It's my first time traveling solo. I had no illusions about it - I knew I had to be alert, cautious, careful and guarded. But it didn't mean I had to shut everyone out, which turned out to be a fantastic trait, as I will go on into later.
Air France is a wonderful airline. My ticket was $1.4k so I didn't expect much of it. My general lack of research (not proud of it lol) meant I had no idea Air France was considered a mid-range airline, not budget as I thought. I booked it four months in advance so maybe that's why I got it on the cheap.
I knew I was headed for a 6am landing so I tried to fall asleep but Air France served a meal before take off (I didn't know I paid for this LOL lucky me) and I couldn't sleep after eating.
Oh my god food on a plane is the best thing.
I couldn't sleep and they had such a huge variety of random crap to watch that I wound up finishing their comforting Modern Family episodes and Tarantino's lackluster Inglorious Bastards.
I kept going to the washroom. I was uncomfortable and sore throughout the long flight. Because of my multiple trips out, I kept dropping my things, so much so that I woke up the person next to me (by accident I AM SORRY) and we started chatting!
She was heading to Paris too, but unintentionally alone. She originally had someone to meet there but the situation soured and she's making the best of it. We made plans to see the Eiffel Tower together. I fell quickly asleep after.
Woke up to another meal! I definitely do not remember paying for them but sob it was so good. How better to wake up to the idea of Paris than with a croissant and an oddly delicious omelette? Nothing beats food on a long flight.
In a while, we touched down.
Paris was 11 degrees.
Me and Ping kinda stared at each other in disbelief. Her jacket would disintegrate in a gust. Mine was thick but I changed into a tiny dress that fully exposed my legs. We were fucked lol.
Anyway, we landed and found our way through customs. The Parisian immigrants were kind. I breezed through it and then together, we went to get her luggage and SIM cards.
Within Terminal 2D, we managed to locate a Relay store. They had two SIM cards, one for just within France £34.99 and one for Europe £39.99. I got the former and she got the latter. Set up took 2 minutes with the lovely, English-speaking shop assistant and we were good to go!
Paris' system is much like Singapore.
There is a direct subway from CDG that connects downwards into town. To access that, we had to buy transportation tickets. The metro offered an unlimited day pass for £23.50. Thinking back now, this was a shit deal LOL I went to only 4 stations max. Paris prices are murder.
At the subway, I met an interesting couple of travellers. They was a Chinese pair, a woman in her 40s and her 80s grandma. They were looking to get to St Michel Notre-Dame. It was where I was going (en route to Eiffel Tower) so I asked if they'd like to join me in the coming train and they did!
They took such lovely photos :')
The train ride wasn't very scenic. A lot of the Paris parts seem undeveloped, especially for place so near the airport. It's mostly rural buildings and low-storey apartments and unattended fields. It kinda felt like Indonesia.
But their subway was incredibly efficient. Before I knew it, I was at St Michels Notre-Dame (the subway's announcements are quite unclear so you have to stay alert and watch the board) and I parted ways with Ping, who wanted to drop off her luggage at her Airbnb first.
The Chinese couple I met followed me here. They didn't know how to get to certain routes and we figured it out together. I tried to help the grandma carry her suitcase but she was surprisingly resistant LOL, she refused to trouble me and kept smiling.
I saw a two-storied subway and I was so excited, I took photos at the foot of the connecting stairs. What why can't I.
The woman and I started chatting. She explained that she and her mum have been to a lot of places. From San Francisco to France to Hong Kong, they were seasoned travelers.
I thought back about how I thought they were first-timers and how I offered help even though they probably knew their shit better than me my God so embarrassing. But she was easygoing and insisted it's always nice to meet a fellow Chinese traveler.
We parted ways at St Michels Notre-Dame and I headed for a line switch.
This ridiculous metro attendant at CDG initially told me to take a longass, unnecessarily extended route to the Eiffel Tower. The map eventually looked like our Singapore map so I re-evaluated and found a short cut. By now, I was hungry and desperate for the tower and so I decided to take a chance on myself.
AND I DID IT!
My immediate view from Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel station:
I was shameless. No awkwardness was too bad for a photo.
I would bear one minute of all-round judgement for a picture I could keep for years to come. I didn't bother to keep my selfie stick after a while and swung it around like it was an extended arm.
I followed the tower and eventually got to the base.
I was honestly very impressed at first glance. It was a hulking, intimidating structure. This tower is the face of Paris. I have seen it so many times in the movies but being here now, I got to see it from the base, an entirely fresh perspective.
Entrance was free but to access the top of the tower was £17.
