A Weekend in Paris

We opted for one of the guesthouses nearest to the station and found later on that it would have been beneficial to walk just a little farther out to get the best for our tight budget (as so often is the case!). In all, our accommodation cost 70€ for the 2-night stay, for which we had a television (no sky) and a shower room. However, the toilet was shared, and by no means the most sanitary one I have seen. Call me a big girl, but unintelligible scum on a toilet seat just doesn't do it for me. We opted out of breakfast, which cost an extra 10€, and instead got food whilst we were out and about. If we had of walked that bit farther, we could have got a room with W/C and sky for the same price, but all in all, we were pleasantly surprised that it didn't break the bank to stay somewhere so near to everything and with a receptionist who told us about the big red bus tour, which I would highly recommend if, like myself, you have never visited the city before.

I must also mention what I can only assume is French humour (or humiliation): a lovely gentleman who listened to me butcher his language as I bumbled my way through basic GCSE French trying to enquire about the price of a room, who later dazzled us with his extensive understanding of the English language whilst smirking at my fuschia-tinged cheeks. Shamed and feeling like an uncouth ignoramus, my friend made me check into the very same hotel.

When we got to the Eiffel Towel, I had absolutely no intention of going up it—I deplore heights and panic when on a step ladder, so I didn't think it would be the best idea. However, having chosen the travel companion I did, I eventually had to cave in on the basis that I would be going no higher than the first level. Now, you can either walk or take the lift. Walking is cheaper, and I think if you can manage it, it gives you much more of a sense of achievement. The tower is huge (as you would expect), and I think waiting to begin the ascent was the worst for me. Once I started climbing, I was fine; there is so much metal surrounding you that you feel exceptionally safe. I felt so safe, I walked to the second level (a total of 700 steps), and wheezing as I was, I enjoyed a spectacular panoramic view of the city. My only regret is that we didn't go all the way to the top. We honestly didn't think it was that much higher than the point we reached until we got back down the bottom and looked again!

I believe, all in all, that the walk cost us a total of under 10€, which, in my opinion, was one of the biggest bargains of the whole trip! And when you return triumphant and shaky-legged (if you're as unfit as I am) to the bottom, there are lots of little stalls selling beautiful-smelling (and tasting) crepes with a choice of fillings, a great snack to have before you head off to see some more of this historical city.

This would normally have been the kind of thing I would bypass, as anything with the word "tour" tends to make me shiver, but bearing in mind the fact that myself and my companion had never been to Paris before, neither of us could speak French, and, as much as he'd like to think otherwise, our map reading skills aren't superb, we opted to use this service to get our bearings and find those must-see places.

The tickets cost 22€ each, and you can buy these on the bus or from many of the hotels around town. They allow you to use the bus for 2 days, and once you have paid for your ticket, you are issued with earphones so that you can choose whether or not you wish to learn a bit more about the city or if you wish to sit and take in the sights without commentary. I particularly liked the fact that the tour was not intrusive, and that we were free to come and go as we please, with no time restrictions on what we did.

The bus runs until about 6pm and takes a circuit of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triumphe, Louvre, and Musee de Notre Dame, amongst other places. The only problem we found was that once on the circuit, we couldn't work out how to get off and get the right bus to take us back towards the station, so for about an hour we felt like we were living Groundhog Day. In the end, we gave up, walked back, and soon realised that once you get to know where you are going, it is a pleasure to walk around the city, too.

Coming back from my trip to Paris I really did feel great, although I didn't scale ice glaciers or run with the bulls, it really was a weekend of firsts for me. Enjoying a tour, climbing the Eiffel Tower, resisting the temptation to eat twenty odd crepes one after the other!Although I found a lot of the Parisiens I encountered quite abrupt, those in the service sector were very pleasant and to be honest if I couldn't be bothered to learn their language properly I cant blame them for their dismissive attitude.I found the food wherever we went was good, and I loved the architecture too (something I don't normally pay too much attention too).One of my favourite moments in Paris was walking down the Champs Alysees taking in the huge designer stores, perfect tree lined street and gazing at the Arc de Triumphe—feeling like a movie star (though unfortunately not looking like one!).As a smoker I enjoyed the fact that the french smoke everywhere and you are not looked upon as a social leper for doing so as so often is the case in a lot of places. I was even given a cigarette by a kind waiter when I had run out and craved the evil weed!If I had to describe the city I would have to say that Paris is most definitely a lady grand, beautiful, classy and not ashamed to be herself and I can honestly see why so many people fall in love with the place.I will definitely be going back to take in more of the sights and to explore the nightlife, but this time I will plan it!