Paris. The city of lights, love and dreams for travelistas around the world. But for me, Paris was a city I never had the desire to visit up until now…often hearing from travellers it was too dirty, too racist, too snobby, too over-rated, too many smokers. And just too French. On my first trip to Europe, I skipped France for Spain and Portugal. On my second trip, I skipped France again, opting for Spain, Italy, Hungary and Malta. Now on my third trip to the old world, I decided to finally give Paris a chance. And to see with my own eyes if it lives up to its negative image just as much as its hype.

Let me preface this post by mentioning that 48 hours in Paris (or any megacity in the world for that matter) is not enough time to see or feel what the city and culture has to offer – positive or negative – but it’s enough to whet your appetite, show you the difference between the ‘romanticized’ version and the ‘reality’ in front of you and leave you craving more. Besides, if you like the place, you always need a reason to come back right?

Here is a look at my Top 6 Observations and Top 5 Highlights from my 48 hour jaunt in Paris:

Top 6 Observations

1. Quintessentially European oozing old world charm and quaintness. It really does feel like you’re walking on a movie set – old, opulent buildings full of character, narrow brick lanes, public squares, boulevards lined with detailed sculptures. When compared to say Barcelona, which has a more “new”, modern feel, Paris offers the newbie traveller a better introduction to old Europe.

2. Oui, Oui mon Cherie. Parisiens all speak in French, not English. You won’t hear many people on the streets switching back and forth between English and French (unlike in some other countries) including both young and old. Even on our Air Transat flight from Vancouver to Paris, for the first time in my globetrotting history, I had no idea what the passengers around me were talking about. But don’t worry. As travellers who only knew “Bonjour” and “Merci” – it was enough to get by and enough of an effort on our part for the locals to switch to English for tourists.

3. Paris has many ethnic restaurants and shops. From Turkish and Tunisian to Japanese, Chinese and Indian, you can find an array of global food choices in various arrondissements (neighborhoods) around the city. Although as travellers, I’m not sure how far you’ll really want to stray from the French macarons and wine. You can also celebrate Diwali year round by visiting the 6 boutique gift shops across the city. We came across atleast 4 of them randomly while walking through different neighboorhoods.

4. Hotels in Paris are more expensive compared to other cities in Europe I’ve been….especially at the end of September during Fashion Week. Book early. Either you’ll be paying $200-$300+/night or you’ll be paying $100/night for a tiny small hostel/apartment/b&b…which may or may not be all that great.

5. Not as many smokers as I thought there would be..atleast smoking openly. In my mind, Parisiens and cigarettes go together right? Or atleast that’s what we all see in the movies. I noticed more smokers in Turkey and Asia than in Paris.

6. Whenever I hear of Paris’s shopping street, Champs Elysee, all I think about are top luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel. I was surprised that Champ Elysee has also a mix of mall brands, but with French flair. The entrance to Abercrombie & Fitch was flanked by a gold and black wrought iron gate and two gorgeous male models. Upon passing the gate, you’re taken on a nice walk through a city garden before entering the shop, lined by Parisian models ready for a snapshot. I can get used to this! Only in Paris.                                                   

Top 5 Highlights 

1.  Seeing the Louvre at Night.

2. Visiting the Sacre Coeur church in Montmartre.

3. Walking through the Latin Quarter.

4. Snapping pictures of street art.

5. Relaxing at cafes.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Paris?  

Photos: Desi Globetrotter.