I’d heard all kinds of things about Paris over the years — and not all of them flattering. I’m a bit of a Paris enthusiast, and although my French is charmingly archaic, it’s still good enough to ask for croissants with dignity.
From the moment I arrived, the ambience of the city completely won me over. The architecture in the areas I visited was stunning and gave me exactly those “Paris vibes” I’d always imagined. A lot of the negative things I’d heard — rats, garbage everywhere — didn’t match what I actually saw. Is the city going through some sort of revival? I’ve seen plenty of videos showing messy tourist spots, so I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite.
I stayed five nights in a hotel right across from the Adidas Arena, not exactly close to the center. I took trains and the metro constantly, and even though the ride was around 35–40 minutes, everything worked smoothly. I never felt unsafe at any hour — maybe being Latin American has trained me well in danger radar.
I know I’m rambling, but the point is: despite the crowds, the occasional pickpocket, and the pushy vendors, I fell in love with Paris. It’s modern, definitely not the Paris of 80s movies, yet it refuses to lose its charm. Even with the vendors around, the Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro and the bridge is still magical. Montmartre was a highlight — absolutely beautiful, surprisingly not overcrowded, and with views that genuinely took my breath away.
In those five nights I walked endlessly and managed to see Versailles, the Louvre, the Panthéon, Notre-Dame, Les Invalides… even a tiny cheese museum on Île Saint-Louis. Everything impressed me. Now that I’ve checked off the most iconic spots, I can’t wait to return and discover the Parisian’s Paris — if that makes sense.
Here are some photos I took!