Although I had planned each of our three days in Paris, it was those unplanned moments that were our favorites.
Here are some of my reflections on our trip to Paris and a glimpse into why the unplanned may be what we really need.
Anthony Bourdain Was Right About Paris
I arrived in Paris with a Museum Pass, reservations, an itinerary, and a plan to squeeze every possible ounce out of three days.
Paris had other plans.
As it turns out, Anthony Bourdain tried to warn me.
Two of Bourdain’s main views when it came to Paris were:
- Avoid over-planning. In particular, standing in long lines at the major landmarks can spoil the Paris experience.
- Embrace simplicity when in Paris. He recommended wandering the streets, eating well, and enjoying moments over a glass of wine and some cheese.
He even said that he’d purposely eat at bad restaurants in Paris, because (and I am paraphrasing), bad French food is still better than food nearly anywhere else in the world.
My Initial Itinerary Was Over-Planned
My intentions were good.
Get the Paris Museum Pass and experience as much as we could in the short amount of time we had there.
Seems like a solid plan, right?
But that isn’t what Paris is best at.
Yes, Paris is full of landmarks, monuments, and museums. And they should be visited. But all in due time.
In my blog post about whether the Paris Museum Pass was worth it, I disclosed the realization we made that I think saved this trip. I am grateful we did.
Rushing through Paris is not the way to enjoyably experience this culturally rich city.
We Wasted Time Trying Not To Waste Time
When I look back, even with the Paris Museum Pass, we found ourselves in lines—waiting. And we had reservations!
This wasn’t like a Fast Pass at Disneyworld.
That wasn’t the only time wasted.
Finding a breakfast spot based on a TikTok influencer’s recommendation was a time consuming endeavor that led us through parts of Paris that you don’t see on any postcard.
And the reality was Paris has countless cafés and restaurants that would have given us an outstanding experience, likely minutes from where we were.
We forced the destination rather than letting it happen.
Then We Stopped Checking Boxes
It started with our decision to stop rushing from museum to museum and take some time to relax in Luxembourg Gardens.
The walk was so peaceful and away from crowds. A young couple saw me carrying my camera and asked if I could take their picture (with their camera). The young love on display was something Hallmark movies are made of. We sat by the pool and fountain, soaking in the setting sun as we watched the ducks—and some of the people sharing the park with us.
Slowing Down to Savour the Moments
On Sunday morning, we ventured to the Rue des Martyrs street market. It didn’t feel like a tourist attraction. Actually, anything but. It felt like neighbors going about their Sunday morning routine.
Locals were buying cut flowers, filling their bags with fresh produce and meat, and buying their daily bread. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. Old friends were catching up with each other. It had a wonderful neighborhood vibe.
I bought a baguette and cup of coffee and wandered the streets, tearing into the warm bread with delight.
As I took it all in, I romanticized the moment I was feeling. How long would it be until I could experience something like this on a daily basis?
Maybe I wasn’t really wishing I lived in Paris. Maybe I was wondering why it takes being somewhere else to give ourselves permission to live a little more slowly.
And A Special Moment I Almost Missed
We debated whether to go to another landmark or museum, or maybe do some more shopping at the Galeries Lafayette. Instead, we decided to walk from the Arc de Triomphe towards the Eiffel Tower.
The grounds surrounding the Eiffel Tower were crowded with what appeared to be schoolchildren on a field trip. Rather than put ourselves in the middle of those crowds, we walked around the outskirts to view the area from a distance.
As we walked around the Trocadéro, I looked up at the Eiffel Tower. A faint rainbow appeared over the landmark, growing in intensity as I fumbled to get a picture of this magnificent moment.
It didn’t last for long. But long enough for me to capture the moment.
I checked my itinerary for that day. “See rainbow over Eiffel Tower at 6:15 p.m.” wasn’t on the list.
These Experiences Weren’t Manufactured, They Were Allowed to Happen
What I remember about Paris wasn’t seeing the Mona Lisa or the Renoir Exhibit at the Musee D’Orsay.
It’s the memory of the sun setting behind the fountain at the Luxembourg Gardens. That sense of community I felt on Sunday morning at the Rue des Martyrs market. And witnessing the moment a rainbow appeared over the Eiffel Tower. Those are the stories I’ll forever tell.
We spend so much money and effort to travel across the world, determined to accomplish so much in a short amount of time, and yet we somehow forget to truly experience where we are.
Anthony Bourdain could not have been more right in describing how to experience Paris.
And next time, I will plan not to plan my days in Paris.
