We finally made it to Paris. Her dream destination. And the drama was just getting started.
The Hotel Hunt
After reaching Paris, it was hotter than in Brussels; we got a cab, and we checked into our hotel. We dragged all our bags up to the third floor, no lift, after everything we had already been through that day. The room was so small and so hot. We tried to make it work, stayed for an hour, had a cold shower, hoping it would feel better. It didn't. It was tiny, suffocating, and the heat was unbearable. My wife finally said we are not staying here. And honestly, even I knew she was right, but I was still the one screaming about how we could spend more money again. We booked a cab, found an AC cafe nearby, and sat there hunting for a new hotel on our phones. That cafe, too, was about to close and asked us to leave soon. Which is not how we imagined our Paris trip starting.
We found a new hotel and booked it for two days, deciding to come back to the first hotel for our last night to save some money. Classic me. Then another cab to the old hotel, and I dragged all the luggage all the way down, and we reached the new hotel only to get a message at the reception, "The AC wasn't great, I am sorry." An apology at the reception. Adangoyaale.
We took it anyway. The room was bigger at least, and there was a tiny bit of AC. Then the lights stopped working properly. We requested a fan. They brought one. Combined with the tiny AC, it was just about enough to sleep.
The Perfect Day
The next day made up for everything. Early morning photoshoot near the Eiffel Tower before the crowds arrived. We reached on time successfully with our toddler. Then "costly" breakfast at Carette after waiting in a long queue. Then metro rides to the Louvre. Then a bus to a South Indian restaurant, because apparently we find South Indian food in every country we visit. Then a bus to Arc de Triomphe, with a stop for macarons, and then we waited 27 minutes for a bus to take us 900 metres. Classic Paris. A few clicks and back to the room before the heat became unbearable.
That evening, a relative picked us up in a car; it felt like an absolute blessing. We went for dinner, then walked through a Paris neighbourhood hunting for ice cream. Saw the Seine, Notre Dame, and made it back to the Eiffel Tower just before sunset. And then it happened. The Eiffel Tower started sparkling. And it started raining at the same time.
That was her Paris moment. Right there.
We got back to the room, and the AC was finally working properly as well.
The Eiffel Tower Effect
I had heard people say it was just a structure. Some felt meh about it. Some said after seeing it once they completely lost interest. I didn't know what to expect.
On our train to Paris, I saw a WhatsApp status of a friend standing in front of it. Honestly, it looked just like a Transformer. Told the same to my wife; she was like, "thanks for ruining it for me".
The first glimpse came completely unexpectedly. We were in a taxi on the way to our second hotel, still stressed about the AC situation and the money, when the cab went right past it. Just like that, there it was. And I was awestruck immediately. No warning, no build-up, just the Eiffel Tower appearing out of nowhere while I was mid-panic about hotel bookings.
Then the next morning, in another taxi on the way to the early morning photoshoot during sunrise. Awestruck again. Then from Trocadero, looking at it straight on. Then near the Seine in the evening. Then during golden hour. Then when the lights came on. Then when it sparkled in the rain.
Every single time, the same feeling.
And it didn't stop there. The next day, getting off a bus near our hotel, I caught a glimpse of it between buildings. Then during a tram journey, just a flash of it through the window.
Still incredible.
I had heard people say once is enough. I saw it at least eight times across two days. Every single time, I was still awestruck.
Some structures just do that to you.
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The next day, we woke up late and headed to Disneyland. On the way, my wife missed the tram, so my toddler and I got off at the next stop to wait for the following one, and we all met at the destination. Small chaos, very on brand for this trip.
We reached Disneyland, but the parade was already over since they had changed the timing due to the heatwave. We waited more than an hour to meet Minnie, but it was worth it. Then there was a mini parade, which was too good. Photos in front of the castle, then the It's a Small World ride, which was amazing. By this point, my wife was done for the day because of the heat. So she rested while my toddler and I went on the Teacups ride twice, followed by the Carousel and the Dumbo Ride, waiting another hour for that. Then we caught the parade one more time and finally left Disneyland with some printed photos we took with Minnie, completely satisfied, ordering Uber Eats to the hotel on the way back.
Also, since the AC had been working the previous day properly, I had extended our stay at Hotel 2 and even got a discount for the day we spent without proper AC.
The Last Paris Morning
The last day in Paris, we checked out, left our bags at the hotel, and headed to Galeries Lafayette. After all the chaos of the past few days, just wandering around a beautiful mall felt surprisingly relaxing. Then we found a bakery nearby and sat down for croissants, coffee, and an eclair. A proper Paris morning, finally.
Meanwhile, I went to collect the leftover things we had left in that nightmare Hotel 1. You know, the hotel we escaped from on day one after dragging all our bags up three floors with no lift. No hard feelings.
After that we got back to the hotel, collected our bags, booked a cab, and reached the station. One hour and fifteen minutes before our train. Yes. I overcorrected. After nearly missing the Paris train by one minute in Brussels, I was not taking any chances.
The cab ride was horrible without AC; our toddler asleep after we reached the station which was good.
Our train's platform wasn't even announced. And, finally, the train was there after we waited for an hour, found our seats, and settled in. It was a cramped train. And then the train didn't move. Delayed by more than 40 minutes a reward for reaching early. Which meant we were going to miss our connection to Luxembourg.
To be continued. Luxembourg has another hotel drama waiting. And a train that separated me from my wife and toddler. But that's Part 3.