Bought two tickets for Ping and myself.
I actually got very pissed here because she told me she was 15 minutes away initially, but she wound up almost 1.5 hours late. I waited a full hour for her before deciding to fuck it and head up alone.
But not before taking some photos lol.
The scariest part is the lift ascension.
The elevator was creaky and loud. The higher it got, the more my hairs started to stand. If Gabriel was here, I would be digging my nails into his arm, which is why it's for the best he wasn't hahah I dug them into my own instead.
The views were alright.
I've outgrown my hobby of sightseeing so I couldn't stay entertained here much too long. I would do yoga here if they'd let me lol. So anyway, I took my mandatory shots and left.
If I had to redo it, I probably would go to an opposite building and photograph myself with the Eiffel Tower in the background instead. I mean, the experience was fine yes, but it didn't offer for a great view of the actual tower, since you're in it, only a sprawling view of the city.
I got to the Eiffel Tower from CDG in about half an hour and spent another hour sightseeing, so I still had plenty of time to kill. Briefly considered Louvre but decided to slot that for my return layover. Headed back to St Michels Notre-Dame instead
Ping was running late so I slowly explored the area.
It was an old, tasteful estate. The buildings were old and grand and beautiful. It is the France in postcards. I didn't know the Notre-Dame cathedral was here - I read the subway sign but didn't process it lol - so I had some fantastic shots here.
She reached after a while and we settled for a little cafe just along the walkway to the cathedral.
My first, and only, meal in Paris was slightly disappointing. It felt like Saveur. To be fair, it was my bad for not choosing a more local cafe. But I couldn't tell, and this one had the most crowd! I did the best I could :(
We chatted about her upcoming plans and mine and she picked up the tab - see I told you I'm the luckiest traveler alive - despite me offering to repeatedly. We then headed back to the cathedral for a few shots with it and then parted ways again.
Okay here on, it gets depressing for me.
I got lost in the airport. I was supposed to go to Terminal 2E but I don't know why my mind kept screaming Terminal 2D and I got myself trapped inside the boarding area and briefly considered illegally climbing out till I followed a couple of Americans to a exit sign that I missed.
Mine was a connecting flight so I didn't know if I had to check in the counter. I tried to queue for a bit but the queue was so atrocious. My flight could have flown thrice to New York and back by the time I reached.
I decided to wing it and head to the boarding area without checking in and lo and behold, nailed it!
My flight switched gates right after I settled down comfortably to wait, all my electronics in order and properly charged. I was mad grumpy when I headed to the new gate waiting area. Every single port there was malfunctioning so I just sat down blankly and watched the live soccer game on the tv.
I was still inwardly fuming from all the stupid experiences when suddenly, the man in front of me and a man beside me jumped up simultaneously, yelling GOOOOOAL! I woke the fuck up from my half-slumber lol. After that my mood lifted immensely hahah.
Their energy was infectious. The second goal was scored by the same man, and this time, cheers erupted from all the gates. My mood skyrocketed hahah fuck my 15% battery phone, France was winning! I am in the winning team's airport! Yay!
Boarded in a bit and settled into my seat waiting for my meals heh heh. Air France you have pampered me senseless. I didn't take much photos here because my seat was between three men and I didn't want to seem that vain so no photos of anything.
The man next to me didn't sleep a wink throughout the flight, so we got to chatting.
He works for AIA and they send him around the globe a lot. He shared with me all these photos of the great places he's been. We touched down New York in a bit and he offered to send me to my Airbnb. I was initially pretty scared hahah but I took the offer and I AM SO GLAD I DID!
JFK wasn't impressive. It was a sterile airport, much like Paris'. There was a SIM card booth at the arrivals hall. I paid USD$79 for a Ultra.me card that gave me unlimited data, calls and smses. I feel like I got ripped but oh well 4G IS LOVE, 4G IS LIFE.
We headed up the sky tran and alighted at the station where he packed his car.
There was this 'heated seat' button on his dashboard and I was so intrigued, he let me experience it. He pressed it and minutes later, my ass started warming up LOL it was the funniest thing. I dozed off a little and he blamed it on the comfy seat so he switched it off hahah.
He was the kindest man. He dropped me off and didn't want to leave till my host came but I insisted I was okay and he finally left, after giving me his number and urging me to call if anything goes wrong.
:') I am such a lucky girl.
My host never came. I snuck into the building along with some folks entering and then snuck in again through the hallway before finally begging to be let in at the door. This 'ladies loft' has semi-military grade security.
I don't think I even unpacked. Passed out within minutes.
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