, you can see the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and the upper part of the Eiffel Tower pretty clearly too.

Once P’Pai felt better, we had lunch at a restaurant near La Madeleine. Turn out she felt better taking a walk in fresh air than sleeping in.

After that, we walked our first festive market of the year held in the Tuileries Garden. We didn’t expect a Christmas event when it wasn’t December yet, that was like am unexpected special bonus.

The Louvre was only a few steps away but we did not really vibe with the ticket buyer crowd.

Instead, we walked to one of the best department stores in Paris, Le Bon Marché. I bought different souvenirs back home including the renowned French butter, le beurre bordier.

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Day three

Montmartre – Orsay Museum – Café de Flore

P’Pai headed out to Montmartre first. That’s how she got to send a warning that walking might not be as enjoyable as the day before. She said it’d be like hiking, the way was ascending. Montmartre was a mountain after all. Realized that, I took the bus.

Before getting to the village, I went inside the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. Got to be my first experience with European churches. The church activity continued despite tourists walking in and out. It’s understandable that you had to be quiet and pictures weren’t allowed.

There were a number of souvenir stores, the merchandise was unique and more interesting. I ended up buying postcards, a soap, and a bottle of perfume before eventually reuniting with P’Pai at a restaurant.

Our next plan for the day was Musée d’Orsay. So we took our first Parisian metro. Got on the wrong train once but managed to get to the museum in time. If you visit Paris and use the metro, try finding not only the number of the platform but also the name.

Musée d’Orsay was beautiful and perfect for tourists who might not have all the time in the world to walk the 16 km of the Louvre just yet. Orsay was big too but half a day was enough if you just want to get a glimpse of everything. Still, it’s better if you can spend more time to look at the art properly. There’re quite a few restaurants and cafés so you can always rest and get back into it

But, as we had another café in mine, we moved. The video of their hot chocolate and whipped cream had been circulating online so we had to catch another metro to a restaurant and café called Café de Flore.

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Day four

Louvre Museum – Rue de Petites Carreaux – Seine river cruise

Ticket booked and paid, we were ready and got on the metro ride to the Louvre early in the morning.

It was cold but less windy and no rain whatsoever. For the next day, however, the iPhone weather app predicted snowfall. At the moment, that’s the only condition I prefer over the clear sky.

We waited outside until the staff let us and the others who booked the 10 am tickets in.

‘It’s like there’s no end,’ said P’Pai. You’d better prepare the mind and the body for a long walk and a lot of art. We can only walk a floor with 5 hours. A few days to go back and forth for the Louvre would be ideal.

Since the sky was clear (the only day with clear sky in our stay), we registered for the Seine river cruise in the evening.

There were some free time in between so we took a walk and tried a couple pieces of dessert on Petites Carreaux street.

We were late to the cruise but managed to catch the boat in the end. Again, make sure you’re on the right train line, look for the name not just the number.

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Day five

WAF WAF bar à gaufres – Grand Palais – Galeries Lafayette

A few minutes after I woke up from sleep, it snowed. We were so lucky for that.

We walked 7 minutes in the snow from the apartment to WAF WAF bar à gaufres for some waffles and smoothies to give the day a sweet start. The owner recommended the Grand Palais, a gorgeous museum (with no entry fee!). The museum also has an elegant and charming café arrangement there.

We followed her advice and walked through yet another impressive museum. There’re not as many artworks as Orsay or Louvre, but theirs gave out a very different vibe. It’s the gaze of a current generation’s, from the curation to the art. We spent a few hours there, easily so as the museum had a souvenir shop and more art space on the underground floor.

We had no tight plan for the day and we just walked. After we were done with the museum, we walked the streets, read signs, and crossed bridges. I found snow beautiful (it’s never my problem, that’s why). The way the city and the cars were painted white and blurred, it’s new. So righteous that we reached the Eiffel by foot just like that.

Finally, we took the bus to our last destination of the trip, the Galeries Lafayette. It was another big department store you might want to check out if you’re looking for gifts, souvenirs, or just something nice for dinner. It’s the last chance I can buy things and it was a dessert called Ispahan Macaron that I bought. P’Pai tried it the day before and I was actually curious all because of its look. Beauty wasn’t the only great part about it. If you like sour and sweet, you’ll love love Ispahan.

Several lessons were learned. One thing’s clear. In French restaurants, I preferred the dessert over the food. I haven’t found the right vegetarian dish yet.

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5 days went by like a flash, but Paris has changed. From a big blurry fantasy to different city corners and a little to-do list to come back for more.