-CURIOSITY HAS NO BORDERS-
europe / A Travel Journal
france
Beauty above ground, history beneath it.
September 20-27, 2013
At a Glance
CAPITAL
Paris
LANGUAGE
French
CURRENCY
Euro (€)
BEST TIME
April–June and September–October
TIME ZONE
Central European Time (CET) / Central European Summer Time (CEST)
DRIVING SIDE
Right
DAYS STAYED
7 Days
PLACES VISITED
Paris
Navigate This Journey
Jump to any part of this trip
Our Journey
The City Where Our Next Chapter Began
Paris was everything we expected—and, in many ways, nothing like we imagined.
We arrived eager to see the landmarks we had heard about for years: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Versailles, Sacré-Cœur, the Arc de Triomphe, and the winding streets of Montmartre. And while those places were unforgettable, Paris slowly revealed itself to us through much smaller moments too—sidewalk cafés, neighborhood streets, pâtisseries, fromageries, and cups of chocolat chaud that were basically melted chocolate pretending to be a beverage.
Where Curiosity Took Us
#1 Paris
Paris is a city of grand landmarks, beautiful architecture, sidewalk cafés, and centuries of history woven into everyday life. From the Eiffel Tower and the Seine to quiet neighborhoods and hidden corners, the city feels both elegant and full of character.
Funny Moments
The Most Awkwardly Romantic Moment in Paris
What started as a sweet, romantic gesture somehow turned into one of the most memorable—and painfully awkward—moments of our lives.
Apparently, Every Stop Was Our Stop
The first time we rode the Métro in Paris, I was doing my best to follow the signs, pay attention to the stations, and make sure we did not end up accidentally spending the afternoon somewhere in Belgium.
Historical Feature
The Hotel Where Paris Waited for Its Missing
THE NAZI OCCUPATION AND THE HÔTEL LUTETIA
When most people picture Paris after its liberation in 1944, they imagine celebration: crowds filling the streets, French flags hanging from windows, and a city finally free after four years of German occupation. But for thousands of families, liberation did not bring an immediate happy ending. Their husbands, wives, parents, children, brothers, and sisters were still missing.
Some had been imprisoned. Others had been sent to forced-labor camps or concentration camps across Nazi-controlled Europe. Many families had received little or no information about where their loved ones had been taken—or whether they were still alive. As Allied armies advanced through Europe in 1945 and the camps were liberated, survivors slowly began making their way home. In Paris, one place became the center of that return: the Hôtel Lutetia.
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Among those who passed through the Lutetia was Simone Veil, who survived Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Many returned without parents. Many returned without children. Many returned to a world that would never look the same.
PARIS
The Hôtel Lutetia, Boulevard Raspail, Paris.
45 Boulevard Raspail, Paris. A commemorative plaque honors the months it served as a place of return, reunion, and unimaginable loss.
Local Food
Food in Paris was more than something we squeezed in between sightseeing stops—it became part of the experience itself. Nearly every street seemed to offer another café, boulangerie, pâtisserie, fromagerie, or market tempting us to stop.
Must Try
- Croissant — Buttery, flaky pastry with a crisp exterior and soft, airy layers.
- Baguette — Long, crusty French bread with a light, chewy interior.
- French Onion Soup — Rich onion soup topped with toasted bread and melted cheese.
- Steak Frites — Grilled steak served with crispy French fries.
- Crêpes — Thin pancakes served with sweet or savory fillings.
- Escargots — Snails typically baked with garlic, butter, and herbs.
- French Cheese — Wide variety of cheeses ranging from soft and creamy to sharp and aged.
- Macarons — Delicate almond cookies filled with flavored buttercream, ganache, or jam.
- Crème Brûlée — Creamy custard topped with a crisp layer of caramelized sugar.
- Chocolat Chaud — Rich, thick French-style hot chocolate made with melted chocolate.
Through My Lens
The Photo That Tells the Story
The Lives Beneath the Streets
Above ground, Paris is known for beauty, romance, cafés, art, and grand architecture. Beneath it lies an entirely different story.
Walking through the Paris Catacombs was one of the most fascinating and unsettling experiences of our trip. Miles away from the Eiffel Tower and crowded cafés, we found ourselves underground, surrounded by the remains of millions of people who once lived, worked, loved, struggled, and died in the same city we were exploring.
The sheer scale of thousands of carefully stacked bones is almost impossible to comprehend. Then you remember that every skull belonged to an individual person with an entire life and story of their own.
For me, that is what makes the Catacombs so powerful. Paris is often photographed for everything beautiful above ground, but beneath its streets is a reminder that every great city is built upon layers of history—some celebrated, some forgotten, and some quite literally buried beneath our feet.
It was eerie, fascinating, a little uncomfortable—and easily one of my favorite places we visited in Paris.
To read more about the Paris catacombs, Click Here
Paris
Plan Your Trip
The little things that make traveling a whole lot easier.
🪢 Local Customs & Etiquette
💬 Useful Local Phrases
💰 Money, Payments & Tipping
📅 Climate & Best Time to Visit
✈️ Getting There & Getting Around
🛏️ Where to Stay
🛡️ Health, Safety & Hydration
📶 Staying Plugged In
🛂 Visa & Entry Requirements
Packing List
Pack smart. Travel lighter. Leave room for the unexpected.
🎒
Essentials
VIEW LIST ↓
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Lightweight, versatile clothing
- One slightly dressier outfit
- Light sweater or jacket
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- European plug adaptor
- Portable power bank
- Small crossbody bag or daypack
- Passport, cards, and some euros
- Personal medications
🧴
Nice to Have
VIEW LIST ↓
- Lightweight scarf
- Compact umbrella
- Foldable shopping tote
- Packing cubes
- Small portable fan for summer
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Camera gear
- Extra room in your luggage for purchases
🧥
Seasonal Additions
VIEW LIST ↓
Summer: breathable clothing, sun hat, portable fan
Spring & Fall: light jacket, compact umbrella, layers
Winter: warm coat, scarf, gloves, waterproof shoes
Paris & Cities: comfortable walking shoes, polished casual layers
Coastal Areas: swimsuit, sandals, beach cover-up
Countryside & Wine Regions: light layers, comfortable shoes, small daypack
Travel Lessons
❝
If every Métro station has the same name, you may want to rethink your translation skills.“
❝
Paris notices your sneakers.”
❝
Apparently, proposals can come with return policies.”
❝
Eat the crêpe. You can walk it off later.”
❝
Paris may be the City of Light, but apparently it keeps millions of skeletons in the basement.”
Our Curiosity Rating
Our completely subjective take on France — based on what we experienced, loved, photographed, ate, survived, and would happily do again.
Culture
★★★★
Wildlife
★
Photography
★★★
Adventure
★
Food
★★★
Would we go back?
★★★★
Our Passport Stamps
Every stamp tells a story.
Written by
Ali Kubeck
Curiosity Has No Borders is more than a travel blog—it’s our journey of exploring the world with curiosity, connection, and an open mind. Together, Sarah and I seek authentic experiences, embrace the unexpected, and find meaning in the moments that can’t be planned. We hope our adventures inspire others to step beyond their comfort zones and discover how travel can change the way we see the world.
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