A Paris Better Than The Postcard
If I had to describe Paris, I’d say she’s captivating, deliciously intriguing, and full of mischief. My love for Paris has known no bounds, and I can’t help but fall in love with this city every time I walk back into her borders.
The world has its own opinion about France — and Paris especially. The clichés are endless, the stereotypes often earned. For some, a visit feels controversial at best. People flock here to sip wine by the Seine, dine atop the Eiffel Tower, or sample pastries from picture-perfect boulangeries. And fair enough — if I were only here for a weekend, maybe I’d do the same.
But I’ve lived in Paris. I’ve loved and worked in her messy, magical corners. And let me tell you — the real Paris? She’s even better than the postcard version.
Paris is great because of my friends — the ones I’ve poured drinks with, stumbled home with, and shared 3 AM kebab and laughter with. The ones who watched me take my first shot of Jägermeister and made a foreign city feel like home. They’re not just friends — they’re the reason Paris has never felt like just a place.
Paris is great for the spontaneous interactions I encounter at any given moment. The barista at my usual café was overjoyed with the question of the best food spots to eat in Paris, her personal favourites, only to leave with a list of fifteen places to try in my short time visiting. A conversation with the bartender shaking a cocktail, the spark in her eyes as she talks about her passion.
Paris is great because it’s a powerhouse of some of the best cuisines in the world. My list of recommendations exceeds the classic French spots, and instead opens up to Vietnamese, Italian, Venezuelan, and everything in between. Paris offers so much, why limit yourself to the classics when there’s a whole world of food here waiting to be discovered?
This is my Paris. And I hope you stay longer than a weekend — skip the lines, ditch the clichés, and get lost in the cafés, side streets, and smoky bars that make this city unforgettable.
