I’ve been thinking about some of my earlier travels ever since things settled down here in Bangkok. Most especially, I’ve been reflecting on my first big international trip—the one that really got me accustomed to globetrotting. I had just graduated from high school when my awesome uncle invited me to come see Paris with him. At the time, he worked as a flight attendant, so he managed to hook me up with some stand-by tickets. That summer after graduation, just like that, I was off to the City of Love.
I had no idea what I would learn about Paris during this trip, much less what I would learn about myself there. Let me share what I discovered.
International First Steps
I was pretty lucky to have my uncle with me on this trip. Being a well-traveled man himself, he spoke at least four languages and was very well acquainted with all things European. We stayed in a small district of Paris called Saint-Denis, and our first objective during the opening days of the trip was getting the big, obvious destinations out of the way. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, we saw all the classics those first few days, and it was beautiful.
It was in the Louvre that I first began to grasp the lesson this experience would teach me. That moment came when I finally saw the Mona Lisa. Nothing against Da Vinci, the man clearly knew his way around a paintbrush, but after hearing so much about his masterpiece my entire life, I was genuinely surprised to discover that the actual painting itself was rather small.
I know I risk sounding like a Philistine here, but if legacy and gravitas can make something feel larger than life, I suppose I expected the Mona Lisa to be staggeringly massive. Instead, there it hung behind its protective glass, no larger than many other paintings you might find hanging in an office lobby. It was beautiful, to be sure, but I distinctly remember seeing many other works throughout the Louvre that impressed me just as much, if not more so, especially given my limited knowledge of art history at the time.
The Light-bulb Brightens
I found myself having similar reactions to some of Paris’s other landmarks, albeit to a lesser extent. The Eiffel Tower is undeniably an architectural marvel, as are Notre Dame and especially the Opéra Garnier. The opera house stood out to me most of all; I remember marveling at its opulence and flamboyant beauty in particular.
As we traveled from landmark to landmark, however, something more subtle began to reveal itself. While I genuinely enjoyed seeing all the famous tourist destinations, I noticed that I felt a deeper connection to Paris whenever we stopped at cafés and restaurants. Thanks to my uncle’s language skills, we often struck up conversations with servers, locals, or fellow travelers about their experiences in the city.
At one restaurant, a local recommended a specific crêpe that he assured me I would love as an American. Not long after placing our order, out came this fried crêpe piled high with thick-cut bacon, rich, indulgent, and completely unexpected. At another café, I discovered macarons for the first time, along with a variety of other French pastries I’d never encountered before.
Slowly, I began to realize that while cultural landmarks are precious, the heart of a place often exists quietly, tucked away in everyday experiences and shared local knowledge. The more I listened, the more curious I became. I wanted to hear more stories, learn more nuances, and experience more of the city through the people who actually lived there.
Perhaps none of this is particularly groundbreaking. In the age of social media, travel advice is everywhere; lists of local food spots, hidden gems, thrifty shopping areas, and off-the-beaten-path experiences have become staples of modern travel media.
Bringing it all Home
Still, while the information itself may be familiar, I’ve come to believe that there’s no substitute for experiencing a place firsthand. Going out, meeting people, listening to what they know, and discovering things organically is, to me, the only way to truly understand the heart and soul of a city. I’m grateful to my uncle, and to Paris, for helping me discover that lesson so early on. Wherever you may travel, I hope you find the opportunity to stumble upon something new and unexpected for yourself.
