Our train arrived in Paris around 9:00 at night. By 10:00 we found the hostel we had booked online the night before, only to find that our reservation hadn’t gone through and they had no availability left. I was actually pretty pumped with this news--now we wouldn’t have to stay in this part of Paris, and instead, we could find a place in the centre of the city. Easy, right? Wrong. No matter what time of year you visit Paris, take my advice and book well in advance. Paris is packed. Finding a hostel or even a cheap hotel last minute is nearly impossible. Paris is no city to practice the art of spontaneity. We learned this the hard way. And so, while lovers were carelessly strolling along the Seine, my lover and I were trudging along with our heavy packs being turned away from hotel after hotel after hotel. One look at us poverty-travellers, and the hotel receptionist would flick us with his wrist (for real) and return his attention to the other guests. Never before in my life have I felt so homeless and so much like Mary and Joseph (minus the baby and donkey, of course). By midnight, we were ready to set up camp under Pond Neuf when we miraculously found a hostel with one last room available. This place may look like a hostel room to you; to us, it was the l'Hotel de Ville. And so began our time in Paris. 
Needless to say, it only went up from there. We did a ton of walking in Paris. We went on a free walking tour of the city and saw the sights and heard the stories. I even was so inspired with the sight of Notre Dame, that I read Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame while in Paris (a surprisingly great book); and James was so inspired with le francais that he really brushed up his French lingo--I think that photo says enough :) Because the Rugby World Cup was in full swing, it wasn’t hard to spot the Aussies or the Brits with their jerseys. We met a great Canadian couple from Ottawa under the Arc de Triumph and we exchanged advice and spots to see in the city. It’s amazing, a) how well Canadians advertise that flag on all bags, and b) how the sight of that flag can make your day. Man, we love our country...
...and, we love Paris. For all you out there that have yet to experience it, make sure you put Paris at the top of your list to visit one day. And just for safe measure, you might as well book your hotel today.
Cheers!
Needless to say, it only went up from there. We did a ton of walking in Paris. We went on a free walking tour of the city and saw the sights and heard the stories. I even was so inspired with the sight of Notre Dame, that I read Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame while in Paris (a surprisingly great book); and James was so inspired with le francais that he really brushed up his French lingo--I think that photo says enough :) Because the Rugby World Cup was in full swing, it wasn’t hard to spot the Aussies or the Brits with their jerseys. We met a great Canadian couple from Ottawa under the Arc de Triumph and we exchanged advice and spots to see in the city. It’s amazing, a) how well Canadians advertise that flag on all bags, and b) how the sight of that flag can make your day. Man, we love our country...
...and, we love Paris. For all you out there that have yet to experience it, make sure you put Paris at the top of your list to visit one day. And just for safe measure, you might as well book your hotel today.
Cheers!
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