My first day in Paris - a walk, the Louvre and a gift from above

4/8/2024

The bus from Aachen to Paris Bercy is quite empty. I take my seat, and I have the row to myself - great! There are even power outlets to charge my phone. I make myself as comfortable as possible and put on my sleep mask. Bus rides without a sleep mask are torture. At each stop, the main light is turned on, and the headlights of oncoming traffic constantly blind me. The bus travels via Liège and Brussels, so only two stops along the way. I take a deep breath and try to do my meditation exercises from the monastery to fall asleep better. Slowly, I doze off. However, it doesn’t take long before I startle awake in terror. The woman behind me has fallen asleep and thereby awakened the loudest and most irregular snoring monster I’ve ever experienced. At first, I tell myself that with enough mindfulness, I can tune out the disturbing noises. After 10 minutes, I give up and move forward four rows. Even if this means I’ll be kicked out of my seat at the next stop. But even so, I can’t sleep well. The excitement for my first time in Paris is too great.

Arrival at the Hostel

We arrive on time in Paris at 8:00 a.m. The weather is good, and I use the last few minutes on the bus to understand the Paris metro system. It’s more complicated than I thought. At least, if you opt for the digital version on your phone. Because for that, you need two apps on your phone and have to sign up awkwardly. Theoretically, you can then validate and recharge your tickets digitally with the NFC of your phone. In practice, however, it only works after constantly restarting the app. I buy a 10-ticket pass for €16 and then head to the metro station.

My hostel is located at the “Nation” station. I’m way too early for check-in, but I’m allowed to store my luggage in the lockers of the rooftop bar. It’s the first electronic storage system I’ve seen in a hostel, and it costs me €4 for 6 hours, which I have to pay with a credit card. Oh great. But luckily, check-in is also in 6 hours, I think. Once the luggage is stored, I go to the restroom and freshen up as much as possible. I still lack a bit of routine, and I go back to the locker several times to fetch things from my backpack. The ukulele club doesn’t start until 7:00 p.m. I have enough time to explore the city.

A spontaneous visit to the Louvre

First, I just want to stroll through the city, but the weather forecast promises rain for the morning. So actually, it’s a good day for a museum visit. However, most museums are usually closed on Mondays. A quick internet search gives me hope: the Louvre is open on Mondays but closed on Tuesdays. Off I go!

The museum building is truly impressive. With its imposing architecture and majestic columns, the Louvre exudes timeless beauty. You can literally feel the history woven into this magnificent building. Already at 10:00 a.m., tourists are bustling around the famous glass pyramid, having purchased tickets in advance for a specific time. Can I get in so spontaneously? I immediately grab my phone and visit the museum’s official website to search for tickets. There are indeed still tickets available for the same day at 9:30 a.m. There are several lines for 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. After much back and forth, I buy a ticket for 10:00 a.m., join the line, and am inside the glass pyramid after just 15 minutes, where there’s a security check first. Then I take the escalator down and am impressed. Architecturally alone, the visit has already been worth it. The historic Louvre Palace was once the residence of the French kings and houses one of the most important art collections worldwide. About 35,000 works of art are exhibited on over 70,000 m², with almost 10 million visitors per year!

In the museum itself, most guests seem to be looking for one thing: the Mona Lisa! Everywhere I hear her name and visitors helplessly searching for her location on a museum map. In fact, it’s not that easy to find your way to her. Eventually, I end up at the most famous work of art in art history. Dozens of curious onlookers stand in front of a barrier about two meters from the painting. I also join the line to get a little closer. In the end, I’m disappointed. The crowd crowds me with their pushing and the incessant clicking of cameras. It’s nearly impossible to get a clear view of the famous painting. And ultimately, it’s just a portrait of a lady smiling oddly. I much prefer other paintings, such as those by Panini or by Jan van Eyck. After three hours, I leave the Louvre exhausted and snack on the chocolate croissants I bought in the supermarket in the morning. I haven’t seen everything by far, but my brain just can’t absorb anymore.

A first walk in Paris

I take a stroll in the “Jardin de Tuileries” park and enjoy the beautiful weather and the view of the “Place de la Concorde” and the green spaces. In the distance, I see the Eiffel Tower and think, “Ah, Paris isn’t so bad after all.” At that moment, I feel something hit my shoulder. Bird droppings hang on my backpack, my sweater, and my shoes - oh great! I laugh. It would have been almost too romantic.

I return to the hostel and wash my things makeshift with the eco soap I have in my backpack. Then I sleep for an hour and get ready for the first ukulele club on my trip. The club “RAUL - Rassemblement Amical de Oukulelistes en Liberté,” which I found on Facebook. At 6:20 p.m., I set off.

You can find the blog post about the ukulele club here.