As you wake up from your dream state, you know you’re getting closer to the heart of Paris when you see little blue and white street signs, or plaques de rue, on the corners of buildings.
Each one features the street name, arrondissement number, and sometimes historical context. Paris is divided into arrondissements or districts, there are 20, which spiral clockwise like a snail starting from the city center. They’re often called l’escargot de Paris.
Now, as you sit in traffic, your mind begins working as you anticipate your arrival at l’hotel (hopefully at our favorite, L’Bristol). You have a couple of strategies. One, you can book a room for that first morning, even though you’re paying for a night you didn’t completely utilize. But for some, grabbing a nap before lunch or le déjeuner is worth the price.
Another option is storing your bags, going to a café for a cappuccino and pastry to plan your morning and afternoon. This is what we typically do. If I have one piece of advice to give, it’s to try to keep moving and not drink too much caffeine. Yes, you’re tired and feel like could drink it by the gallon, but you don’t want to be staring at the ceiling at 2am.
Some members of our party enjoy shopping. This can be a difficult part of the day for Your Survival Guy, sitting, trying to stay awake. Having done this countless times only to be awakened with a start when it’s time to pay, I can only advise one thing: that you get involved with the process and that you shop for yourself too. Paris brings new meaning to the phrase shop ‘til you drop. This is the best way to stay on your feet.
Just when you think it’s time to call it quits, you look at your phone and can’t believe it’s still afternoon. This is how day one feels like. The reward is after a somewhat early dinner, a bed never felt so good. Bonne nuit.
Action Line: Rest up. There’s lots more to do. Tell me about your bonne nuit in Paris. Email me at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com, and click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
Read the entire series here.
