(alternate title : Paris, je t’aime | Paris, June 2025)
Like so many, Paris has always been one of my dream destinations (and still is), and I don’t care if that is branded as “basic”, because Paris is anything but basic — especially when you immerse yourself in the City and its little pockets.
Like most cities that are called ‘overrated’ by haters (lol), I am a firm believer that they just … don’t know where to go.
I am extremely grateful that I get to back a third time (and is the second time I’m celebrating my birthday there, thank you Mako and Mich for helping me sort myself out), and when I get asked why would I want to keep going back when there are other european cities to explore, all I could think of was how much I love Paris. It doesn’t really make sense to explain it (but look at me try).
I love the flâner culture, I love the snobby-I-won’t-put-up-with-your-bullshit-also-tell-me-if-I-should-speak-in-English-or-in-French locals, I love that there’s a place for everyone, I love the public transportation system, I love that you could walk to anywhere, I love how each arrondissement is different from the other, I love how you would never run out of things to do, I love the Bouillons, I love the galleries, I love all the Dogs that are allowed almost everywhere, I love the Carafe d’eaus, I love that the city is surrounded with so much love, and is a melting pot, I love that this city is a dreamer — if you want to escape from reality, just look up — or take a nap at Place des Vosges.
Yes, it’s dirty. Yes, some streets aren’t very pleasant-looking, or smelling. Yes, there are pickpockets. Yes, some arrondissements are not safe at night. But it’s not so bad (at least as a Tourist … or, erm … as a Romantic).
There’s so much history in Paris, not just because it is historic, but this is a City that has FELT (not just seen) so many things — it’s housed many of the earth’s geniuses, and artists, and poets for centuries. It is the chosen home of yearners, for very obvious reasons.
[to be fair, my Astrocartography has also listed France as one of the countries for healing and rebirth, and that makes so much sense, seeing how much I love going there.]
Please bear with me, this post is going to be a doozy (but I love it).
Alright — here’s a photo dump you didn’t ask for …
As you know, Carlo has been one of my bestfriends since we were 14. I don’t find it hard to believe that we are in each other’s lives to this day, but I am very, very, very grateful that we are. I could not imagine life without him.
This is certainly one of the trips we took together — but a first for us to travel as a duo and hang as a duo — happy to have finally seen BEEEEYONCÉ live with him (more on that later).
He was super bigay-hilig with my food choices and it has made me very, very, very happy. One of my love languages is taking people to restaurants I like and having them stuff their faces with food I like, lol.
When he left the apartment we rented (the first one I stayed at), felt immense sepanx, hahaha! I love you, Carler! Holding on to act iii, MAHAHAHA.
None of this was part of my initial itinerary, but all I was trying to do was look up Materialists screenings in Paris.
Lo and behold, I discover two things : one premiere screening of the film at Publicis Cinémas, and one of Celine Song’s Masterclass at the Cinema Le Balzac.
The Masterclass would be on the 22nd, a day before the Premiere. I doubt her actual presence and thought a video would be played on screen, but imagine my spazzing when I see chairs on the stage.
Premiere screening tickets were sold out, but they told me to try and come back whenever I can (in person) to check for last-minute cancellations — and if not, to come an hour prior to the screening. I did all of that. An hour prior, I’m told there were 3 tickets available. Little did I know, she would also be ‘introducing’ the film to us, and then proceeded to SIT IN THE AUDIENCE to watch the film with us, and I just about lost it.
I agree with this article by Sam Pausman of The Boston Hassle — this isn’t a film about romance, but about love. I sat there trying to absorb how I felt, expecting I’d be feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside — but this is from the genius that gave us Past Lives. If anything, this is a picture of reality — it’s pretty, it’s got flaws, but this is how it is, flashed on the big screen. It gave me proper fuzzies, realistically.
I highly encourage that you see it in Cinemas — it comes out on August in the UAE!
Apart from the Agnès Varda exhibit (more on that on this post) , tickets to see Wes Anderson’s was one of the things I was looking forward to going. I mistakenly booked a ticket for the guided tour (which was in French), and I made my, ironically — french exit whilst the guide was in The Royal Tenenbaums wing (I went back later, of course). I felt bad that I didn’t explain to her why I disappeared (if she comes across this post by chance — it’s a long shot, but please allow me to apologise).
I stayed the longest at the Isle of Dogs wing, they even had an interactive display, you had to wear a headset and VR goggles to watch the commentary and a few behind the scenes bits — Jeff Goldblum’s part got me giggling so hard. I just love this film, man. I actually ended up watching it at the apartment a couple of times after I went to the exhibit (even before, to be honest — lol).
Also went to the Musée Méliès, because … film.
