Paris Disappointments
As those who know me are aware, I’ve never been able to like Paris. My first visit was during an Interrail trip, and I thought it wasn’t as great as it’s made out to be. I gave it a second chance due to a conference, but it didn’t work out again; our stars never aligned. I believe there’s a mutual share in whether it was Paris that didn’t endear itself to me or if I just couldn’t appreciate it.
Weather in Paris in Summer
My first visit was in August, and the second one was in July. During my first visit, we wore sweaters. For the second visit, I asked my host about the weather to be cautious; the response was “very nice, no rain,” so we didn’t bring an umbrella or warm clothes. But as soon as we arrived in the city, we were met with heavy rain, not just a drizzle but a real downpour 🙂 We thought it would pass, but it didn’t. Moreover, it was freezing, and we didn’t have a pocket to put our hands in; singing folk songs was far from our minds 🙂 Luckily, H&M had some winter products on sale, so we bought sweaters and scarves, layering on top of our sweaters; we were walking around like cabbage babies. Of course, we didn’t give up on exploring; after all, we weren’t in Paris every day 🙂
The City’s Crowds
I don’t know the population, and I’m not curious enough to research it, but the crowds on the metro are comparable to our own. The crowd has increased significantly due to the number of tourists. I think we saw Paris at its calmest while running in heavy rain.
Endless Walking
The city is so vast that even as someone who prefers walking long distances abroad, I gave up after my friends’ insistence. The weather made our walking experience miserable, forcing us to surrender to the crowded and complex metro system.
Paris Metro Stations
Many of you might have heard that the first perfume was created in France due to the city’s unpleasant smells. You can test this theory yourself when you get to the metro. Yes, it’s an old metro system, which might contribute to the smell, but knowing this doesn’t make the odor less noticeable.
Prices in Paris
Life is already not very cheap in Europe, and in Paris, you experience the high cost at almost every point. If Paris had been my first city, I might have thought Europe was too expensive and never gone again 🙂 Despite finding nice hostels for around 25 Euros everywhere during Interrail, hotel prices in Paris have skyrocketed, and hostels don’t look appealing.
Let’s say you solved the accommodation issue by renting a non-central Airbnb. What about food? At this point, you might say, “Nothing beats McDonald’s.” If you’re stubborn like us about trying different places, you might end up having only one meal. Although we were surprised to find a self-service place near the Louvre that was a bit more affordable.
I don’t think I need to mention the high cost of museums and tourist spots.
Eiffel Tower
Before discussing the tower itself, it’s worth mentioning the line to get to it. During the summer, the line is so long that you wait for hours, and while you’re waiting, a woman is changing her baby’s diaper on her husband’s back, and you become a weary warrior. So, is it worth the wait?
Climb to the top, and if the first level isn’t enough, try going to the next one. The result is disappointment. I should mention that I’ve seen it in the morning, at sunset, and in the evening. If you’re going to go up, I recommend going around sunset to see it in all its forms, but I think it’s a waste of both your time and money. Just take a photo outside, or if you’re someone who says you wouldn’t believe it until you see it yourself, a one-time visit won’t hurt 🙂
