I had always dreamed of going to Paris. Every time I saw it on TV or in movie, I fell a little bit more in love with the city. I was intrigued by the sophistication and glamour. Every inch of Paris seemed so full of history, charm, and an unattainable beauty. Plus, as an Audrey Hepburn fanatic, I knew that I simply had to visit the city she so adored.
A few years ago, I finally got my chance. Sort of. Let me explain…. my family and I were visiting London, England (as we tend to do). On this particular trip, it was decided that we would spend a few extra days away and go on to Paris, France. Imagine my joy! Finally, I would get to visit one of the most beautiful and talked about cities in the entire world.
However, things didn’t work out exactly as planned. You see, my family is a Disney family. We love anything and everything Disney. And that is how I wound up spending two days at Disney World Paris, with just a mere 6 hours to see the rest of the city. There wasn’t a moment to waste. Somehow, I had to cram my entire list of things I wanted to see and do into an afternoon.
We started by taking their subway to the heart of Paris. This in itself was an interesting experience, as I cannot speak a word of French. Thankfully, my dad picked up the slack on that one! There were so many things that we wanted to go to. However, I was determined to get to the Eiffel Tour if it killed me. So, we started a ways back and walked through some of the cities most historic and interesting neighbourhoods.
It was pouring rain as we wandered through Paris that day. I was cold, wet, and desperately trying not to feel miserable. This was not what I had envisioned all those years ago. Surely, Audrey Hepburn had experienced the city in a totally different way! But we kept on trekking, stopping to look at old buildings, museums, and of course, the Notre Dame Cathedral. Sadly, we rarely stopped to just look and enjoy the atmosphere of the city – we were on a mission.
Just before we reached the Eiffel Tour, my legs hurt from walking so far and so fast. I was ready to head back to the hotel and lick my wounds. That is, until I saw it. Right there in front of me was one of the most iconic images in all the world. Yes, I was at the Eiffel Tour. Some people may say it’s a tourist trap, but I say it’s beautiful. I was in complete and total awe of that moment – and I still am today.
My visit to the city of Paris may have brief, but it was certainly memorable. I hope to return one day and experience the city the way I always dreamed of. Until then, I’ll always have the Eiffel Tour.
