May's Paris Diary
Day 1 in Paris
Do you know that feeling? That you've been looking forward to something for months and suddenly it's really the day when it all happens? That day was today. The alarm went off at 06:30 and without hitting snooze, I floated towards the shower. At 07:30 the taxi would be ready to take us to Schiphol to catch the train to Paris from there.
Tip 1: If you don't live in Amsterdam-Centrum but in the North Holland area, it's much easier to travel from Schiphol with the Eurostar (formerly known as Thalys). Moreover, it departs a quarter of an hour later (so more sleep) and you also get home a quarter of an hour earlier.
The train is such a nice way to travel. From the moment you step in, you don't have to think about anything anymore. Reading a book, staring into space, and dozing off.
Tip 2: I think the second class of the Eurostar is perfectly fine. The seats are really very good. Okay, you don't get food here, but to say that I'm blown away by the snacks in first class, meh.
Tip 3: Book Paris as far in advance as you can, then the tickets are really affordable. We traveled now for 60 euros per person.
Tip 4: Save your tickets in the wallet of your phone, very easy. Although the Eurostar app is also really handy.
Okay, enough about the trip. It feels like a paid article.
That the taxi driver tried to scam me for cash and said he wouldn't accept card payments, I could handle. I'm used to that by now and I also know that they are required to accept a card, no matter how small the amount is. We did our workout by lifting the suitcases out of the trunk (at least 25 kilos each, I really went all out) and waited for my beloved who was walking towards us. He had already left two days earlier because he really has to work here.
My love and my girl took the elevator (I really didn't fit anymore because the suitcases took up half the space anyway) and I walked over the wide wooden steps, so so so French, to the fourth floor where our apartment was located. Wooden floors, a fireplace so beautiful that you almost hope it would be autumn, a really tastefully decorated living room, and on the marble dining table a collection of goodies from the neighborhood. Croissants au beurre from two different bakers (to test) and two different pains au chocolat. I drank Perrier with it and was happy. Instant.
We ‘reside’ in the 10th arrondissement, near the Faubourg Saint-Denis. A bit grungier than my manicured Boulevard Saint-Germain, but also livelier. Stalls, small restaurants, a Moroccan butcher, a greengrocer, lots of terraces, and above all... a Pilates studio within walking distance from our apartment. In my best, or rather worst French, I bought a 20-class pass for myself and the visitors we expect and immediately booked a class for tomorrow at 08:45.
Living like a local is ultimately the best thing there is. The bike rental shop was closed so we'll park that until tomorrow, but an ice cream (at €4.50 per scoop but luckily very tasty) went down well. I bought a bottle of wine at a small supermarket that I cowardly hid when I walked past the Pilates studio.
Later on the bike, we'll grab one from the paid racks, to Humberto's café. Barbara Pravi is performing there (the one from ‘Voilà’), so we want to see that.
À demain,
May
PS. Do you like my Parisian content? Follow me on Insta and travel along with me @maybrittmobach.
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