So I woke up before my alarm (I set my alarm at 7am, I woke up at 6:45am) I slept for the entire day yesterday. I took the nap and then woke up at around 5? I think? And then I went back to sleep again. I set an alarm for 30 mins but I guess I must have slept through it and then woke up at 8pm. I was amazed by how bright it still was. It looked like it's only 5pm but no it's night. It's 8pm. I chilled for a bit on bed (the bed's so cosy and so comfy ugh) and then went out to get dinner. There is one Carrefour Extra nearby where I live so I walked there and bought a yogurt and salad. The salad was good but I think they put wasabi in there?
Anyways.
I ate my dinner and watched a bit of Family Guy (they have it here in French Netflix I am SCREAMING) and after only 1 episode I felt sleepy again so I called it a night and slept.
So yeah basically I wasted a really beautiful day yesterday and stayed home sleeping.
Jet lag is a very scary thing.
So today I had yogurt for breakfast. It's super delicious. So the first stop is Jardin du Luxembourg. It's a garden? With a nice building? It's a place to live built by one of the royals I just checked. I love how it's really chill there, with people jogging, walking their dogs, drawing and overall just enjoying life. I got there pretty early, so I was there before the crowds. It was amazing. The one thing I didn't like was that it's a muddy, stony, sandy ground which they didn't put cement on. Maybe they have their reasons but I just don't like it. Made my shoes all dirty. After that I strolled for a bit on the street and went to a nice little cafe to have Americano and Chocolate Noir cookie. Honestly, the Americano was the best I've ever had and the cookie was soft. I imagined that it'd be hard. It's delicious. Everything is delicious.
Hehe.
Then I went to Notre Dame. Okay, serious story, I couldn't possibly have made this up. So I was approached by the middle-aged gentleman (about 50? 60? I am horrible at telling age? He could be 30 for all I know) and asked me the time. So naturally I showed him the time on my phone (with the photo of me and my man as the lock screen, for safety purposes, serious) and then he thanked me. Asked me where I'm from and I told him Malaysia and he said I look like Japanese (if only I get 1 euro every time someone said that I'd be RICH HAHA, not necessary Japanese tho, Chinese (mainland Chinese cos surprise I am Chinese but Malaysian hah), and Korean too) so I said naaah I am Malaysia. And then he told me about his 7 weeks pregnant wife who's sleeping and then he just so happened to have an extra ticket to go inside the Notre Dame and wanted to offer me. And I am not stupid, never take free stuff from strangers, so I politely declined and said I'm not going inside (which I didn't plan to anyway) and that I have no time. So he walked away disappointed, but not before asking about my religion (which I heard as relation and I was super confused) and so I said I do not have one. I was clutching my bag with all my might throughout the entire conversation cos I was afraid he might have an accomplice that's waiting to pickpocket me or whatever. Being alone in a foreign country that you don't speak the language makes you super cautious and aware btw.
I wanted to go to the Holy Chapel next but then I couldn't make sense of the map (okay confession time, I am TERRIBLE at reading maps and my phone's GPS is wonky so it won't show my location) so I just walked following my instinct and I wandered to what I call the 'tourist street' where they sell souvenirs and overly expensive food. So I got a magnet (which I always do whenever I go to a new country) and then I went to the City Hall. I didn't plan to come here at first, but somehow I ended up here. It's really nice, and I saw a gigantic doggo and he bumped into me and I feel like my life's full of purpose again. So there's a strike going on in front of City Hall idk what for. I thought they're just tourists in tours but then they started banging and shaking on the City Hall's gate and climbing on it and then I realized.
It's a strike.
Run.
Then the police started to come and I just bailed. (Well I have to cos it ain't my business and I want to be safe) Lucky there's a Metro nearby so I used the Metro to go to Louvre. (btw if you're going to Paris and plan to travel around using the Metro, buy a 'carnet' which is 10 tickets at once, it saves you time and money, it can be used on the bus (it says there on the ticket but I'm not sure) and the RER) I started from inside the Louvre, where there are shops and stuff. In my head, I was thinking of getting in free since I was told I could with the student card. But the rather rude lady behind the counter said 'I SAID only European students' and I was like kay chill gurl here take my money. (it was 15 euros btw) So I went in and I went straight to find Mona Lisa, they are kind enough to put up signs directing people to her (cos I watched a documentary about this Chinese man spending so much time in the Louvre but still couldn't find Mona Lisa) and it was nice. That's all I can say. It's a painting, what do you want? And people were swarming there, and you can't get too close to it, it's fenced. It's the most precious thing in the museum I guess (like that 'pork' and 'cabbage' in Gu Gong, which is nothing special really. And it's tiny) I was planning that if I could get in free I'd just see Mona Lisa and ciao, but since I spent so much money, I'll stay and have fun snapchatting the paintings and statues. The place was HUGE and everything fascinates me. I like the Louvre better than Gu Gong tbh cos in Gu Gong it shows a lot of artefacts like broken vases and jade and such but in Louvre there are paintings and statues. Okay that's it but I really like the feeling to it. (Maybe there aren't swarms and swarms of loud Chinese tourists heh, they get on my nerves) Usually I would go to the ones with most people around it, which would mean that it's famous and maybe I've seen it before on TVs or books. Also I like the ceilings. I took lots of pics and I plan to do a collage of the ceilings of Louvre. In the end I didn't finish exploring the Louvre cos it's just too big and also confusing. I kept on looking for the word 'Sortie' which means exit and it's now my favourite word. (and also Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau, I just like how the Metro lady says it, like Sanam Pao in Bangkok, I have a thing for those public transport voices) Since everyone took pics of that famous pyramid when they're at the Louvre so of course I had to. And just went I'm about to go out, it started to rain.
