It has been a long time since I last came here. My first visit was back in 2002, during the early days of the transition to the Euro currency. I ended up visiting the city of lights after visiting Köln and stayed in a charming hostel just a few blocks from the Louvre Museum. I enjoyed it so much that I extended my stay to a full week. After that, it took ages for me to return. I still can’t quite figure out why—it just wasn’t the right time, I suppose. That’s how life often works.

Coming back here now has brought back the same joy I felt during my first visit. This time, I did more walking than ever before, deliberately skipping the big landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, to avoid the crowds. Since I was staying in Montmartre, I challenged myself to walk all the way to the 1st arrondissement during my first two days. After that, I chose to immerse myself in the ambiance of Montmartre for the rest of my stay.

It was a beautiful experience once again, even after all these years. I look forward to coming back again.