I finally got to visit Paris. And wow, this beautiful city did not disappoint. In fact, this is one of very few places I’ve traveled to that has exceeded expectations. Maybe the electric blue skies and wrapping summer heat had something to do with that, luring me into a romance and bliss.
Highlights include pain au chocolat, champagne, and people watching in the Jardin de Luxembourg.
However, this is not a Paris city guide. If you want that, then check out the Paris City Guide that I wrote for my client, GoWalkabout.
Why Can’t Travel Always Be This Easy?
No stress. No delays. Staying overnight in Kings Cross was a smart decision to reduce the amount of travel on an international travel day (something I’m a big fan of since my Thailand return trip in 2024 – that’s another story).
The distance between Kings Cross and St Pancras is about 100 steps. What can go wrong?
But don’t misinterpret this “no stress” element as no queues and breezing through passport security. St Pancras was a mess even at 7 am. No organisation, confused travelers, and a serious lack of caffeine for most.
The “no stress” part comes from a choice. Choose to be stressed or choose not to be. Surrender to the mess of a queue and go with the flow of life. This advice can serve you across all modes of travel!
Neighbourhood Vibes in Little Vietnam
Hotels in Paris are not cheap. Similar to London, you’re looking at at least €100 per night for a box room that is possibly above ground. We opted to stay slightly out of town in Montparnasse. Where’s that, I hear you say? Exactly. There’s not much happening here except life.
Life in Paris equates to gorgeous boulangeries, fruit stalls, and gardens to stroll through. Sounds good enough for me…
I actually really enjoyed staying out of the city in Montparnasse. It was a short metro ride into the centre or a long walk, taking it all in. And it turned out our hotel was surrounded by Vietnamese restaurants and Indo/Malaysian-style warungs. I felt right at home!
Loud, Proud, and oh so Parisian
When I travel, I like to be spontaneous and take advantage of the opportunities that arise. Another way to look at this is: I do not plan. Personally, I find a set itinerary restrictive and limiting. Had we planned our days out, we might not have accidentally stumbled into the Pride celebrations or gotten a private viewing of a menswear collection at Paris Fashion Week.
The streets we explored were bustling, not with tourists but with locals celebrating and living life.
I have two standout moments from our short trip in Paris:
- Sipping on champagne, sat at a bistro table in Le Marais watching the world go by.
- Lounging in Jardin de Luxembourg, soaking up vitamin D, chatting with Nick, and people watching.
I came to realise that I don’t need to follow the crowd and tick things off the tourist map (something I learnt about myself a long time ago). For me, travel opens my eyes to culture and community, expanding my awareness and, hopefully, teaching me more about myself along the way.
Shakespeare & Company, Paris
Now, I’m going to contradict myself here. I did go to Paris with one place that I HAD to go check out… the Shakespeare and Company bookstore.
As an English Lit graduate and book lover, visiting the Shakespeare and Company bookstore is kind of like a pilgrimage. I joined the queue and followed the crowd to gain entry to this iconic place. Some were fellow literature nerds, others were perhaps more there for the photo opp.
This place is special because it served as a meeting place for many of the world’s greatest authors, much like Café de Flore. While a single trip is not enough time to truly appreciate the wonder and magic of this bookstore, it did tap into something that lies inside me (perhaps that’s why I felt the desire to start writing again…)
Perhaps in this life, or another life, I will be a Tumbleweed, blowing from place to place.
Until next time. Stay curious and be open to opportunity.
