I fell In Love. With Paris.
January 5, 2010 by Brown Shuga
If I had money, all I would do with my life is travel.
There is something that amazes me about being in a foreign place, experiencing life through other people’s eyes and being exposed to new cultures. As much as it opens my eyes about what’s going on out in the world, it also helps me appreciate my country, South Africa more.
My friends and I went on a Paris/Amsterdam tour over the holiday period and people thought we were crazy for going over there during that cold weather and especially when there were reports of rail services being suspended and trains being stuck due to bad weather. Well, what can I say, sithand’izinto!
Two of my boys were going about their business, planning the trip and I was like “There’s no way I’m letting these boys go alone, come back and tell me about Paris, I wanna go and experience it too” so I asked them if I could join them and they were nice enough to agree. So I went and told another friend, who joined and before we knew it, there were now 5 of us going! To me, Amsterdam was just a bonus, all I wanted was to go to Paris. I heard them getting excited over the Red Light District but before I googled it a week before we left, I swear, I had no idea what that was about and I knew nothing about the whole weed situation in Amsterdam. Errr…ja!
We left Johannesburg on Saturday 26th and landed in Paris on the morning of the 27th. They are just an hour behind us so there wasn’t any adjusting really. We landed in the morning and we got on the train to our hotel, situated in Pigalle, a place I later found out is Paris’ sex district. Never trust boys to do bookings! lol.
Pigalle is weird. It seemed like we were in Hillbrow, I promise you, we saw more sex shops in that place than I’ve seen in the entire Johannesburg. Even the famous Moulin Rouge, which is in the area looked dodgy as hell, I was not in the least bit interested in checking it out.
Anyway, we made our way to our hotel and luckily it wasn’t that difficult to find. As we were making our way there, I was really worried about how it was gonna look like considering the area it was in but my fears were soon laid to rest when we walked in & were welcomed by the warmth.
The hotel’s reception area was tiny shem, actually everything in that place is small. From the narrow streets, to the people, I only saw one overweight person there and trust me, we saw a LOTTA people.
The rooms at Hotel Eden were nice, at least mine was. Not wow typa nice but I’ve heard stories about how horrible some 3Star hotels are (or maybe it’s African 3 star hotels that are bad? ) but ours was cool. If my bathroom is nice then I’m happy & it was.
Anyway, we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and hit the streets of Paris.
Being in Paris
I don’t know about the others but honestly felt like I was in a movie. The buildings are beautiful.
Yho, those people know how to dress up for winter shem, I’m inspired. I felt like me and my rags didn’t belong there.. the boots, the jackets..aaaaah, Parisians are so fashionable!
If anyone needs a makeover send them to Paris and they’ll be inspired and learn how to look good just by being on the streets or getting on a train to see the diverse nations that live there but are united when it comes to dressing up in style. I need to go there again and experience what it’s like in summer. But first, I need to hit the gym.
The People
Huwie…how unfriendly! This has nothing to do with us not being able to speak French but hayi the unfriendliest people in the world live in Paris & that’s no joke. I’m one of the people who’s always had a problem with that “fake smile” white South Africans give you when you run into or walk past them but hey, I’d have that any day over the serious expressions in Paris.
LOL @ my Paris walk
Look, in South Africa it’s very easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger on a queue or if you’re sitting next to them in a taxi or flight and I didn’t get the feeling that I could do that in Paris and that’s not the type of life I could ever get used to.
Life is all about interacting with people, strangers or not and maybe I’m weird and, no, I wasn’t expecting to strike instant friendships with strangers, that doesn’t happen anywhere but is it too much to expect a smile at least??
The thing is not even the people who are giving a service to you, smile. Or speak English. I thought this was supposed to be a universal language…and thina we are so judged if we only speak Xhosa, Zulu etc and can’t express ourselves in English in our own country but who’s judging the French for only speaking French?
Transport
You cannot go to any country and not experience their public transport system. Their Metro (train) is the sh!t! Totally, totally loved it! It was a bit difficult for me to understand at first but I was with geniuses who are used to travelling the world so figuring it all out was a piece of cake to them. The trains are on schedule, there’s not much waiting for transport and hayi shame, it makes it so easier for tourists to get around & you can also get maps when you buy your tickets it’s so simple. You can buy the tickets over the counter or use the self-help what-what, hayi that’s one thing them Europeans got right. I don’t know if that system would ever work in South Africa but it’s definitely worth giving it a try, what a pleasure!
Train station
Food & Shopping
Hheheheh tjo! Lemme just say, do not ever think you could go shopping in Paris on a budget. I was on a budget. A tight budget. Especially because I had to convert every price to rands by multiplying everything by 11.
I don’t know what I expected but hayi shem….milkshake for R100?? Aowa! Hawu I don’t think it’s that much in Cape Town’s most expensive restaurant, is it?
At the same R100 milkshake restaurant, a glass of wine was like 3, 40 euros and a cup of tea was 4.90 eurs..needless to say I went for the glass of wine. How does a cup of tea become more expensive than a glass of wine?? Is this normal? Have I been living in a cocoon?
In terms of clothing, the clothes in the shops were for winter and I was just not interested in buying clothes I had to wait 4 months before I could wear. That was my excuse but honestly I couldn’t even afford the stuff they said was on sale. lol.
No, I was too intimidated to go inside
Champs-Elysees is where all the major shopping labels are…you find Chanel, Escada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana & Jimmy Choo all in one street…aaah Parisians are blessed! You can’t go to Paris and not go to that street, screams fabulous !!!
