On a flight from Rome to Paris, I sat next to a woman from Canada who had been an au pair for the last few months in Italy. Her playlist had Kanye West's In Paris on repeat. We compared photos from Italy as we anxiously waited to arrive. Upon arrival I navigated through the crowded and busy airport toward the also crowded subway. My hostel was located in the Montmartre district near the picturesque Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart), the white stone towers at 272 feet. Unfortunately the subway line to my hostel was under construction, and I had to take to the street with my two large travel bags and hoof it to the hostel. Lesson learned; pack a lot less than you think you need. I check into my hostel, the last one to check in, to a room with three other guys from Montreal. I met some backpackers in the lobby, and they invited me to sit on the steps of Sacre Coeur and drink wine. We talked of traveling and life as the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance.

The next day I woke to the smell of fresh croissants and baked goods filling the air. I took to the streets in the early morning as side shops in this touristy area slowly opened for business. Walk to the closest subway terminal and head towards the Louvre. The line for the Louvre was incredibly long but well worth the wait. I spent the day alone and wandering the monstrous sized museum. It could take days to fully explore this place. I sketched sculptures and paid visits to the most popular paintings. I fought the crowds for my glimpse of the Mona Lisa. The Louvre Art Museum is the most visited art museum in the world, hosting millions each year. I stayed in the museum until it closed, maybe even the last one to leave. It is so so amazing. I wandered the streets back to the hostel, got lost, and ended up climbing the hills of Montmartre into the red light district. Wandering the streets, I imagined what it would be like to be an artist walking these streets years ago. I spent the remainder of the night talking with the Canadians I met at the hostel.

The following day I headed with the group of Canadians to the Catacombs. The line was incredibly long and took a couple of hours. The Catacombs are a series of underground tunnels where the dead were buried or moved to. The tunnels are 20 meters below the ground. The remains of over six million are present. As we made our way down to the entrance, we could feel the chill in temperature and atmosphere. While really spooky and eerie, I was astonished by the size and layout of the tunnels below the city. The tunnels have been used for a variety of ways over years including mining and hiding for soldiers. The self guided tour took around 45 minutes. It was nice to return to the surface.

Following the Catacombs I explored around the Eiffel tower. Crossing a bridge, I was surprised to come across a statue of Thomas Jefferson. He spent 5 years in Paris following America’s Independence as the United States’ Minister to France. This helped build a strong relationship between to the two countries for the years to follow.

Later back and at the hostel, we headed out as a group for the my last night’s dinner. It was so funny to watch the French Canadians speak French that our waiter couldn't even understand. I pointed to the menu and used my very limited French. Being adventurous, I ordered escargots (snails) as an appetizer. I enjoyed a surisply good taste as I dug a small fork into the shell. Following dinner we got a few bottles of wine and sat underneath the Eiffel Tower listening to music. Tension did break out with the Canadians as they discussed the current Quebec situation, a hot topic at the time. Many wanted Quebec to have its independence from Canada. Many still do, but there had been a recent vote on a ballot in their elections. Besides this minor and entertaining hiccup (as the only American, I just played neutral) it was a perfect night to end my short trip in Paris.

My flight wasn't until the later afternoon the following day. So I made my way to a small cafe in the latin quarter and had French onion soup. I walked on a tour that explained a lot of the buildings in the neighboring area. Bullet holes remained in some from World War 2, while Paris was occupied by Germany. I remember learning that there is a French language council who determine new words yearly to help preserve the language. Many bridges look over the Seine River, including the spot that Jason Bourne jumped from in Bourne Identity.

I made my way to Notre Dame and climbed the spiraling stairs after waiting for what felt like an eternity as street performers begged for money. The gargoyles on the sides of the building create quite a presence. Made to keep rainwater from flowing down the walls and eroding the masonry, they also scared away evil spirits from the church. This may have also been a reminder to not skip attending church. Following Notre Dame, I rushed back to the hostel to grab my other bags and quickly made my way to the airport. Just in time, I caught my flight already thinking about coming back to this magical place. Now six years later, I am planning my next Paris excursion.