Live Your Best Lives
Hassan : Je peux te masser les pieds ?
Sophie : What's the deal?
Hassan : Parce qu'ils te font mal.
Sophie : C'est vrai ?
Hassan: Tu as couru toute la nuit dans mes rêves.
Ah Sang: "Can I rub your feet?"
Sophie: "Why should I let you do this?"
Asan: "Because your feet hurt."
Sophie: "My feet hurt?"
Ah Sang: "Because you run in my dreams every night."
——Paris, I Love You
Love lines like the one in "Paris, I Love You" aren't just found in movies; they're heard everywhere in this city. Perhaps it was you reading the newspaper at an outdoor cafe, buying a baguette at a bakery, or carefully selecting irises at a flower shop—they've all been there.
It’s not the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées, Seine River cruises and wine and dine.
There are passers-by, teenagers on skateboards, pretentious thieves, old ladies who like pink nail polish and long skirts, the smell of urine in the subway station and homeless people asking for cigarettes and change on the street.
Paris—arrogant yet friendly, icy yet warm, capable of evil yet always striving for good. It's a city beyond words, far more than just "romantic."
On my last night in Paris, I took a bus around the city and remembered that I should take another good look at this strange yet familiar city.
City bus tips:
The Big Bus Tour routes during the day and at night include the same 10 stops (Eiffel Tower - Champ de Mars - Opera House - Louvre Museum - Pont des Beaux-Arts - Notre Dame Cathedral - Musee d'Orsay - Champs-Élysées - Grand Palais - Trocadero).
The daytime route stops at each station once, every 10-15 minutes / fare: around 29 euros
The night route is a round trip to the Champs-Élysées, with no stops in between. It starts at 20:30 or 21:15 (depending on the season), takes 2 hours, and there is only one bus. Ticket price: around 25 euros
I recommend the night route. If you go in the summer, it's still light at 8:30 pm, so you can take a two-hour bus trip from dusk to night in Paris. At 10:00 pm, the Eiffel Tower will light up. I heard that if you make a wish when the tower is lit, your wish will come true.
Everyone who comes to Paris will not miss the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris, the Musee d'Orsay... They have become the mark of this city, attracting countless tourists.
When I first arrived in Paris, I too was filled with excitement, rushing towards them. I could finally see the Eiffel Tower, my beloved, with my own eyes; I could finally enter the Louvre, which I'd heard took three days and three nights to explore; I could finally see the church behind the musical... Perhaps it's only when you reach these places that your connection to Paris begins.
Eiffel Tower
French architect Gustave Eiffel's masterpieces span the globe, but it's the iron tower that brings him international fame. In his own words, "The Eiffel Tower overwhelms me, as if all I had done was build it." It's the symbol of modern Paris, affectionately known by the French as the "Iron Lady."
Do you know the only place in Paris where you can't see the Eiffel Tower? — It's on the Eiffel Tower.
Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
Transportation: Bus - No. 42 to Tour Eiffel Station; No. 69, 82, 87 to Champ de Mars Station
Metro - Metro Line 6 to Bir Hakeim Station; RER Line C to Champ de Mars Station; Metro Line 9 to Trocadéro Station
Tickets: Elevator - Adults 11 euros to the second floor, 17 euros to the top floor; children under 12 years old 4.5 euros to the second floor, 10.5 euros to the top floor
Stairs - Adults €5; Children under 12 €3; Children under 4 free
The French love to sunbathe the most. They lie on the grass of the Place de la Concorde, basking in the sun, watching the bustling crowds, and looking at the Eiffel Tower opposite.
Louvre
Before I came here, I heard that the collection here is so vast that even three days and three nights would not be enough to see it all. The Louvre is the largest of the four major museums in the world. Its most unique feature is that the pyramid-shaped glass entrance in front of the palace was designed by Chinese architect I.M. Pei.
Address: Musée du Louvre, 75058 Paris
Transportation: Metro - Line 1 or 7 to Palais-Royal-musée du Louvre station
Buses: Routes 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, and 95
Tickets: Permanent exhibition 12 euros
Temporary exhibition in Napoleon Hall 13 euros
Package (permanent exhibition and temporary exhibition) 16 euros
Free admission day: Free admission to the public on the first Sunday of each month and on July 14th, the French National Day
(The Louvre currently does not have a Chinese guide)
When you look up, you can see exquisite carvings and murals everywhere.
The first time I went to the Louvre, I always went for the three treasures.
Mona Lisa
Venus de Milo
Statue of Victory
Although the goddess's head and arms are missing, it is not difficult to imagine her beauty and charm from her vibrant figure and the posture of her clothes wetted by sea water that clings to her plump body - this is a kind of incomplete beauty.
Paris Wall of Love
The Wall of Love is located in a small street park halfway up the Montmartre hill in northern Paris. The blue tiles are covered with "I love you" in over 300 languages. The construction of the Wall of Love actually has a deeper meaning. Baron said, "In a world of violence and individualism, walls divide people. However, a simple and sincere "I love you" can often overcome misunderstandings and tear down barriers of division. The Wall of Love provides a place for people of different nationalities and languages to gather and live in harmony."
The blue tiles are covered with "I love you" in more than 300 languages
Address: Square des Jehan Rictus, Paris, France
Transportation: Metro Line 12 to Abbesses Station
Admission: Free
Have you found the Chinese version of "I love you"?
