BACKPACKING EUROPE: Paris And the City of Con Artists

The Eiffel Tower

Friday 17th April 2015

Ah, Paris (I pronounce it in the French way "Pah-ree"), the city of love where passion, romance, and enchantment are known to consume you... Was the exact opposite of how I felt upon our arrival here. Due to a lack of sleep, a two-hour train journey spent standing, and the shock of being thrust back into a bustling city, I dragged myself through the train station, throwing tantrums like a toddler.

Wandering around the station like two lost sheep, my boyfriend Jack and I tried to figure out our next move—or where to even begin, really. Parisian commuters rushed past us, zigzagging in all directions, and I struggled to focus; even the English language felt foreign. I don't know if it was just me, but I was convinced that the maps in France made no sense at all. A sign pointing to your destination would send you in one direction, only for you to end up upside down in a bin or straight into a wall... For us anyway. This was not Hogwarts, France—platform 9¾ does not exist.

I shot Jack evil looks and replied with one-word answers as if it were his fault we were lost. My patience wore thin, and the blisters on my feet grew more painful, so we decided to head to the information centre—something we probably should have done sooner. Bursting out of the Metro Station, I felt a brief rush of relief, only for it to evaporate the moment I realised how far away our hostel actually was. And to make matters worse, the underground metro, which was recommended by the information centre, was closed for maintenance... Typical! And of course, they hadn’t mentioned that back at the station, had they? Merci, mate. Fortunately, we spotted another line that seemed to go right to our destination, or so we thought. It felt like we were travelling for hours, the roads stretching on endlessly while the signposts and maps made no sense whatsoever. But after what felt like hours, we finally arrived at the hostel, and I was so relieved that I nearly cried... Very dramatic. All I needed now was a hot shower, my pyjamas, and a good night's sleep to recharge my batteries.

Padlocks and imprints left on any and every bridge in Paris

Saturday 18th April 2015

Waking up feeling slightly refreshed, I was finally ready to explore Paris and everything it had to offer.

As I stared up at the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I was awestruck by its height. Initially, I wasn’t overly impressed; after all, it’s just one big satellite, really. But there’s something incredibly special about seeing a world-famous monument in person, rather than just on a screen. Jack and I tilted our heads, carefully admiring the architecture and intricate details when we were interrupted by two women asking us to sign a petition for the "deaf and blind" association. After we signed our names, they quickly pivoted to asking for donations. Having encountered this ‘scam’ before in England, I thought, “Yeah right love, you’re only getting 1 Euro!” Jack, thinking along the same lines, handed over his only two Euro coin, assured by the woman that she would give him a Euro back. But as soon as he handed it over, she snatched it away and walked off in the opposite direction. Jack shouted after her for his Euro, and I couldn’t help but laugh! Our moment of awe and admiration for the Eiffel Tower vanished as quickly as they did.

As the sun fought its way through the clouds, warming Paris up, everything appeared more magical. Strolling along the River Seine on our way to the Notre-Dame, I found myself captivated by every building, every person, and every aspect of the Parisian lifestyle. The thrill of finally walking the streets of Paris swept over me, so much so that I got caught up in one of those ridiculous street games...

River Seine, Paris

I walked past a group of guys gathered around a "cup and ball" game, you know, the one where a ball is hidden under one of three cups, and you have to guess which cup it’s under as they’re shuffled around. Instead of cups, though, they were using small boxes. For some reason, I found myself fascinated by the game and the energy of the crowd—it was like being a moth drawn to a flame. I mocked the other "players" as they lost money by picking the wrong box, convinced they were all idiots and that I could show them how it’s done.

As I carefully watched the guy moving the boxes—my gaze fixed intently on one in particular—the crowd began to cheer me on, encouraging me to make my pick. Feeling pretty confident, I quickly pointed to the box I had my eye on, but before I could lift it, I needed to hand over some money. Digging into my bag for 10 Euros, the guy shouted that I had to bet 50 Euros to match his wager. Swelling with pride over my choice and thinking, "Yeah, I’ve got this one, mate," I handed over 50 Euros without a second thought.

