The Curious Bewilderment of Travelling the World

Stepping out of Montparnasse Station into the glaring sunlight is akin to passing through a portal into another world, especially if you’ve spent the past three weeks living in the remote French countryside. All around there were people bustling, cars whizzing, and it was impossible not to get caught up in it all. It was lunchtime for most Parisians, and as I awkwardly decided I’d make my way from the train to the Eiffel Tower, they glided past me as if they weren’t even aware they were walking, Paris had already taken hold of me.
It was my first time in Paris, and while I’d come up with fantastically romantic notions in my mind, I hadn’t the slightest idea how to get from one end to another, not counting the fact that the only French word I knew was croissant. A common stereotype of Parisians is that they can be quite rude; however, on my three hour walk from Montparnasse to Notre Dame, I experienced some of the most helpful and understanding shopkeepers I could have imagined. I’m not sure many people would choose to walk around this enormous city with the Metro so close at hand, but why come to Paris if you spend all the time underground! Paris in mid-July is hot, it’s very hot, my light shoes were feeling flimsy and sticky, as if I was walking through mud and the soles wanted to stay on the ground, the air around me was thick, and my hair was getting bigger by the second, it was sweltering and the city was sparkling in the sun.
Sliding over the smooth cobblestones along the Place du Panthéon, my neck was craned in awe at the magnificent architecture, which perfectly fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had of Paris. The adventure continued, and before long I arrived at the Notre Dame Cathedral. It took my breath away, completely, and I stood in awe, craning my neck to spy the gargoyles perched proudly atop the masterpiece. One thing you should be keenly aware of when travelling through one of the most beautiful cities in Europe; if you’re aged between 12 and 15, you get free entry into almost every historical landmark, including Notre Dame. The entry fee was a little rich for my blood so I missed my opportunity to explore one of the most iconic buildings in Europe, finding out on the train home that the only thing it would have cost me was time.