When travelling on your own

Travelling on your own can be a very rewarding experience.

It certainly pushes you out of your comfort zone. You have to work things out all on your own and not rely on anyone else to do it for you. You can do what you like when you like and there is no negotiation. Of course given a choice I would love nothing more in the work to be sharing this experience with my girls and my partner.

I am here on my own in Paris and having the time of my life.

This city is phenomenal; the architecture just blows my mind. It is true what they say, it is a very romantic city and has so much going on and to offer. Whether you come here with others or on your own you are guaranteed the time of your life.

Many years ago I was always told dress for success. So my first night here off I went to see the Eiffel Tower all on my on and thought why not get dressed up, just as I would if I was going on a date or about to meet someone special.

But come positives and negatives when travelling on your own being dressed up.

Of course the first time catching the Metro train was an experience.

It was rush hour and I really had no idea what I was doing. There was a huge cue at the ticket and help desk, and me being I, had no time to waste standing in a cue. I wanted to work this out so I could go and enjoy my night.

So I asked one person after the other until a lovely kind man came up to me and said ‘Madam do you need some help?’ He was dressed in business attire and spoke very politely so I instantly trusted his advice. He told me I had to walk a way in the distance to the other part of the train station and go down stairs. He directed me in the right direction and handed me a ticket. I was very grateful, but he did say he wan not sure if the ticket would get me to where I needed to.  I was surprised there was a down stairs. When I walked further I couldn’t believe how big the Gar Du Nord Paris train station is. It blew me away. I followed his directions, and then could see the B line directions the hotel manager advised me to take. I stopped at a ticket machine to check and all of a sudden a man came up and offered help ‘ He was hard to understand, was blind in one eye, and showed me his badge inside his jacket, confirmation of working in the station, he pushed a few buttons on the machine and it came up $6.60 Euro I was about to pay and then another man came up at the same time as this happened the man with the blind eye quickly handed me a ticket, then the other man said ‘show me your ticket!’ I said excuse me! He said ‘ how much did you pay for the ticket’ I was getting a little confused at the time what was happening.

Then he started yelling at the other man, and they were arguing in French of course, then I could see what was happening as I observed. The other man showed me he was an under cover investigator for the station and was threatening to call the police. He continuously asked me for my ticket and how much I paid, he said it should only y cost 1.7 euro and I was being ripped off. I said ‘no I have not paid, this man is ok, leave him alone’ I decided on the spot to free this man. I stood my ground and did not give him the ticket or tell him because right at that time I was still unsure what was going on.

I told home everything is ok, and this man is ok he was trying to help me out and pleas go.

He looked angry like he was out to get him. I said to the man with the blind eye, thank you for helping me but let me give you some coin, I paid him $2.00 euro and I was just happy I got some help.

The story goes I ended up standing there with two tickets and hadn’t paid a cent. But maybe dressing for success is not a great thing when using the train, as you tend to stand out like a sore thumb and target. You also have to be very comfortable when travelling in big cities and you soon realize a good pair of walking shoes is really what you need not high heels. It was a fun night to be out in Paris and everywhere I went this night I was looked after well.

My experience has been nothing but positive with communicating with the French, as long as you give the language a go, and pay respect, smile with gratitude you are looked after well. 

Since then I have worked the machines out and after the next day it felt easier to catch the metro train.

The message in this story is sometimes you have to let go of who is right and who may be wrong, police rules and who wants to feel like some one is out to get you. The man I believe was trying to help me, but probably thought he would make a little tip out of it at the same time, in the end I was the one standing there with two free tickets. I said to him when he left ‘Thank you sir, but please be a good man, do the right thing and do not rip people off, but continue to help them willingly as you did without the need for a pay off and great things will happen’

When great things happen to me, I like to pay it forward, so later on in the evening when I was being driven around on a cart, a French lady in high heels was standing at the corner of a street, waving her arm out for a cab, we stopped and asked her to hop on and we took her to where she wanted to go. The man who was driving me asked me if it was ok, and of course to help pa women in high heels with sore feet, was a pleasure. It was a beautiful moment with a French lady staying in Paris, her name was Celine, and she was there on Property negotiation business and shared with me her work, she was open, positive and loving. When she left she kissed me on both sides of the cheek with gratitude and put her hands into prayer and bowed her head. I enjoyed the experience to PAY IT FORWARD.

After seeing the Eiffel Tower and driving around the famous avenue I asked my driver to drop me off at one of the most popular classy French restaurant so I could fully experience how the French dine. What a beautiful experience, I was very comfortable to be eating out on my own, the service was sensational and the ambiance was something I will always remember. La Avenue was the name of the restaurant and the food was truly exquisite

My experience dressing for success is not for everyone, but I love to dress up always have and it is who I am, I love fashion and to be in Paris was a perfect experience, why I have left coming to PARIS in my 40’s I am not sure but I do know I am very grateful to be finally here and I know I will be back.

Travelling tips

1.   Take every opportunity up especially if you only have a short period of time.

2.   Time goes fast while travelling, so have a plan the night before and work out exactly what you would like to do.

3.   Don’t get side tracked with shopping, it wastes time, allocate shopping time, work out your priorities

4.   Pack healthy food every time you go out and plenty of water. You will need it and always end up out later than expected

5.   Learn a few words of their language all you need is hello, thank you, yes, and thanks so much (Always show gratitude) and goodbye or have a great day.

6.   Use information desks and ask people for help, everyone is willing to help if they can. Choose whom you ask mindfully. Information desks are the best, as My first day here I was lead from one person to the other going around in circles, it wasn’t until I asked a taxi driver to take me there that I found my hotel, in which should have only been waling distance from the train.

7.   Buy fresh fruit for your room, you will need it and great for snacks while you are out, to keep sugar cravings away.

8.   8. Tour buses are the way to go when sight seeing, easy on your feet, you get to see so much more and its really enjoyable. But do allocate some time to chill out and relax and walk around some places on your own to explore.