God bless Georges Méliès and the legacy he left behind. Martin Scorsese made Hugo, and had this to say about this legendary film-making icon — definitely my cue to rewatch it.
I toned it down with museum and gallery visits during my trip this year, but the ones I went to (and re-visited) are a 10/10.
One of the exhibits I loved the most at Bourse this season was Deana Lawson‘s photographs. I probably stayed at hers the longest, admiring every single photo, but the second one (of the three on here) is my favourite, spoke to me so much.
One of the things you will constantly find me doing … is taking photos of the streets and buildings in Paris. How can I not? And they would all look similar, but I … don’t care?
I did not indulge so much in food during this trip because I was being wise about my budget, let’s keep it real. I’ve had to put off a few Bistros and Chezs for next time, but I of course had a few days of stuffing myself good.
Some photos I managed to take of the food (and the restaurants / boulangeries / cafés I ate at).
Apart from Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Canal St. Martin has now made its way to my heart. The lovely apartment I was staying at (more photos of that apartment on this post) was a mere 20min walk to the Canal, where I spent several mornings and afternoons.
This is what I mean about immersing yourself in the City. Paris is meant to be consumed slowly — which is why we love flâner culture.
Grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate my birthday the way I do — got to see THE Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter in the flesh. If I’m being honest, I’m actually here for our niece and Beyhive Manager, Blue Ivy.
My view may have mostly been cowboy hats, heads, phones, and I may have felt disappointed not being able to ‘see’ majority of her performances (and Blue Ivy, the actual reason I bought tickets if I’m being honest) — BUT … I wasn’t robbed of experiencing her indescribable talent in person. I was breathing the same air as the Queen.
I may not have had the full experience of seeing hers and Blue’s stank face up close, but concerts always have a way of showing you community : one person kindly asked the girl in front of me to take off her hat so I could somewhat see, the girl behind me was BAWLING as soon as the first note of “American Requiem” came on, that I ended up holding her arm for a bit and she smiled at me whilst singing the song, and I ended up making her go in my place — and it may not have helped at all, visually — but that wasn’t the point.
Music is a universal language, and there is no denying that Beyoncé means so much to so many of us. I wish people would realise that this Woman has been in her own lane since she started. There are so many artists I love alongside her, but there’s just no use comparing her to anyone (and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, because you just can’t. It doesn’t make sense).
I cannot wait to properly watch her (and our niece / manager, Blue Ivy) the next time she goes on tour.
Just two Earth Signs showing us what it means to stand on business.
So … you know that thunderstorm that hit Paris on the 25th?
Funny story. On a nearly daily basis, I would check the weather app to decide on what outfit to wear the next day. I noticed one of the days that indicated a Thunderstorm. I don’t pay much attention to it, because I don’t think a big whoop of a Thunderstorm would hit Paris like that — but one late afternoon, as I was minding my own business, munching on dinner, I was deciding on which route to take back to the apartment and noticed that the metro option suddenly disappeared from the list.
I look out and noted that it had started to get dark at 7.24pm (you know Sunsets in Paris during summer are at circa 9, 10.00pm) — so I had my food to go (my profiteroles melted, of course), and made my circa 20min walk back.
Another 20mins after I settle at the apartment, it starts to drizzle, and then thunder, and then rain.
It was extremely difficult to get out of bed the next day. EXTREMELY. I enjoyed the cool breeze being ushered from out the window, and if you know me, you know how much I ADORE GLOOMY, RAINY MORNINGS. Literally my joy. I love it so much. Snuggle weather is life.
I was grateful to be gifted a day like this. Was gifted to know when to listen to my gut. Imagine had I ignored it and stayed out longer? The whole thing is in the vlog that comes with this post …
… which will be included right here, lol. You spend a day with me in Paris in this video, which I will post in this space, once it’s up on YT.
This particular trip definitely helped regulate my nervous system with all the slowness and stillness my body was forcing me to take — and I will probably model my future France visits around this mindset, because I enjoyed it much more than the brutal itinerary I used to follow.
Bonus photos of … if you know, you know — do you know? Lol.
Also … enjoy this video of me taking down my 22kg luggage down the stairs (not all Parisian apartments come with a lift), and I love all of it just the same — t’was a good morning workout, lel. I was just about waiting for the Bolt driver to take me to Gare du Nord as I was taking the 7.00am Eurostar to Brussels.
BTW — for my Brussels photos and videos, which I nearly spent two days in, that’ll go on a separate entry later.
No photos taken during my short chilling sesh at the Jardin du Luxembourg to put plasters on my feet for the blisters, my many stops at Kun, lunch at The Marché des Enfants Rouges (it’s on the birthday vlog that should be coming up soon).
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