In Amsterdam, it was easy to get around using the public transportation system. It made exploring the city much more convenient and more affordable. Since I’m from Long Island, I’ve grown up taking the Long Island Rail Road and using the subway whenever I go into the city, so using public transit in Amsterdam made me feel more like a local rather than a tourist. I’m hoping for a similar experience in Paris with the metro, trams, trains, and buses. I think public transportation is a great way to explore a city and get a sense of what daily life is like for the people who live there. It also opens up opportunities to travel beyond Paris and visit places in the countryside, like the castles. I’m excited to try it out over the next few weeks!
When I travel, I’m always chasing that feeling of awe, that moment when I stop and think, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this.” It’s one of the things I love most about exploring new places. I really hope to experience that same sense of wonder in Paris. I’m curious which specific sights, landmarks, or even unexpected moments will give me that feeling, whether it’s something iconic like the Eiffel Tower or something smaller and more hidden.
Outside of class, I’m really excited to see the Eiffel Tower, especially at night when it starts to sparkle. I’m also really into old castles like Versailles, and I hope my classmates and I can take some day trips out there. I actually went to Disneyland Paris yesterday, which was so cool! I’d definitely recommend it since they have a lot of rides that are different from the ones in the U.S. I also want to practice using my French, since I’ve been learning the language for 7 years now.
Disneyland Paris!
There are definitely a lot of sights in Paris that I plan to book in advance, like the Catacombs or tickets to the Musée d’Orsay. Along with those planned activities, I’d love to spend some time just wandering around the city, like shopping on new streets, or trying out different restaurants. I really enjoy exploring a new area by trying new food, so one of my goals is to try different types of foods at a bunch of different restaurants. I’m especially excited to step out of my comfort zone and try classic French foods like escargot or a croque monsieur.
After COVID, my family’s favorite Mexican restaurant closed. There weren’t many other places that served Mexican food in our town, so when it shut down, we didn’t really know where else to go. One day, though, I was really craving it, so I decided to take a chance and have my family try a random spot I found on Google. To our surprise, the food ended up being even better than our original place, and it’s now become a staple we visit all the time. I want to bring that same spirit of trying new restaurants and being open to surprises with me to Paris. Instead of researching every place in advance, I’d love to just wander and discover what’s around me.