Try Avoiding the Lines

So, while I’m waiting in line for Sainte-Chapelle, which is immensely long and confusing, let me tell you what happened over the week.

The days go by pretty quickly, and even though I don’t do fully packed days, I see quite a bit! Unfortunately I had brought and put on exactly the wrong shoes, so during a walk through the covered passages I was a little less happy about the blisters that appeared on my feet. Completely done with the day that had actually only just begun, I went back home. Frustrated and actually quite tired, I plopped down on the couch, planning to stay for a while. Tomorrow is a new day.

With fresh blister plasters on my heels, I had looked up a walking tour that would take me through the neighbourhood of the Eiffel Tower. Of course you are not the only one with that idea, but if you walk past the tourists a bit, it is not that bad. And it’s quite nice and funny to see everyone doing the same thing. You make a picture in this spot? Ah, maybe I should too! I strolled around, marvelling at all the imposante buildings. I picked up lunch, a croque monsieur and a pain au chocolate, at the end of the walking tour, to enjoy it at Parc du Champ de Mars. Meal with a view!

I wanted to go the Louvre, so after doing research for the best times to go, namely on a Monday or Friday, because then the museum is open longer, I chose Friday at 16:00. When I arrived there, I thought my plan went up in smoke. Groups full of students poured through the entrance, but because I had already seen the Mona Lisa, I skipped that section and found my way to the apartments of Napoleon III, because it would be quieter there and a little less known. It certainly was quieter, but I don’t think it was much less known, it was still quite filled with people. But worth a quick look, and I leisurely walked on to wherever the museum would take me. I did pick up a map, but isn’t it much more fun to just walk somewhere random? So that’s exactly what I did, and on the second floor I encountered a lot less people, which meant I could wonder around looking at the gigantic paintings. I have discovered another benefit of travelling by yourself. Just put your headphones in and listen to your favourite music while you walk around a museum. Love it.

Finally, Paris had some sunshine and good temperatures! I packed my little bag with some snacks, ereader and sunglasses, and off I went to the park. And why not do some sightseeing at the same time, right? So I headed to Jardin du Luxembourg. Considering it was a Saturday and quite sunny, I wasn’t that overwhelmed with how busy it was. Yes, there were of course a lot of people, but it was super spread out, so it didn’t feel that crowded. After a little walk through the park, and obviously stopped at the most touristic spots, I sat down at one of the many benches and just chilled out in the sun, reading my book. Perfect way to spend your weekend, and I needed some good energy, for the next day, which was Sunday, which was yesterday, I had made myself an appointment to get a new tattoo. Sorry grandma.. But I have a new travelling buddy! For life, so we better go on some great adventures together. It didn’t take that long to get it done, but I decided to just go home and chill some more there, which was just lovely.

As I’m writing this, I have almost finished my day already, for the line at Sainte-Chapelle was quite okay in the end, and so worth it! Oh my God, that was pretty. I combined it with the Conciergerie, the former prison, so it was an educational experience. I got some lunch to go and enjoyed it along the Seine, having Pont Neuf as my view. How Parisian of me.