Phoebe in Paris

Hi Friends,

I arrived in Paris, at 00:15 on Thursday, one week after finishing university. I am here to visit my lovely cousin Clarissa, who is working there for 3 months. My other cousin Alice, Clarissa's sister, is also coming out, but both of them will be working during the week so I have lots of time for solo activities.

My flight had been delayed over an hour so all the easy trains and shuttle bus routes into Paris were stopped for the night. I got chatting to a girl from outside the arrivals, who I later learnt was called Hannah, as she looked equally as lost as me. It turns out she was studying French and History in Paris, but was from London. We asked around for the direction of the night bus, which lacked any adequate signing i'd like to clarify! I realised after getting on the bus that I wasn't going to be able to pay by tapping a card and needed to have a ticket, which I obviously did not have. Luckily, my new friend turned out to be a guardian angel, and gave me her extra ticket, otherwise I probably would have been turned around back into the night. She waited around at guard de l'est station for my uber, as the average adventurer within me did not fancy travelling another 50 mins on two separate buses alone at coming on 3 in the morning. I hugged goodbye to Hannah, and felt grateful for the new connection I had made, even though it was for such a short moment in time. I wish her all the best!

Thursday morning! I had no plans, but started walking towards the river Seine. Clarissa lives in between the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower on the Northern side of the river. Without realising it I had been sucked into the grounds surrounding the Eiffel tower and ended up lying down gazing up at it, surrounded by a revolving door of tourists taking picture after picture, before moving on to the next landmark of the day. I could have stayed there for hours, watching the various interactions between people from all walks of life. A standout was two boys who were clearly on a backpacking expedition. They turned up with baguettes the length of their arms, and proceeded to immediately light up their cigarettes. They then took photos of each other with these props, working the angles, and asking tourists around them for photos together. After they were satisfied with the results, they happily sat down in their chosen spot and munched away at their prop, you can guess which one. I wondered off at that point, rather happy that the sunglasses I had brought had allowed me to observe that comical spectacle unnoticed!

I spent the afternoon in the Latin quarter, beside the Notre Dame. I like to do a free walking tour when I visit a new city. I don't love how school like they are, and you often feel slightly smirked at by passers by, as I often sense an internal eye roll. However, it is a good way of getting you to a location, especially when you are solo and need a little pit of a push to get out there! Also, even though the average age is 50+ (sorry to generalise!), there is often an anomaly of a few 20 something year olds, and it has meant i've met lots of lovely people from all over the world. Yesterday proved no different and I ended up spending the rest of the afternoon with Beth, from Nova Scotia, Canada. We visited the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, and stumbled across a Dolly Alderton book signing, who we had coincidentally both read one of her book's, 'Everything I Know About Love'. We shared a conversation with her, which felt pre-ordained to me, and a moment I will treasure. The next couple of hours were spent lounging out beside the Medici fountain, also known as the fountain of the lovers, in the Luxembourg gardens. We chatted, read a little, shared some salted cashews that Beth provided, all under the gorgeous late afternoon sun. We met Clarissa and Alice for some pizza on Rue Descartes, a street in the Latin quarter that was heaving, mostly filled with students. What a location to study!

We left Beth, and walked an hour odd along the river Seine, back to Clarissa's flat. We passed friendship group after friendship grouped gathered in huddles, drinking and eating in each other's company. We stopped at a few orchestral bands playing under the sunset. We walked passed many packed bars and barge club venues, and it just seemed like a genuine vibe.

Paris has so far exceeded my expectations and I am excited to see what the next four days bring.

Bye for now,

Phoebe