Paris, and Solo Travel

Bonjour from Paris! (every blog post entry from Paris ever starts with this phrase. bada-tss.)

So, ah....Paris. When you say  Paris, especially with a French lilt, people nod knowingly, whether they've been there or not.

Why, when I was in Paris, I scaled the Eiffel Tower with only a pick-axe.

 Paris is the penultimate destination of travel. Topping as the most visited city in the world, it has sites that are synonymous with France itself.  Eiffel Tower. Notre Dame. Arc d' Triomphe. Versailles. The Louvre. 

Such as the famous Le Selfie a'DiVinci. 

It's the city of Lights, Love, Art, History, and Culture. It's also a very big city. 

BEEP BEEP I WILL HIT YOU WITH  A POISSON JUST YOU WAIT

When you visit Paris for the first time, it's all about these not to be missed sites. Think about it, any conversation about the trip:

"Have you been to Paris?" 

"Yeah!"

"Did you see Versailles?"

"NOPE."

"....what?"

Is not what you are going to say.

I'm sure there's someone out there ready to prove they can do the off-beaten path of Paris in 2 days instead. And then write a top 10 Paris on Buzzfeed. Actually, it's probably on BF now.

Paris is Paris. What's more to be said? I personally think it is a city that is really discovered in return trips, or in the small moments that aren't related to the 'cross this off the list' experiences. The tourist sites are excellent, but they are, again, tourist sites.

And come with the fun that is being jam packed like sardines in a room. 

Visit Paris, and then plan on coming back to see the other sides, sayeth I. For example, do not miss the Catacombs (this is about 60/50 on a first time visit, dependant on your tolerance/time for this sort of thing). This is touristed, true, yet when I went, (with their new later hours) it was practically deserted. Well, except for the couple million human bones.

And there is nothing quite like walking the Catacombs by yourself. At night. Alone. I have so many nightmare-inducing photos. It's great.

Which leads me to a topic I'd like to discuss in relation to scary things. Solo Travel. It's interesting how others view travelling by oneself- at least, it is to me. I'm so used to it, I forget for some people, the idea of going anywhere alone is frightening. Kinda like:

This terrifying picture. Enjoy.

It's always put as a question to me when I travel alone.  While on a D-day tour in Normandy, it came up, (it's the icebreaker) by an older couple.  And when I replied to the inquiry that yes, I was travelling alone, I got a familiar response:

"You're brave!"

Brave?

I'd like to gently deconstruct this, as it's a common adjective I get.  And while it is a nice gesture, it is just not true.

Brave: Literal Definition.

• ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. 
• people who are ready to face and endure danger or pain. 
• endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear.

Facing danger and pain? From travel?

What kind of travel are you referring to, I should say.

To me, being brave is acting with courage under circumstances that have a life or death risk. Catacombs? Not very risky. Going alone through Europe? Less so. Now dragging over 100lbs of soaked equipment, trying to scramble you and your friend up a turbulent beach, while being actively shot at? 

Memorial at Omaha Beach.

I'm not brave, folks. I reserve the term brave for those who demonstrate fearless courage in mortal circumstances.

I am, simply, travelling. 

Why do I travel solo? To sum a lengthy response, I learned a long time ago that waiting for others, most of the time, isn't a great plan. Either they can go, or they can't. If yes, great. If they can't, or don't want to, don't bother. Because you are wasting valuable time where you could be going, doing, seeing.

Like missing out on the opportunity to horrify passing tourists by eating escargots. 

How isolationist of me. 

We as a country eventually dropped isolationism. For the better. Well, opinions, you know.

This isn't because I don't like travelling with others. In fact, I do enjoy it.  I've just been in more circumstances that necessitate travelling alone, so instead of saying, '#$^& it, I won't go alone" I just go.

Kinda like this guy just had to go to the island of Elba.

Travelling with others is the way most people travel. Because it is fun. To those readers who have travelled with me, thanks for those fun trips. (Want to come on another one?) I do like to travel with friends and family. Because there's someone to enjoy stuff with.To share experiences with. And to laugh with when it's all said and done. I'm also foreshadowing here. You know who you are.

I mean, the French revolution wasn't a one-man thing, y'know.

What I'm trying to say it's not bravery going solo. It's a choice, and a possible one, too. No one can get time off to go to Paris? You can do it. You can get on the plane, meet all sorts of nice people, and see everything you want to see. You're also more approachable to others who want to meet you, and they do want to help.

 

IM TRYING TO BE APPROACHABLE, WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME, JEEZE 

I met some great locals in a cafe that were more than happy to chat with me whilst sitting alone. They then went ahead and made me a delicious crepe while talking about their lives in Paris, and for the next few days included me in their moments of daily life when I returned. That's the small experiences I mentioned earlier that make Paris. I'd like to come back and have more of those. 

I know I didn't see it all. I scratched at the mere surface of Paris, but what I did see, I enjoyed. I crossed most of the big things off of Paris. So success. Just remember: Travelling solo doesn't require bravery. All it requires is a choice.

 As mentioned earlier, I visited Normandy, (which is a bit far from Paris, but doable. Sleep on the early morning train.) I'd like to share some (bigger sized) pictures from it to close this post, considering I talked a lot about bravery. Like Ypres-Salient, this was a powerful place; the pictures speak for themselves. Now these were brave, brave men. 

Omaha beach. 

"...(for those) who gave their lives so the people of France, Belgium, and Holland might live once again in freedom and peace." -inscripted on a monument for the National Guard  at Normandy.

Here's to bravery, and solo travel. I'll catch you all in Switzerland.