Those scattered scenic spots are not unmoving, but when you pass by quiet or noisy street corners, you will truly get lost in this flowing feast.
Later, I met a Chinese-Japanese girl who was a great painter. One day, she said she had found an interesting antique shop and wanted to draw it, so she dragged me along to take photos.
I've forgotten the address of this shop, but I vaguely remember it being in a sparsely populated alley. The owner on the second floor wore reading glasses and was examining some small item. When we asked, "Can I take a photo?" he slowly descended the stairs and enthusiastically told us the story behind each item.
Saint-Ouen Flea Market
Address: 138-140 rue des Rosiers, 94300 St Ouen, France
Transportation: Metro Line 4 to Porte de Clignancourt Station
Opening hours: Monday 11:00-17:00, Saturday 9:00-18:00, Sunday 10:00-18:00
Paris's smallest flea market
Address: Avenue Georges Lafenestre, 75014 Paris
Transportation: Metro M4, T3 to Porte de Vanves Station
Opening hours: Saturday-Sunday 7:00-13:00
(The above two second-hand markets are mentioned by friends / I have never been to either / my favorite is the Marais district in Paris)
Address: 3e arrondissement, Paris, France
Marais means swamp, and long ago, this area was a swamp. Later, the land was developed, and through several urban redevelopment projects, the Marais district has survived these developments, preserving the authentic charm of Parisian streets. Over time, the Marais's ancient charm has rekindled, attracting a growing number of artists and young people.
In addition to many antique shops, there are also trendy brands and independent designer shops everywhere, especially Vintage Shop...
The shop called "Kilo Shop" charges by weight. Some people may be reluctant to buy secondhand clothes, but here, any piece you pick up could be a unique piece from the 1980s or 1990s, each with a story to tell.
Everything in the store is color-coded, with green labels for €20 per kilo and orange labels for €30 per kilo. Be sure to set aside at least an afternoon to explore the area; you'll likely find many unexpected surprises.
Restaurant: Benoil Restaurant
Address: 20 Rue Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris
Price: A menu is about 45 euros (appetizer, main course and dessert) / à la carte is much more expensive
We ordered two menus plus a serving of snails for 35 euros (this is actually a Michelin one-star restaurant, probably the cheapest in Michelin)
Recommendation index: ★★★★☆ (full marks for service, good taste of dishes, but slightly less attractive appearance)
You must eat snails when you come to France!
Restaurant: Le Procope
Address: 13 Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris, France
Price: Half menu is about 20 euros (appetizer, main course, main course and dessert)
Recommendation index: ★★★★☆ (This shop is very famous, one of the oldest coffee shops in Paris, with a good environment and affordable prices)
Restaurant: Café de flore
Address: 172 boulevard Saint Germain, 75006 Paris, France
Price: A bit high, coffee is around 7 euros per cup
Recommendation index: ★★★☆☆ (This shop is the "Left Bank Coffee" mentioned in the confession balloon, but we encountered a waiter with a bad attitude at that time)
Restaurant: Ladurée
Address: 16 rue Royale, 75008 Paris, France (right on the Champs-Élysées)
Price: High
Recommendation Index: ★★★☆☆ (A popular dessert shop in Paris, with super-high-quality desserts, and a must-try macaron. You can also buy super beautiful souvenirs)
Although the subway station was crowded, men, women, and children holding novels and newspapers could be seen everywhere in the carriages.
The Parisian metro is more than just a means of transportation; it's a way of life. Its greatest strength isn't its size or convenience, but its pervasive artistic atmosphere. You might hear a romantic saxophone solo as soon as you step off the train, or turn a corner and see an artistic young person cradling a guitar and humming softly.
Regarding the Paris Metro, I want to share a short story I saw on Zhihu:
In 2009, in Paris, on the subway, my wife and I were drowsy.
A woman with glasses and a literary air suddenly stood up in the carriage and said, "I have a few paragraphs I want to read to you all."
Then she held up a book that looked like a collection of poetry and began to read with great emotion. I didn't understand what she was saying, but judging by her expression, she seemed very happy.
The plot was so literary that I thought at the time that this was just like what happened in Paris.
Then the story takes a sharp turn:
As the female intellectual read, she seemed to be moved by herself. She read slower and slower, and even covered her mouth lightly.
At this time, the bus arrived at the station. The young woman picked up her schoolbag, stuffed the book into it, said "thank you", turned around and got off the bus.
I thought that was the end of the story.
As a result, the young man sitting opposite me (a thin-faced, white man with a mustache on his chin) suddenly stood up and ran out of the car door, shouting "Please wait", and grabbed the female intellectual.
Hug and kiss.
The car moves.
Exit the station.
Applause in the carriage.
This is the real Paris.
Love comes suddenly and inexplicably, and all you need to do is let go of your inhibitions.
Everyone has their own impression of Paris; it's so all-encompassing. When you actually step into the city, you start to slow down...
You begin to give up on art palaces such as the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, and the Musee Rodin, give up on the crazy shopping on the Champs-Elysées and Avenue Montaigne, and give up on the French luxury of the Ritz Hotel on Place Vendôme... You just want to get into her most ordinary streets and smell the daily life of Paris.
There is scenery only where there are people
——I want to send you a black and white postcard, filled with my thoughts.
