Jet lag totally kicked my butt—I slept when I should’ve been out exploring—but overall the trip was a blast. Getting around Paris was a pleasant surprise: the trains and buses were mostly reliable and pretty affordable.

I finally made it to Paris—hallelujah! Or should I say, alléluia!

Paris had been on my bucket list for ages. Every time I came close, though, I ended up somewhere else.

I’d heard such a mix of opinions; some glowing, some downright negative, so much that I started to feel I wasn’t missing much. Eventually, any rational person (and I like to think I qualify), should consider each review and experience with a grain of salt, myself included.

The timing worked out perfectly: my partner was accepted into a two-week fellowship in Paris, so I figured there was no better moment to finally get that passport stamp.

Of course, we arrived right in the middle of a pension strike. Then again, my trip to St. Martin happened just weeks after a strike there, too. It makes you wonder—am I following the strikes, or are the French just always on strike? 🤔

Given the press before my trip, I decided to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I half-expected the “ish” to hit the fan—but let’s be honest, when you travel you should always be ready for anything.

I braced myself for demonstrations and crowds of protestors, yet to my surprise, the city was relatively calm. And all those long-standing “warnings” about Paris that once gave me pause? I didn’t experience a single one of them.

I didn’t hit every arrondissement, far from it, and I’d probably need a few more weeks to really get the lay of the land. But from what I saw, the neighborhoods were clean and the locals were as friendly as you’d expect in any big city. Definitely not the doom-and-gloom I’d heard on the news or scrolled past on social media.

Honestly, living in New York was the best prep for Paris. It felt like another big city—just swap the language to French and add way more cigarette smoke. I left with a handful of little “Paris rules”. Those rules are:

1. Walk with intent
2. Be polite
3. Act like you have some sense (pay attention to your surroundings).

It might sound a little cliché, but even with my so-so French I had a better time following those three little rules than I expected. Maybe that was the secret?

Or maybe it’s like that Kanye song—you know the one—and we just happened to blend in. I’m not sure. Honestly, the only times I felt out of place were when I tried to speak French. You know it’s bad when a Parisian just switches to English without a fight! 😜

So what’s with all the scary TikTok warnings? I was bracing for eye rolls and attitude, but nobody cursed me out. I thought the French hated speaking English… were we all lied to?

I digress...

Jet lag totally kicked my butt. I slept when I should’ve been out exploring, but overall the trip was a blast. Getting around Paris was a pleasant surprise: the trains and buses were mostly reliable and pretty affordable.

The food? It had its highs and lows. And Charles de Gaulle… whew. That airport might be the most confusing I’ve ever set foot in.

So, if (when!) I get another Paris trip, here’s my do-again lineup and the spots I refuse to miss next time:

• Louvre Museum
• Palace of Versailles
• A jaunt through Bordeaux, Champagne, and as much countryside as I can squeeze in
• And if it’s summertime? You’ll find me soaking up the sun in the South of France with a glass of champagne in hand.

Until next time—au revoir, ma chérie!