After almost 16 hours of flying from Manila-Doha-Paris, I saw a glimpse of the French Alps. I took a photo of the famous snow-covered alps while thinking to myself that my life in France was about to begin!
view from the plane - The French Alps
As the plane landed Charles de Gaulle airport, I felt my heart beat fast with nervous excitement. I didn’t have any problems with the airport, immigration, and customs. Everything went satin smooth! Am I dreaming and is it even possible to have it all: career, love, good food, fashion, and the Eiffel Tower! This is my boyfriend and I’s second trip outside the Philippines.
It’s strange how you imagine yourself in a foreign place and when you’re finally there, it just feels so normal. The sun and the sky are still the same. The air you breathe – maybe fresher, but it’s the same! What the heck was I looking for again? Oh yes, the Eiffel Tower. Anyway, Paris is great, but it was too crowded. And expensive. And most people are rude. Not a smile in sight!
Lugging behind almost 150 kilos of baggage behind us was also annoying. We were so cheap because airport taxis cost like gold! From the airport, we took a bus to Gare de L’Est and tried to find Rue de Chateau d’Eau. After maybe 2 hours of finding the hotel 3 seasons, all the excitement I had in me before was long gone due to exhaustion. My boyfriend was shouting all kinds of curses in English and French! He had to run from Gare de l’Est to the other street just to find a map that did not want to be found! There was one lady though, who noticed me with all the luggage almost eating me and spoketo me in French. I answered back in rusty French, but she understood me! Thank you Alliance Francaise de Manille for all those lessons!
Anyway, the hotel was terrible and it was around 80 euros per night. It was very small, the wallpaper was peeling, the bathroom was uncomfortable, and the elevator fits two people and one luggage. 80 euros spent in Manila is worth it compared to this hell hole. I won’t complain anymore. I need to stop converting money!
After resting for an hour, we began to explore the city and I discovered kebab. Cheap! And I saw the Champs-Elysees. We did not explore all in one day coz my legs felt like a ton of bricks from exhaustion and all that walking. We hit the bed at 20H30. The sun was still up. Super, but it was good to sleep for 12 hours!
Streets of Paris City
Little Streets of Paris
Arc de Triomphe
Champs Elysees
Paris
Opera House
