Sip a café crème in a sun-dappled Parisian square, then wander lavender fields in Provence or scale the snow-dusted Alps. From rustic village markets serving gooey Camembert to the shimmering Riviera coastline, France is a feast for all senses.
Paris, October 2024. It's a city of contrasts in the most literal sense.
Paris is called the city of romance, and that's absolutely true. But with equal justification you could call it the city of homelessness, litter, and the occasional unpleasant "surprise" on the pavement, sadly, also true. Brace yourself for both versions of Paris.
The food struck me as overrated, at least unless you're willing to spend a small fortune on it. Hotels are the same story - either you pay a serious amount, or you risk ending up in a cramped, worn-out room for a price that makes no sense.
And yet, the sheer fact of being in this city of romance, art, and history outweighs the downsides. There's no point describing the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or the Arc de Triomphe — everything has already been said about them. The real point is something else - you simply step outside and find yourself inside a postcard. That feeling is enough to forgive the city a lot.
Who I'd recommend it to: come to Paris for Paris itself, its atmosphere, history, and spirit. Set your expectations that way, don't count on culinary or hotel paradise, and the trip will be unforgettable.