24 HOURS IN PARIS: SOLO TRAVEL STYLE

When choosing which cities and countries I wanted to visit, Paris was a big one on my list. Unfortunately, no one around me wanted to go with me, so I put it off for a long time. It was a pretty expensive city, and I no longer had any free weekends to travel. I had no idea what to do, and if I was going to get the chance. Thankful, I really put in the effort to try and make time for it. My best friends from home came to Amsterdam for the week of Thanksgiving break, and when they left, I decided why not take my first train to another country. 

     

Traveling solo seems so scary in theory, and believe me it is a nerve-racking, anxiety-inducing experience, but I will never regret it. 

In Europe, forms of public transportation are used more than driving itself. It is amazing how you can take trains into bordering countries in less than a couple of hours. So, that is exactly what I did. I bought a cheap ticket to the city of Paris, using Omio which is a website/app that I used to find cheaper train tickets to travel! I didn't have a lot of free time so I left the morning for Friday, and I would return the afternoon of the very next day. A nice little 24 hours in the city.

             

So, I dropped my friends off at the airport very early in the morning and made my way to the train station. I loved how easy it was to take my friends directly to the airport from my apartment, and I could stay on that exact train and get off at the train station stop. Once I was there, I got something to eat and drink and hopped onto my train for the next couple of hours. I was very lucky and got my own section for the entire duration of the train ride. So, I read my book, crotched, and stared out the window enjoying my views.

Eventually, I arrived in Paris, I got off the train and I was instantly overstimulated. At this point, I had only been to cities where English is spoken by the majority, but Parisians aren't the same. So much French around me, and I have no idea what to do. Eventually, I got myself to my Airbnb and I rested for a bit. I did a little research and learned some quick French phrases in case I needed to communicate with anyone, and I headed out to find a place for dinner. 

I was in love with Paris, I dedicated a whole day to shopping alone. I traveled to the Louvre, visited Boulevard Saint-Germain, and walked alone on the Seine. Saint-Germain was a special part of my trip, I got to learn so much about Paris's history. I was lucky some friends were in the city at the same time, and we all got the chance to go to the Eiffel Tower together.

                 

I didn't get to try too many French staples, but I did try the ones that were on my bucket list. First, was Escargot, which is an edible snail that is a staple in French cuisine that originally was a poor man's food. Now, it is associated with sophistication and class. I obviously tried every pastry in a bakery, and I continued to eat them every second possible. I will definitely want to be back to try more!

I am very proud of myself for doing something as intimidating as solo traveling, and I hope I get the chance to do it again someday. Thank you for reading and I will see you in my next blog!

Bibliography: 

1. https://www.offbeatfrance.com/snails-in-france-escargots.html

2. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d194242-Reviews-Boulevard_St_Germain-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

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