I was so mad I wanted to punch the sky abnd everyone I see, mostly myself cos I used another bag and not my usual Anello which ALWAYS has an umbrella in it. So I was inside the Louvre pissed at myself, sitting on the floor looking at pictures (editing my selfies mostly) and then the rain stopped so I went out and took pics. It's really cute how everyone was posing with that 'holding the tip of the Louvre' pose. Like you could see rows and rows of people doing that. After I took my pics, I went to Tuileries Gardens, which is just near the Louvre, and I was mad cos again, they don't cement the ground and it just rained so it's muddy and sandy and gross. My shoes were ruined by that point. I could see Arc de Triomphe from the Garden, but I didn't go cos it looked like it's going to rain heavy. And from Tuilleries you can see Eiffel too. So I was really tired and I just wanted to go to some place and maybe sit down. I was desperate for a Metro so I could go wherever. I bought a sucre crepe. It was delicious. Lucky there's a Metro nearby so I went to the ultimate goal of coming to Paris.
Tour Eiffel.
So I took the Metro to idk what station. I am horrible at French Metro names. Initially, I wanted to go to the Dome Church but then I saw the Tour Eiffel sign and I just followed. It was such a long walk and I was mentally kicking myself cos at that point my legs were starting to cramp. I was following to American girls cos they obviously know where they're going. And then they gasped all of a sudden I just KNEW that we're there and et voila!
It's right there.
So I went to it. And I was,
Bored.
It was honestly so boring. It's just a stupid tower and it's only good for pictures. And that's it. And maybe if you have all the time in the world and also loads of money then you could go up but trust me I wouldn't. So I took my pictures, of course and then just stare at it. What is so romantic about this anyway? Why are people so in love with it I don't understand? Why are people romanticising a stupid tower? Honestly I wouldn't come back, unless it's with my family, cos it's seriously boring.
Then I decided to walk back to the Metro but then I used another road and got lost. Again, I am bad with maps and direction so when I say I am lost, I am REALLY lost. But it seems like I just walked to the front of the tower (idk why they have front and back I just don't know) The front is more happening, with tiny shops selling keychains and food, and also the Seine River. The Seine is not in my itinerary also so it's a nice surprise. I strolled along it, taking my sweet time enjoying the view and my croissant. It's so delicious omg. And then another dude came up to me and asked me if I speak French which I said no. And then he proceeded to guess what am I.
Chinese?
No.
Japanese?
No.
Korean?
No.
At that point, he was so confused and lost like he just ran out of Asians what is he going to do? So I told him Malaysia. And he was like 'oh right'. I don't think he knows what Malaysia is. Anyways he welcomed me to Paris and just took off. I like how everyone here assumes everyone speaks French. It's really cute (and a bit annoying and also nice.) So I continued my stroll and came to a monument set up from Princess Diana. Then I found my Metro but it's a line that's not to my home so I stared at the map for a full minute but I still can't find the name of the stop. Paris's metro map is so complicated I just can't. But then I just decide to wing it and eventually, I ended up at the line I'm familiar with and then took it. I wanted to go home since my leg was really hurting and I have difficulties walking already, but then I figured I haven't seen enough places so I stopped at Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau (haha) and then went out. I think I went to the Grand Palais? Or I just saw it and took a pic. Cos I was confused and tired so I didn't really bother checking. I went to a place with like exhibitions but I didn't buy a ticket cos why even bother. But then it started to rain so I just went back and come back to Daumesnil. I stopped at a bakery and bought croissants and eclair before going back, climbing 6 floors and plopped into bed. Took a long hot shower to relax my muscles and then applied Counterpain on my entire body to get rid of the soreness.
So overall it has been a nice day. I was nervous before going out, but I figure that if you looked like you kno what you're doing and also where you're going, you'll be fine. And I was really against the idea of selfie sticks in public, but if you're traveling alone, they can be your best friend. I don't trust people taking pics of me (what if they run away with my phone) so I just do it my own, unless it's someone I know. Wear comfy shoes cos mine gave my blisters (just cos I wanna look pretty) and beware of pickpockets (there's a lady in the Metro station nice enough to tell me this) and take care. Drink tap water. Drink water from the toilet. Better than spending 2 euro 90 on a bottle of water. Hell I might as well buy beer and get myself drunk.
This has been me, telling you my adventure. I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow and wish me lots of luck!
Ciao ciao,
Delilah
