YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF PARIS
But …
you can’t take Paris out of the girl
Who am I? And why am I doing this?
Good question …
I am a self confessed Francophile and little travel bug at heart, who spends one month during Christmas time in Paris each year.
I enjoy sharing my tips, adventures and photography.
Of course, nothing is ever that simple and there is always a back story…
At the age of 21, I took myself on my first overseas adventure with not much more than a backpack and a walkman and explored Europe for 2 years. Not that I actually ‘backpacked’, but I did have a backpack. Those two years of self discovery and travel was the catalyst which inspired my passion for travel, I got the bug. The travel bug.
Later years, slightly more mature, my desire to immerse myself into different cultures took me to such places as; Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Africa, Egypt, Swaziland and more but something always pulled me back to Paris.
When I wasn’t travelling, I read every travel narrative I could lay my hands on.
Envious, yet inspired and swept away by other traveller’s stories, I was a girl who dreamed of visiting Paris once a year, or anywhere for that matter. Just to stay put in one exotic place, explore, live and immerse.
As the saying goes . . .
‘be careful what you wish for’
Initially my blog started out as a therapeutic and cathartic way of expressing myself and giving me a purpose as the result of a devastating marriage break up. Six months had marched on, but I hadn’t.
Coerced into escaping my native Australia and leaving my pain behind, my friends and colleagues decided a visit to my favourite city of Paris would be the best medicine.
Challenges faced me. I was anxious that I would simply be in another city with my grief trailing behind me, like an unwanted travelling companion. I also needed to learn to discover a new me and a new Paris. Not the Paris I had shared with others, but my own Paris.
Within a month after the coercion, resembling a tearful broken rag doll, I arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport very early one Christmas morning, in Paris.
Perhaps as fate would have it, my luggage was lost for two weeks and I had nothing else to do but explore the deserted, snow covered streets of Paris.
Alone and lonely, with no idea of what I was doing and no one to talk to, I started to tell the world what I was seeing and experiencing, via my new friend, the blog.
Now, each Christmas, a much happier and superstitious me finds myself undertaking my annual ritual of standing on Point Zero in front of the Notre Dame and secretly thanking Paris for granting me my wish to return.
Years ago I thought I knew Paris. However as I explore the wide boulevards, the narrow cobbled streets and every nook and cranny, I realise, there is so much more to be discovered in the city of love and light.
I am one in 42 million who visit Paris. Therefore it is no surprise to learn that each year, I know of a number of people who are planning a visit.
It seems I have become the ‘go to girl’ for my tips, secrets, information on where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Paris.
Instead of spending my weekends writing up personal emails containing tips, links and restaurant recommendations – I improved my blog, secured my own domain name – and here I am, sharing my tips.
Nothing fancy, no fees, no advertising links, no scams – just a little travel bug – sharing her stuff in the hope that it may be useful to someone like me. Someone who is searching for information, wants to be inspired, or someone who wants to dream.
Once upon a time ago I was a girl who dreamed of visiting Paris once a year. Now I do.
A Paris research junkie I have become, as I call myself.
Each year, I find a concert, exhibition, play, museum, restaurant, cafe or off the beaten path place to explore – and I share it here.
Everything on my site, is something I have experienced myself. I do not review or recommend by hearsay. I recommend by my experience of the given institution, whether it be a museum, cafe, cooking school or experience and don’t receive any kick backs, monetary gain or indulge in advertising clicks bait.
You are free to wander around, gather information and take advantage of my experience and travels without any pop ups and advertising.
Please use my search box, hopefully you will find what you are looking for. It not, leave a comment and I will try to answer you on the best of my knowledge.
Well, that was a bit long winded and if you got this far – I congratulate you.
Now, get going, get to Paris – stop reading ‘about me’, book your flight – start planning which museums you want to visit, where you are going to eat, shop and explore. Feel free to use my tips, hopefully you will find my site as useful as I have found it cathartic, so we all win!
Feedback keeps me inspired and encourages me to continue to share, otherwise I feel this is all for nothing. If you find my website helpful, please thank me by leaving a comment or following me on facebook, where you will find daily photos, tips and anecdotes.
I would love to know if my tips were useful or otherwise – it will help me and inspire fellow readers. Tell us about your adventures in Paris and let us know your tips.
happy travels, bon voyage and I hope you find your Paris.
Paris Adèle
Follow me on Instagram @missparisadele
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