A Day in Paris

Paris was at the top of my list to visit this year. It's just a short train ride away from London, making it very accessible. I am spending my summer vacation in the Netherlands, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make a stopover in Paris. So, on Friday evening, I took the last Eurostar train to Paris and then continued my journey to Harlingen on Sunday morning. A day in Paris may not be enough time to fully explore and get to know the city, but it was enough for a little sightseeing tour.

My goal was to spend as little money as possible. However, hostel rooms in Paris are quite expensive compared to other places, and I didn't want to sleep in a room with seven strangers. So, I tried to find an alternative through friends and family. In the end, I found a place to stay through SERVAS. 'SERVAS is a worldwide peace organization that forms an international network of travelers and hosts.' It's basically a Couchsurfing organization where you get to experience the country, culture, and people in a different way by getting to know your hosts better and spending time with them (sharing meals and activities).

My first experience with SERVAS was not bad at all. I stayed with a 72-year-old woman and had a free bed for two nights, as well as breakfast and dinner on Saturday. On Saturday evening, we talked about our travels and looked at different places on atlas maps.

On Saturday, I explored the city on my own and decided what I wanted to see and do. I wanted to take it easy and enjoy the journey. My goal was to walk to the Eiffel Tower and take in as much as possible along the way.

I started by taking the bus from my accommodation to the Pantheon. The Pantheon is France's national mausoleum and the resting place of famous French personalities. Like almost all tourist attractions, I only saw it from the outside and didn't go inside.

Right next to the Pantheon is Saint Étienne du Mont. It's a church that is known for its unique architecture. It's beautiful to look at from the outside and even more impressive from the inside:

As soon as you enter, you are captivated by the altar, choir, and rood screen. Unfortunately, I couldn't explore it further because I entered the church shortly before a church service and had to leave. But the beautiful spiral staircases on both sides were truly stunning.

The organ is also very famous. The casing dates back to 1631 and is the oldest in all of Paris.

I continued exploring the streets and neighborhoods of Paris. Passing by cute little shops and patisseries.

And even stumbling upon a weekly market, where I felt like I was really experiencing the lives of the locals. And what is a must-buy? A genuine French croissant!

It was delicious. Very delicate, buttery, and still warm. That's how a croissant should taste!

I continued to Île de la Cité, where the Notre Dame Cathedral is located.

Since the fire in 2019, it has been closed and surrounded by a large construction site, so I could only view the building from a distance. There was a small exhibition about the history of the church and seating in front of the west facade. But I couldn't get closer than that. Nonetheless, I was very impressed by the size and architectural style of the cathedral.

From there, I continued through an area full of plant markets towards the Louvre.

I had my lunch break at the Louvre. It consisted of a salad and macarons for dessert. The typical French meringue-based pastries made with almond flour and a filling. They were delicious!

I strolled through the Jardin des Tuileries, the baroque-style gardens near the Louvre, and then walked along the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.

During my research on the internet, I read that Fluctuart is a hidden gem worth visiting. It's actually a houseboat with a free gallery for street art, a bookstore about art, and a rooftop café.

This way, I could also enjoy a bit of culture along the way.

On the Seine, I discovered this little playground. I thought it was beautiful how the city utilizes its spaces and integrates a climbing wall into the facade of a bridge, providing opportunities for both small and big climbing enthusiasts.

Eventually, I arrived at the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, you can only get up close if you pay for admission. But even from a distance, I was overwhelmed and impressed by the structure.

My last stop on the tour was the Hôtel des Invalides. It's a huge military complex built by King Louis XIV. It used to be a home for war veterans and disabled soldiers, but now it houses several museums.

Overall, I went on a discovery tour of nearly 13km through the city center of Paris. I saw everything I wanted to see and returned to my accommodation completely tired and exhausted. One day was definitely enough to see Paris from the outside, but I will have to come back for a bit longer to explore more in detail.