A Month in Europe Journal: Paris

• Back in Paris again after two years and a half, this time I come with the pure intention to travel. I found a very good deal for a return ticket to Paris and I didn't think very long to finally book one for me. It was actually a very impulsive decision, but until now, as I'm writing this in my cool airbnb apartment in Prague, I know I had made a very great decision. 

• I was sooo scared since a month before the departure day. "Will a month be too long?". "I will be alone the whole time, can I survive?" , "What if I can't navigate the cities well later since most people don't speak English???" I was close to resechedule my ticket, but since it was waaay too expensive, I couldn't do that. But, now, I'm beyond thankful that I still have another fifteen days here in Europe.

• I arrived in Paris safely in the afternoon and I went straight to my Airbnb apartment in St. Georges, which was only 10 minutes walk both to Lafeyette and Moulin Rouge (!!!) and the day was still cold I needed to put another sweater on. And Paris feels like an old friend, it was so good to be back. 
• The apartment I stayed in was the Parisian apartment I've always dreamt of. The classic Haussmanian building that has that majestic front gate and once you step inside the gate, there will be a square overlooking the residences, complete with the cobblestoned alley. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the security man and though he couldn't speak English, we talked with gestures and laughed together lol. 
• I was beyond tired after such a long flight I fell asleep once I touched the bed.

• First day in Paris, I explored the city all by myself. It was raining and cold, I decided to see Notre Dame again because I like this one better than Eiffel haha. There is just something so beautiful and magical with this old church and it was also because I wanted to go back to Shakespeare & Co again. Spent there for half an hour, but ended up not buying.
• I walked along Sorbonne area and stopped by Abbey Bookshop to get myself a copy of The Secret History, I was so happy to finally able getting myself one, BUT which one was the idiot to leave the book in the bus?????? Me.

• After hours of walking around Sorbonne and I couldn't find Merci, I decided to go back home. But mostly, to be honest, because I felt sad to be alone that day haha.
• The next day, I checked my Couchsurfing account and talked with this cool girl from Columbia , Alexa, who was also in town by herself. Decided to meet up at 11 in Montmartre, and we explored the city together. I was beyond happy meeting her. She was already so friendly in the beginning and we just talked a lot about everything.
• We talked about her journey in Central Europe for the past month as Paris was her final stop. It was so fun and we also talked about Muslim culture as she had no idea about most of things as I also learned about Columbian cultures and history. Alexa is my first Couchsurfing friend, she was so friendly and smart and open-minded and because of meeting her, I always want to meet another one from the community during this trip.

• We decided to do a Parisian picnic by the Eiffel Tower. I was soooo excited since I always wanted to do that!!! We grabbed baguettes, cheese ( a lot of them!), hummus, meat, some drinks and some other things from the local market and went straight to Champ de Mars because we were just so hungry.
• After lunch we went up to Arc du Triomphe but the weather was too bad. 

• The next day, we decided to spend the day together again as I was leaving for Rotterdam that night. This time the weather was super nice, we went for lunch in Jardin du Luxemburg. It was such a nice experience, everyone was out enjoying the sun. It always makes me so happy spending the time in the park. I know it's just a little thing, but isn't it that little thing that makes something special?
• While enjoying our little picnic, Alexa and I talked further about Muslim culture here. Until she asked me how to wear hijab and she wanted me to put her scarf on her head. I felt both suprised and a bit surprised, but she said she really wanted to try it. 
• The day before, I told her about how I was scared to wear hijab in Paris. This is Nerissa being honest. If you see the picture above, the one by the Eiffel Tower, I wore a winter hat because I was that scared to wear hijab since there was a shooting accident in the city two weeks ago. I told her about my worries, and that became the reason she was so interested in Muslim culture as she asked many things about the religion.

