After a quick breakfast(I found out that the granola bars I'd bought had deadly apples in them), I decided that the best way to familiarize myself with Paris would be to hike from one end of the city to the other. Luckily, it was early enough in the morning where hardly anyone other than locals were out and about, so I got to enjoy the amazing views of the river Seine without the hundreds of other obnoxious tourist lolling about with cameras and maps.
What was my first impression of Paris? It's New York in a pretty little package. Yes, Paris is an old city with thousand year old architecture and medium sized fancy buildings, but it is what it is. It's metro with all the graffiti and homeless people sprinkled about. It's also very familiar and it feels like home. I had been worried about how this place would treat me, being an American in a large EU city, but one step on to the sidewalk and I was walking like I owned the place. Head up, one foot in front of the other, look like you know who and where you are, and no one bothers you. Just like New York. The only dead giveaway is when I open my big mouth and try and speak like I'm French. Nope! Not gonna happen. I'm always immediately discovered as an American(think Brad Pitt speaking Italian in Inglorious Basterds) and it quickly goes from French to English. Nice try though.
Anyway, I have a week to discover all that this great city has to offer and I'm excited for it! And with that, I say adieu with the beautiful image of La dame de fer or as we know her, the Eiffel Tower.
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