02

My First Time in Paris

By myself? As I wrote in my intro story, embarking on a solo journey to Paris at 50 wasn’t the original plan. Not even something I wanted. Definitely not what I had envisioned. Determined to fulfill my dream of Paris, I resolved to go anyway. Solo. As a woman at a certain age. Bon voyage!

So I started researching, reading, and investigating everything I could get my hands on about the fabulous city that existed in my imagination. My good friend J put me in touch with her travel agent, K – an amazing woman who asked me one simple question:

What experiences do you want to have?

I answered affirmatively: I want to shop in Paris.

She asked a series of questions about the typical itinerary for a first-timer like me. The Louvre? No. Other museums? No. Perhaps tickets to the Opera? No.

I wanted to experience the Paris shopping scene and taste all the culinary delights the city had to offer. Preferably through the eyes of Coco Chanel.

K did not disappoint. She developed an itinerary that included three shopping tours, two food tours, one tour of “the” famous flea market (Les Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen), a wine tasting event, a couple of reservations for tea, lunch at Monsieur Dior, dinner at The Ritz, and she booked me in a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Plane tickets were purchased, a private airport transport secured (not as expensive as it sounds, and a very reassuring option when the “simple” idea of getting from the airport to the hotel is too much to consider).

She reassured me that Paris is safe for solo women travelers.

My excitement overcame my fears, and I kept planning. And telling everyone about the trip. The common reply was: Just you? By yourself? Yes. Just. Me. But that’s a story for another time…

There were important things to plan, like what to wear. 

And, yes, I suppose all the other things like maps, and money, and getting around the city, and a few French words. More on these things later, too.

In Paris. Nervous but overwhelmed by the beauty of everything. Realizing the dream. Knowing I was the one responsible for bringing my dreams of Paris to life. Learning a lot about myself in the process. “Empowering” seems cliche, yet completely appropriate for describing exactly how I found myself in Paris. Traveling solo allowed me to appreciate everything I had accomplished, affirm that I was more than capable of taking care of myself, and absorb the true freedom that comes from those realizations. A new-found confidence.

The best part: I did not have to consult with anyone on plans, I could simply change my mind. Wow! How refreshing. Not up for a tour? I didn’t go. Instead, I wandered around a fun-looking boulevard that caught my attention a day before. Not in the mood for lunch yet? I kept wandering and waited until I was hungry. It’s ok, there’s food everywhere. 

I took care of myself, listened to myself, and celebrated…me! 

And I shopped, and shopped, and shopped.

It also taught me practical things like: Google maps will get you anywhere you need to go, and Google translate helps for quick conversations and reading menus in French. The Uber app works over there if your feet are tired or you don’t want to deal with the taxi situation or don’t want to figure out the Metro just yet (I still haven’t). And it taught me that knowing a few key French words and phrases goes a long way. 

Yes! I did this! Just. Me. 

Now I say that I visit Paris with myself.

Because I can.

Au revoir until next time,

~Valerie’s Granddaughter