• Back in the park again, I put the hijab on her head and she said it was so pretty she liked it. We took a lot of selfies as I was also wearing one, and she suddenly said that she wanted to walk around the city while wearing it. I was a bit confused, is she really sure? So then we walked around for an hour with our hijab on!
• "Do you see, Nerissa? We're wearing this around and there is nobody looking at us! I know maybe you had this bad experience about people who stared at you badly just because you're wearing it, but not everyone behave that way."
• I was so glad meeting and spending the whole two days in Paris with Alexa. I know I must not have felt this way, being scared for what I wear, but she helped through this. I gained a lot more confidence and I'm sure that was the way He told me that I'm loved. Forever loved.
• Some of people may think I was too much, overthinking about my hijab. Maybe I was, but it was because I was only on my own this time. If only I'm traveling with someone else with me, I wouldn't be this scared. 
• But, again, the time I spent in Paris with Alexa was totally the highlight and I'll treasure it forever.

Month in Europe

My first week back in Europe again. I felt super insecure before coming back here because I thought,
"isn't a month too long?" but then nothing is too long when you're on a trip. Even six months would feel like just a blink of eye.

This is already my first weekend of this month and I'm already at Rotterdam right now. The life has been filled with so many surprises and I really like it. Waking up to way too many new things and I've been meeting a lot of cool people this past week. Had many to write here, but I'll do that later.

There's one thing I really wish from this trip that I will really use this opportunity very very wisely. I will make every single day counts and meet new people as many as I can.

Paris Bucket List

I've heard once about one saying that if you haven't been to Paris yet, though you have been to Amsterdam or Berlin or any other city - that means you have never been to Europe at all. Quite funny, but I think it's true somewhat. Well, afterall, this is the city of light. I'm an Angliophile and I've been to England for three times (considering the fact that I live in South East Asia and the ticket always costs a fortune), but I can say that strolling through Seine river is far more giving you that feels compared to strolling through the Thames river. But, Paris is not only about Seine, obviously. Or Eiffel Tower. In fact, it's waaay more than that.

The Witch in Paris

I found this magical building during my second walk to Notre-Dame and I wonder if a witch lives inside.

A middle-age-look-like witch, with white long hair and wearing beautiful lace dress. She's shy, a little bit moody, but she's really really nice and lovely. 

She would peek out from her window during days and found out that so many annoying tourists like me stealing pictures of her magical palace, but she could do nothing about it because she can not live with sunlight fall upon her. So, she let that happen as long as those people happy. 

Because she loves to see people smile. It makes her smile if she sees somebody else smiles.

After gazing down the people from her window, she usually just spend the day drinking a cup of hot tea and reading books of spells and myths. Oh, how she loves book!

Then later at night, she sneakily walk outside, get her broom with her and fly around Paris to give the city a little bit more magic, happiness and love.

The city should be more grateful to her, she's the reason why Paris has been called The City of Love.

On Paris

I can't explain how my life has been for the last one week, but it's been one of the greatest I could even dream of. Paris is indeed a beautiful, beautiful city.

I just realize that a week could really made me getting used to my surrounding and I let myself acted like a local (which sometimes seem too silly that I don't even speak their language). But, I finally broke that stereotype about how rude Parisians can be to a tourist who doesn't speak French;

For example, there was that day I was wandering all alone looking for my kind of heaven of earth in this planet earth which we all call The Shakespeare & Company bookstore. I didn't know that it is actually just right across the Notre-Dame, but I walked along The Seine and stopped dead around Saint-Martin and didn't know where to go anymore. So, I tried to read the map on the bus stop (Lesson 101: always bring your OWN map!) but I can't read that map, so I spent about 15 minutes thinking should I ask somebody or not.

I looked around and there were so many people walking here and there in a rush (Lesson 102: Parisians are always in a rush. But, Londoners too. Maybe it's just Indo people who walk like turtle. Brace yourself.) So, I was in doubt but I have to find this bookstore, then I spotted a guy. Jelas ganteng banget dan ngayal-ngayal sedikit kali aja nanti dari nanya arah jadi ngobrol terus jalan bareng terus kesengsem terus jatuh cinta terus menyusuri sungai Seine bareng terus yak ngayal aja terus. Anyway, Lesson 103: Lelaki-lelaki French itu different and uniquely super mega good-looking. So, finally, I asked a woman who I thought she would be okay if I ask away and I was totally right.

