We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. For more information please read our affiliate disclosure Reason #1 To Travel: Expand Your Horizons “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain When planning my first European vacation, France was both a prerequisite and a point of dread. Beginning in London, Paris was a natural and convenient path to Germany. Also, it seemed sacrilegious to not include Paris in a European tour. This was my first experience in Europe, as well as my honeymoon, and Paris is touted as one of the most romantic cities in the world. However, my more experienced and worldly friends cautioned against France. “They HATE Americans” and “the French are rude” was uttered so many times that I found myself dreading the experience. What I found in Paris was quite different from the anti-Bush (this was 2010), anti-American environment I’d been promised (or threatened with). In every cafe, shop, or random conversation with locals, the reception could not have been more friendly. Parisians regularly asked where we were from. When they discovered it was the US, responses ranged from “I LOVE America” to “George Bush- he’s a cowboy…take that Hussein!” (credit to unknown crepe stand owner). In fact, one evening as my wife and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine in a small cafe, a couple who worked in a local theater got up to introduce themselves to us. The woman spoke English and translated for her partner. He wanted to share with the American couple all of his favorite places in Paris that we should visit. The man entertained us with his antics for over an hour. Eventually, he even presented my wife with a felt flower he had pinned to his lapel. (which she still has today!). Before we left, they offered us their phone number and address. They invited us to stay if we made it back to Paris before the end of our honeymoon. Overall, the three days we spent in Paris were amazing. The city we looked forward to visiting the least, became one of our favorites! That experience helped me realize I should disregard any preconcieved notions, or opinions, I’d been offered in advance. I learned to approach each new adventure with an open mind. Travel Pro Tips: –Stay in bureaus: Downtown hotels can be pricey and you should avoid this unnecessary expense. Public transportation is inexpensive, convenient, and easy to navigate. –Be conscious of store/restaurant hours: Not all stores open early in the morning, and most close down for a bit in the afternoon. Be aware and plan ahead to avoid issues trying to find a place to eat. –Avoid paying for tourist traps: The lines at these sites are horrendous, and the views/pictures from outside are often more than sufficient. Choose one to fully immerse yourself in and plan on getting their early to avoid as much of the line as possible. –Enjoy the street food: While it is nice to treat yourself to a great meal at a sit down restaurant, sometimes a quick snack in between sites is the perfect way to keep your energy up while exploring the city. Also, the crepes are to die for! –Bring coins for the public restrooms: Unlike the US, there is little opportunity to use a public restroom for free. Also unlike the US, the public restrooms are clean and well stocked. Make sure you carry a few Euros on you so you can make pitstops when needed. –Meet the locals: No amount of research about a city will compare to the knowledge of a local. Find out the things they love about the city, and the best places to go to try local cuisine. You never know when you will make a friend who may invite you to stay with them the next time you’re in town! Bonus Tip: The Perfect Parisian Date Night (On the Cheap) One overcast night, my wife and I braved the rain to find a intimate cafe to enjoy a romantic evening. We sat on a patio protected by a brightly colored awning. We wanted to recap on our trip so far, and plan for the adventures ahead. Over some wine and local beers, we discussed everything we have seen over the past few days. While nibbling appetizers, we watched the activity on the street and enjoyed taking in the local scenery. Eventually, we met some locals (as mentioned above) and really got an insight into Paris through their eyes. The conversation led to what became my favorite memory of our three week tour. Discussing that we saw the Eiffel Tower on our first afternoon, the couple said we must see it at night. It was late, we had a few drinks, and still fighting the affects of jet lag, we decided to take their advice. We quickly arrived back at the tower, by way of the subway. The brightly lit tower stood out against the night sky! It was just a completely different sight at night and, due to the lack of crowds, was much more intimate. We walked around the area as we did before, and I took plenty of pictures. As we were leaving hand in hand, we walked underneath the Eiffel Tower. Relishing how lucky we were to be there at that moment, I pulled Cassandra in for a kiss. Upon opening our eyes, we noticed the entire tower was lit up with flashing strobe lights. Not realizing that this happens at midnight every night, we were quite surprised. It was the perfect ending to our time in Paris, one more surprise in a city that offered so many already! Want to read more about my adventures? Visit my website: http://www.trekandteach.com Thanks so much for visiting, keep exploring!! 
