Currently Dreaming: Paris
My mother always told me to go to Paris with somebody. She said that it is such a romantic place that deserves to be visited as a couple in love. I plan on going one day, but just because you're single, that shouldn't stop you from visiting this beautiful place. The four things I want to do are below: Catacomb tours, visiting Notre Dame, wandering the city and of course the ultra-touristy Louvre.
1. Catacomb Tours
Ever since I left Rome, the one thing I regretted was not pushing harder to do a catacomb tour. I think it is absolutely fascinating to wander around in such an ancient and respected site. The fact that burials were prohibited and the catacombs were the only way to lay the dead to rest for a little while, is so interesting to me. Rome has a selection of tours that you can take, but so does Paris.
2. Visit Notre Dame
Notre Dame has been on my wishlist since I was a little girl and watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Although a very sad story, the beauty of such a place captured my interest. I myself, unlike J, am a church and temple kind of person. I do not associate myself with a particular religion, but believe that if someone can believe in something so strongly and can pour so much love into something, it's worth visiting to feel that power and love yourself. Having been all over Central America and some of Europe as well as the Buddhist temples in Thailand, I love going and getting to experience that love.
3. Just wander
My favourite part about any new city is living like the locals do. I prefer to wander the city and discover things for myself instead of creating a checklist and making sure to hit every tourist hotspot. I want to go back and visit everywhere I've been before, and so I don't want to try and cram everything in all at once. That also defeats the purpose of a vacation in my mind.
In addition to avoiding crowd, wandering and exploring yourself allows opportunity to meet locals and see where their favourite places to go are. I can guarantee that their favourite coffeeshop is not the one the tourists are flocking to. Their coffeeshop likely has the best pastries, the best coffee and the best atmosphere.
4. Visit the Louvre
Apart from wanting to avoid the crowds and avoid the touristy spots, sometimes you need to see the sights. The Louvre is a spot that I think is such a beautiful structure, and the museum inside is just an additional wonder. My grandfather use to take me to museums when I was younger, and he has now passed along the want to go and learn more about other cultures, to see and experience art and to admire the beauty of the past.
What do you want to see when you go to Paris? Or do you have any suggestions as to where else we should go?