She smiled and she even took me to the holy bookstore (and we talked quite a lot during the way there) !!! :')

 

Shakespeare & Co is completely the real definition of heaven on earth. Oh Godness, who doesn't want to work here? With those endless stacks of old books, the piano upstairs, tall bookshelves and the stairs that you'll need to take the book at the uppershelves, not to forget mentioning the beautiful yet gergeous piles of new books and that you'll get that Shakespeare & Co stamps when you make a purchase. I just have to go back this friday.

(Lesson 104: this bookstore is just one-stone throw away from Notre-Dame, remember that. All you need is just walk across the bridge after that beautiful church and cross the road and you'll spot this heaven.)

Do believe me when I say Paris is one of the most romantic city on earth, because you see, I've been spending most of the time on my own; getting here and there with no companion whereas everyone around hand-in-hand with their loved ones and..... it made me somehow a bit..... melancholy.

Actually, pertamanya selow-selow, masih senyum-senyum lihat sekitar, semuanya terlihat bahagia dan I'm so happy too to be here and it's just me that I'm so happy to see a couple who asked me to take their picture with the Eiffel background satisfied with the one that I took. It made me smile and perasaan hangat aja gitu lihatnya.

But, you see, sometimes walking alone along The Seine all by yourself isn't a good idea. That place is too beautiful (much much more beautiful than walking along The Thames!) you just can't handle it. Aku juga mau kaliiii jalan menyusuri Seine bareng si dia. Mana dingin, kan mau juga bergandengan tangan. Pokoknya nanti kalo kesini lagi harus sama si dia... Yea cuhhh, senorak itu. But, that was all. The city makes you baper and all.

With love, yang lagi agak baper, 

Bonjour Paris!

 

I don't know how to begin this post, but, well... Here I am at one of the most beautiful, gorgeous and romantic city in the world! 

You know, what one the most important thing to note is that Paris is much much much more beautiful than you could possibly seen in the movies, tumblr, pinterest or any other sites you name it. Before I arrive here, I have known that Paris is a super-mega gorgeous city and I have expected that; but when I see the whole city with my own eyes, it's even more than I've ever expected. I was so in an awe and it finally came into my mind that this city is more beautiful than London (though I'm still and always be an angliophile at heart). I don't know how to explain it with some proper adjectives, but it's the building, the blocks, the surrounding, the languages and the weather that makes your heart shivers.

 

You see? The colour of the city was just as beautiful as that; vintage touch with pastel overlay. Wait, that's the filter. But, really, you have no idea. When I saw La Tour Eiffel in the first blink, I could hardy believe that I finally made it. Never I thought, even in my dream to have any chance coming here, plus living here for two weeks; but, again, I'm always so thankful for my parents who love sending me abroad.

The Eiffel Tower was such a beaut, she stands proud over there and never looks down. The most gorgeous man-made structure. I can't stop looking and taking pictures of her and all the pics turned out like these and it hits me that even an amateur like me could produce such a masterpiece.

 Then we headed to Notre-Dame and this one pretty cathedral was my favorite so far. I didn't get inside because there was already a long queue, so I thought I will come again no later than this week. I need to stop procastinating coming here and there since there'll be a huge regret at the end if I take any single moment for granted like I did when I was in London.

The third stop: Arc de Triomph.

So, I found it to be such a super-loooong walk from the Metro Station to that mega-grand fancy gate and walking along the Champ-Élysées reminded me of Oxford Street but in the bigger scale. I didn't expect it to be so grand it totally gave me such a goosebumps; because those typical Parisian buildings in blocks were something you cant stop looking at. I love London so so so much, but this city steals my heart at once (only for the surrounding, because a few part in the city and metro just smelled like pee! And London Tube wins over every underground in the entire world.) It's still my fourth day here, and I can't wait to find more beaut to treasure.