As I lifted the box and stared at the empty surface beneath it, the huge grin on my face faded slowly... Surprise, surprise—there was no ball underneath. The crowd began to rush me away, urging me to move on, and I walked off feeling utterly confused. Just as I was trying to wrap my head around what had just happened, Jack interrupted my thoughts, exclaiming, "For f***'s sake, Daniela, why did you do that? It's a scam!"

For a brief moment, I thought to myself, “Yeah, whatever, you’re just saying that because I lost 50 Euros!” But as my happy bubble burst and my naivety was replaced by reality, I realised he was right. What a daft prat I was! Jack explained how the other "players" had tried to distract him with questions while he watched me. He tried to push his way toward me, shouting my name, but his voice was drowned out by those "players," who drowned him in false encouragement while shoving him back and shielding me from his view. I’m generally an optimistic person, so I just laughed it off. However, the moral of the story, kids, is this: don’t laugh at your boyfriend when he gets conned out of two Euros, because karma has a funny way of robbing you blind in return.

The official 'Love Lock Bridge' or 'Pont des Arts'

Luxembourg Gardens

As the day unfolded, my brain grew weary from absorbing every little detail of Paris. The Love Lock Bridge was pretty cool; I admired how couples, friends, and individuals had left a piece of themselves in this city, so it felt only natural for Jack and me to do the same.

Notre-Dame blew me away with the intricate details etched into its walls. I would have snapped a few pictures, but my camera battery had died, leaving me frustrated with only my mediocre iPhone camera to capture the moment. I learned that Notre-Dame took over 700 years to reach its current state, which was mind-blowing and I couldn’t stop thinking about all the generations that contributed to this magnificent work of art. A twinge of jealousy crept in as I longed to be part of something as majestic as this.

Luxembourg Gardens was quite impressive, adorned with statues, vibrant tulips, and well-preserved nature. We decided to have a little picnic there and chug a bottle of white wine straight from the bottle, as we completely forgot to buy plastic cups from the shop.

As Jack and I strolled through the park, I paused to admire the true artists of Paris, each one painting, drawing, or writing, trying to capture the garden's beauty in their own unique way. It stirred a twinge of sadness in me, wishing I could do the same in Coventry without fear of judgment. Unfortunately, my "hometown" was lacking in that kind of culture and genuine happiness.

French croissants are unmatched

Jack and I enjoying out cliche Paris moment

As the sun began to set, croissants transformed into French soup, and the wine morphed into... more wine, Jack and I sprawled out by the Eiffel Tower, eager to watch it light up—a moment I had always dreamed of experiencing. Unfortunately, we’d forgotten our coats, and the sunset felt like it was dragging on forever, so our romantic cliché in Paris was almost spoilt but when the Eiffel Tower finally lit up and came alive, it was mesmerising. The golden, bronze monument illuminated, casting a warm glow that perfectly complemented the city. I could now see why it was the most visited tourist spot in the world.

As we could no longer feel our feet, we decided to make our way back to the hostel, feeling pretty pleased with the experience. Turning back for one last look at the Tower, I was stunned— it began to glisten and sparkle! I couldn't believe how magical it was; I was surprised my camera could even keep up. Jack and I had no idea it did that, so the unexpected display took us completely by surprise, adding an extra layer of magic to an already unforgettable moment.

The Effiel Tower at sunset

That 'wow moment' you wish for in every place you visit

Wandering through the cobbled streets of Paris at night, breathing in the enchanting Parisian air, felt truly special. Despite the overcrowded bars and fully-booked restaurants nearby, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. Everything around us glimmered with magic, and I felt as if we were living in the 1920s as if we were characters in The Great Gatsby.

After a long day of sightseeing, we bid farewell to Paris as we finally arrived back at our hostel. I promised myself that I would return one day, but next time, I'd keep my hands firmly in my pockets and walk on the opposite side of the street, steering clear of those b******d con artists!