First time to Paris

His Take:

We’d planned out much of our trip before going. Choosing to go with an Airbnb over a hotel because we wanted a local experience. (If you’ve never used Airbnb giving it a try. www.airbnb.com/c/jordanq18 that referral code gets you 40 bucks off your first stay.) I’d been to Paris during the 2006 Fifa world cup for a few days. I couldn’t remember much about the city other than the good food and Eiffel tower.

So selecting an Arrondissement (a suburb) in Paris was left to our research. We’d wanted to be centrally located, but not to far from the airport. We stayed very close to the national assembly, right on the edge of the 5th and 6th Arrondissement. On the recommendation of this article and loved the location: https://youngadventuress.com/2013/02/paris-arrondissements-guide.html

It was my wife’s first time to Paris. We’d spent a few days after my conference in Porto Portugal and then took a flight out on a budget carrier to Paris. Now, I’m used to American airports. Once through security, you have a wide selection of shops and restaurants to sit at close to your gate.

In Europe they decided that the duty-free shops come first and that is about all you can expect in most airports. Before all the increased security it worked (I assume). Now however, you worry about getting through security. If you are like me you end up spending an hour or more inside the checkpoint, with only duty-free shops. Luckily for me I’d bought this neck pillow before the trip and slept to pass the time.

Once we landed in Paris at the CDG airport, we bought two passes for the metro. One pass to get around one the public transit (bus and subway) and one to get into Paris on the RER B train. After getting our bags and getting out of the baggage area we found tourist desk and bought both tickets. It’s a little confusing, but follow the signs down to where the trains depart. (someone did a good photo guide for it here: http://parisbytrain.com/paris-airport-terminal-2-train-photo-tour/ )

Expect to have multiple street performers and panhandlers on the train. The panhandlers walk by, handing out cards telling you about how destitute they are and then they walk back by a few minutes later collecting the card and looking at you for an uncomfortable amount of time unless you pay them to go away. Other than that it is a nice ride into Paris. We switched over to the subway at Gare du Nord. Which is where my wife got a little surprise…

“As I was following Jordan onto the train, the doors decided to close on my arms, I dropped my suitcase inside the train (fortunately with Jordan) and off they went as I stood on the platform.”

I think she was in shock, the look of terror on her face was something I won’t forget. So there I am yelling through the closed door. “Honey, just get on the next train. I’ll get off at the next stop and wait for you.” I’ve traveled a decent amount so this isn’t phasing me at all. I get off at the next stop and wait for the next train and when it arrives she doesn’t show up. I wait for another one and again she isn’t there.

Now I’m starting to worry a little. My wife is directionally challenged in new situations. I’m wondering if she went past the stop or if she is still back there freaking out. Luckily, I was able to walk the subway and get cell phone service while still being about to keep an eye on the tracks. Before we left I’d switched her over to my carrier of choice for international travel Google Fi. You pay the same rates for data as in the US, texts are free and phone calls are around 10 cents a minute. (Referral code if you want it is: https://g.co/fi/r/2UY46W if you use the code we both get 20 bucks off.)

Remember how I said she was in shock? Well, she never heard me say get on the next train. She thought I was going to circle back around and pick her up. That whole thing could have been a lot worse. We both learned a lesson, be prepared in case of emergencies. Have a plan!

We exited the subway by our Airbnb and in my wife’s words:

“For lunch, we found a little cafe and had pizza for our first meal in Paris. I find this irony very amusing. Jordan, not so much. The pizza was excellent.”

Ordering Pizza Ironically

I agree it was good, I didn’t see what was ironic about having pizza, still don’t. Remember how I said we went with an Airbnb to get a local vibe. Well we got it right off the bat as my wife explains it.

“We had to wait an extra hour sitting outside our Airbnb because the person sent to let us in had an accident. Then we went up and down 6 flights of stairs trying to find our room. A very concerned Frenchman in his boxers opened his door as I was trying the key. I assured him I wasn’t trying to pick the lock. After re-reading the instructions for the unit, we found the creepy, back staircase that murderers use that led us up 6 flights of old, winding wooden staircase to our very rustic abode. All was lightened when Jordan discovered the Thigh Master. Oh, and the view of the Eiffel Tower out the window.”

We ended up wandering down the street after getting settled to a small cafe. The food was excellent. I must say the cafe’s are one of my favorite things about Paris. Good food is around every corner. Ended the night watching the Eiffel tower sparkle from our small balcony.