People romanticize Paris endlessly. But for me, it was never a city I felt drawn to.
I never dreamed of seeing it. It didn’t hold that magic for me — or so I thought.
But when my friend invited me to come along, I couldn’t say no.
Because for me, traveling is never just about the places — it’s about discovering parts of myself through the world.
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Expectations and Reality Collide
Through this trip, I didn’t just understand but felt what people mean when they say: Not everything is as it seems.
Until you stand somewhere with your own two feet, you’ll never really know whether a place or its culture will echo something inside you
Tips
🛫 If a place calls to you unexpectedly — trust it. Sometimes the cities we don’t plan for change us the most. If you’re curious, Kiwi.com can help you find a flight that fits what you didn’t even know you were ready for.
The First Breath at the Eiffel Tower
I had seen the Eiffel Tower a thousand times on screens. But the moment I saw it with my own eyes, my breath caught in my chest.
This thing I’d seen in photos and movies my whole life — suddenly, it was right there.
By day, it’s like a masterpiece by an architect whose name everyone knows.
By night, it’s something else entirely — shimmering with lights like a Christmas tree, alive and celebratory, like the city is throwing a party just because it can.
Paris feels like touching art, stepping into quiet luxury, and stumbling into a festival — all at once.
Tips
For famous sights like the Tower or museums, booking ahead saves you waiting in cold lines. Tiqets worked perfectly for me — more time to stand in awe, less time shivering.
A Simple Morning, A Perfect Cup
What stayed with me the most was one winter morning.
It was cold, but soft. I found a small café with a view of the Eiffel Tower — I didn’t plan it, I just wandered in, following my breath.
I sat there with the richest coffee and cream I’ve ever tasted.
That moment felt like everything people write about Paris — simple, beautiful, fleeting.
Tips
Wake up early, find a café, order slowly. The best moments in Paris are quiet, warm, and unplanned — trust them to find you.
A Sweet Bite of Memory
And the food… it deserves its own love letter.
For anyone who loves delicate flavors and sweet treats, Paris is heaven.
I swear I tasted a Napoleon cake here that was even better than my grandmother’s — and I say that with so much love and a playful apology to her.
Tips
Leave space for dessert. Let go of calories and guilt — try the pastries you can’t pronounce. Taste is half the reason Paris stays in your memory forever.
What Paris Left in Me
This city taught me something simple but true:
You can’t really know a place just by reading about it.
Paris is one of those places you have to feel with your own breath, your own heartbeat, your own quiet mornings by a window.
Tips
Write your own version of every city you visit. Keep a journal. Take a photo of your table by the window. The real Paris will always live in those small details.
If I could tell my past self something, it would be this:
Don’t believe every story you hear — write your own.
Paris wasn’t the fairy tale people painted for me.
It was better — and messier — and softer.
A quiet morning, a warm pastry, a breath held under twinkling lights.
I left with a heart wider than before — and crumbs of croissant on my scarf.
So if you ever wonder if a place is worth it… go.
Not because someone said so — but because maybe there’s a version of you waiting there, holding a cup of coffee by a window, smiling back at you.
With love, from a little café near the Tower —
Anastasia 🌿✨
✈I used Kiwi.com to find a flexible, affordable flight. You can mix transport options like flights + trains easily.
🛏 Give yourself room for surprises. Stay near the heart of the city — Trip.com makes it easy to find cozy spots where you can wake up inside the story, not outside it.
Going with a friend can turn just another trip into something deeper. A private ride from the airport (I used GetTransfer) made our arrival smooth and calm — so we could focus on each other, not logistics.
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