Czech Me Out: A Girl in Paris

Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unhealthy obsession with Paris, which I'm aware it may be cliche, but I can't help it. To me it represents beauty, love, and all that is good in the world. Since I was a little girl I've been fascinated with the idea of going to that magical city. But really, Paris has such elegance and grace. This past weekend my dream came true and it was everything I hoped for and then some. Although, I had a rather rocky start in the beginning.
Let's start with my very first hostel experience. I'm a girl on a budget, and Paris is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so when it came to choosing a place to sleep, it needed to be affordable. My friend Catherine who was traveling with me recommended a hostel called Young and Happy. Sure, with a name like that it sounds warm and inviting, but names can be deceiving. I looked this place up and the reviews I stumbled upon had numerous comments such as "moldy showers", "disgustingly dirty", and "beware of bed bugs". Needless to say, I was quite nervous about this place before even getting there, but Catherine reassured me that everything would be fine. When we arrived Thursday afternoon, the place had a very welcoming atmosphere that eased my nerves. I chose the cheapest room that was a 10 bedroom mixed with men and women. After my day of exploring I returned to my room and went to sleep. I awoke around 2 am to the other people in my room returning from their adventures, and when I looked down at my sheets...low and behold... 4 bed bugs crawling towards my face. I got out of that bed so fast, and when the other people saw what I saw, they were out of that room in less than 5 minutes refusing to sleep there. Unfortunately, the guy at the front desk said he couldn't do anything till the morning so I was stuck in the bed bug infested bed...it was traumatizing. However, the next morning they switched me out of that room, which is apparently the only one that they have had issues with, and put me into a smaller room of 4 with a personal shower. I didn't use it though because there was indeed mold everywhere. Aside from that, it was a very pleasant experience. There was such a friendly atmosphere. You have all these people that are traveling alone and are so interested in other people's travels, where they are from, and where they are going. I met a couple from Italy, a guy from London, and a guy from Uruguay. Some have been traveling just a few days, others for months. It was certainly an experience to say the least.
Now onto the good stuff. My first night is Paris was spent walking the Love Lock Bridge, seeing the Notre Dame lit up at night, and eating crepes with friends. From the moment I arrived, I had a permanent smile on my face because I just couldn't believe I was actually there. People warned me about having such high expectations saying that I would probably be disappointed, but deep down I just knew that was impossible. The next morning was probably a very pivotal moment in my life, the day I saw the Eiffel Tower. It was by far the most incredible thing I have ever seen and it was such an accomplishment to finally be there, because lord knows I've been talking about it for long enough. After taking probably way too many pictures of the tower, we then spent our day walking inside the Notre Dame once more, walking down the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, Musee d'Orsy, and the Hotel de Ville. Every so often walking into a little thrift store to do some shopping. There was so much to do and see that it was a little overwhelming. Another trip is definitely in order, because there just wasn't enough time to do everything.
Now my last night in the City of Love was very special and something I'm so grateful could happen. I'll start from the beginning and tell you that when I was probably around 8 years old I had a pen pal that lived in France. We would write to one another so that she could get better at her English. I can only remember writing to Laetitia a few times, but she recently found me on Facebook and we started talking again. The timing was perfect and with me being here in Europe, and spending this weekend in France, I was able to meet my pen pal from when I was a child. The stars must have aligned because she happened to find a letter from me that was written over 8 years ago and that is what made her decide to look me up. Saturday night we met and were able to get dinner and walk the streets of Paris. I had such a wonderful time, and we have already made plans for her to come to the states for the very first time in summer! Through my travels I've found it to be so special that no matter where you are in the world, you can meet people and form really meaningful relationships. Relationships that not only influence you, but inspire you. That's what I took away from having the chance to meet her.
On my last morning in Paris, I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed over to the Eiffel Tower one last time to take some pictures without any tourists there. It was very cold and rainy, but I didn't mind. It added to the romanticism and beauty. I can only reflect back on this trip and just feel happiness. It's such an accomplishment for me to say that I was able to fulfill one of my dreams. I came into this whole experience with a list of goals, and I have already accomplished so many of them. I feel like a stronger person and like I can do anything. I'm going to take this feeling of empowerment with me for my next trip. This week I will be traveling to Amsterdam, London, Ireland, and finish off with Scotland. So many exciting adventures ahead and I just can't wait!