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There’s just something
about Paris – I cannot really put my finger on it, but believe me,
there’s something very special about the French capital. Some say it’s a
romantic place – some may visit Paris for the food and some even for the
history; but to me Paris is all about SOUL!
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My journey started
at Johannesburg International, when I boarded Qatar Airways via Doha
to Europe. After quite a few previous trips, I can honestly say that
I can really recommend Qatar – indeed a 5-Star airline. The food is
amazing and the cabin crew very friendly, helpful and professional.
And ladies, take note: most of the cabin crew members are male; and
if a dark, handsome Arabian man draws your attention, make sure you
fly Qatar Airways. You will not be disappointed!
On arrival in Paris, I was amazed at how many people actually make
use of the Metro. The public transport is trustworthy, on time and
not expensive at all. But be prepared to see a couple of strange
people on the trains - guard your heart and your pockets.
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If you are planning to
travel to Europe – make sure you spend a little more on accommodation
than what I did. The Aloha Hostel in Montparnasse has a wonderful
website and great reviews, but if you are a born and bred South African,
I believe your expectations might be a bit different. Sharing a 6 – bed
dorm room is fine, but the website confirmed a female-room only; and
when Todd arrived with his best friend Jeff, well, that was just a tad
bit too much for me to handle. Needless to say: I only spent that night
and the next day started to look for accommodation somewhere else. An
important note to consultants and future clients: NEVER recommend to
stay in a youth hostel; especially not in Paris!
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Well, beautiful
Paris compensated for the cold shower, dirty linen and small rented
towel at the hostel. My first stop – and I believe this is possibly
the first stop for every tourist traveling to Paris – was the Eiffel
Tower. This is indeed the signature of Paris: the first thing that
comes to mind when one thinks of the city of romance. My initial
thought when I observed the tower from a distance was that it’s
actually a bit ugly; but on closer inspection, it grew on me and now
I understand how this rustic steel structure can be the heart of a
city.
Paris has SO much to offer! Make sure you pay a visit to the Opera
House, get to the Notre Dame Cathedral, take a stroll down the Seine
River and sample some local cuisine. Better still, get yourself a
hop-on-hop-off ticket. It’s valid for two days and you can just hop
off at any one of the many tourist sited in Paris and when you have
explored and seen enough of that certain attraction. Just hop on
again and travel to the next. It’s a wonderful and quite inexpensive
way of soaking up Paris.
We all regret more the things that we did not do... than the things
that we have done, and my only regret, when thinking back at the
short time I have spent in Paris would be this: I travelled alone
and Paris, more than any other city in the world, should not be
explored in this way! |
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- Lizelle Mouton
(As consultant on
her last single Educational to Europe, before getting married in
October) |
