Welcome to Pairs. Day 3.
So day 3 of my trip takes me to Paris. I love Paris, i can't even describe.
Up to this point I hadn't met a single person, and while I enjoyed the solitude, I was feeling a little lonely and wanting some people to interact with for more than order a meal and get a hostel bed. So i get off the train and wander around for a place to stay. Enter one American gal, and another gal from Chile. Saturday night, 3 women travellers in Paris. This called for a night on the town!
We decided to get out of the touristy areas and hit up the east side of the city where the uni students go.. lots of pubs, clubs, and little dive places. We went to get our metro tickets from the machine (since the wicket was closed) but couldnt since we only had bills and it only took change, but wouldnt you know it there was this nice guy who went to give us change and we ended up just getting ticket from him. Suspicious, but not in the mood to argue. Get on the metro no worries and when we go to leave, we get checked and fined for not having valid tickets. Scammed! Welcome to Paris.
I should have known better, but i suppose your frist time traveling like this is overwhelming at times.
We found this great little pub and had a few drinks, ordered some food. I was the only one who spoke French, luckily, because not being a touristy area not as many people spoke fluent English. I ate nothing of course because there was nothing vegetarian :( so of course im feeling a little tipsy. We decide to head back to the hostel, bought legit tickets this time and waited for the metro. Of course this guy came round and told us the last train has just left and the station was closing. So, we decided to hail a cab back.
Sounds easy enough. Ive hailed cabs before back home in Toronto. Which made me wonder why all these cars kept stopping and trying to get us to get in. I'm pretty sure I heard one guy ask how much. lol Apparently, getting a cab there was like waiting for a bus. There are designated taxi stops. lol
We made it back safe and sound, and actually had a pretty exciting time. Welcome to Paris indeed.
Up to this point I hadn't met a single person, and while I enjoyed the solitude, I was feeling a little lonely and wanting some people to interact with for more than order a meal and get a hostel bed. So i get off the train and wander around for a place to stay. Enter one American gal, and another gal from Chile. Saturday night, 3 women travellers in Paris. This called for a night on the town!
We decided to get out of the touristy areas and hit up the east side of the city where the uni students go.. lots of pubs, clubs, and little dive places. We went to get our metro tickets from the machine (since the wicket was closed) but couldnt since we only had bills and it only took change, but wouldnt you know it there was this nice guy who went to give us change and we ended up just getting ticket from him. Suspicious, but not in the mood to argue. Get on the metro no worries and when we go to leave, we get checked and fined for not having valid tickets. Scammed! Welcome to Paris.
I should have known better, but i suppose your frist time traveling like this is overwhelming at times.
We found this great little pub and had a few drinks, ordered some food. I was the only one who spoke French, luckily, because not being a touristy area not as many people spoke fluent English. I ate nothing of course because there was nothing vegetarian :( so of course im feeling a little tipsy. We decide to head back to the hostel, bought legit tickets this time and waited for the metro. Of course this guy came round and told us the last train has just left and the station was closing. So, we decided to hail a cab back.
Sounds easy enough. Ive hailed cabs before back home in Toronto. Which made me wonder why all these cars kept stopping and trying to get us to get in. I'm pretty sure I heard one guy ask how much. lol Apparently, getting a cab there was like waiting for a bus. There are designated taxi stops. lol
We made it back safe and sound, and actually had a pretty exciting time. Welcome to Paris indeed.