I couldn’t believe that people actually queued to get into the Louis Vutton store! Queue, to go spend all that money?? Oh my word… I totally understand why anyone would want to have a rich sugar daddy…after Paris, sorry bathong nna I’m open to the idea! hehehe.
queuing for LV
Hayi, I’ve never been one to go crazy over brand names/labels etc but this trip has changed all of that. Everyone, including old people, were in Burberry this, Prada that, this and that label…umm hello I’m converted now! In my heart only though coz there’s still no way I can justify buying a Jimmy Choo shoe for over R6 000. I’m not yet at that point. Not financially but I will gladly accept such gifts. *wink*
SightSeeing
I’m a lil disappointed that we didn’t get to do much sightseeing…I don’t know why but maybe it’s coz we spent so much time in the shops than actually viewing the usual tourist attractions.
Umm…we went to the Eiffel Tower though. Like how could we go to Paris and not go there? Heheheh that’s all you need to prove to people that you were in Paris, a picture next to the Eiffel Tower and here’s mine! hehe.
eish, my photographer was tipsy….let’s try another one…
We didn’t get to see Musee de Louvre, one of the world’s most visited museums and where that famous (& overrated) Mona Lisa is but I’ll do that the next time I go there 
We left Paris for Amsterdam on 29 December and came back again on 01 January for the day so we had our chance to bid the city of lights a proper goodbye. It’s not the type of thing people do on holiday but I had the whole day in Paris so I went to see a movie in one of their theatres in Champs Elysees. The only movie they had in English at that time was Solomon Kane, don’t ask me what it was about, I don’t remember.
Paris, France is really a beautiful and romantic place. I didn’t get to see Thierry Henry as I had hoped but what I saw there instead was 10 times better
Avenue des Champs-Elysees
You should see that city at night, under all those lights!
You could walk down The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, with your man holding your hand, no conversation, except him asking if you’re okay and it would feel like the most romantic moment of your life.
A moment you wanna hold on to, forever.
I fell in love.
With Paris.
jerry zulu on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:31 am
nice,u actually painted a nice picture.I nid make over those people looked stunning.
NahlaBee on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:39 am
Great!!!! the pics, your experience. I’m glad you wrote about it. So that when some of once visit know what to expect:-)
XOXO…..
Calvin on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:42 am
Damn! looks like you had a nice time, niiiiice
Lwestana on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:48 am
Eish, I envy you. Never been out of the country… I’d have to do SADC before I consider going overseas.
The pics say it all, and you tell a great story- I almost felt a piece of myself being in Paris too.
Lol, ja ne, every city’s got a Hillbrow ha ha!
Vhafuwi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:54 am
Yeah dat is a place to be. You guyz had fun huh…
Dat Avenue des C-E place, looks WoW!
uberVU - social comments on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:59 am
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Brown Shuga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 1:02 am
Thanks guys, will have the Amsterdam trip up next
Didi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 1:05 am
Well written! Makes one feel like they took the journey with you. Very funny too. Loved the Paris walk:)
cheri on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 1:36 am
BS did you see abo gogo with skinny jeans? kuguga othandayo.The property price on that elysees street is shocking!!
hayi prices are crazy la,i big mac is 6.10€. i locked my key in my app in Dec and had to pay”locksmith” 126€
Kiki on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 1:46 am
Omw,BS…..i am speechless. *let me start huntin fo a sugar daddy*
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 6:02 am
It was great shem bantu…i had the best time
sncura on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 7:31 am
U guys had fun fun fun!!!!! I’ll go in 2015 maybe the milkshake price will be down by half price then
awisto on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 8:11 am
Oh WOW, who wudnt fall in love with this place, it’s beautiful.The streets look so clean. Love the Paris walk,lol. You guys look like u had fun. Um jealous. okay, I’m going to paris b4 i turn 35. Cant believe ppl queue to get into LV, I have never been into that store and dont see myself going there anytime soon. and a shoe that for over 6k!! hai no, i wudnt fork out my own $,maybe i also need a makhwapeni sugar daddy, i need to befriend khani mbau and get some tips 1st though.
Makgotso on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 8:20 am
Wow you guys had a fab tym. Mhhhh l need to go there 4 a makeover struboob
happygolucky on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 8:54 am
great article and thanks for sharing, you’ve inspired us
Busi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 9:11 am
Ndinomona kengoku.. Next time pls take me with, I’ll make sure I have a sugga daddy by then… U guys really had fun…
BuhleFab on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 9:35 am
mmhhhm …… some girls have all the fun. I am seriously jealous. Iyhooo Paris…….those lights at night ….. absolutely to die for darling(in my best Queen Moroka voice)
lorrelai on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:11 am
girl, u so lucky. this is beautiful.
stix stonez on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:16 am
lol @eish, my photographer was tipsy….
nice! very nice..
i ma take my dame to “The Avenue des Champs-Élysées” but i gotta find one that deserves to go there..
any takers ladies?
Madala on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:17 am
Oh BS: u hav described it so well such that I will carry yo script when I eventualy visit that place….Nami I em joining the “jelous fans’…Nxa…and will vist the city b4 I turn 65 too..!
Oh Nkosi, I feel pity 4 u having 2 manage all those 4 boys…tl tl tl! Did any1 pf them propose 2 marry u when feeling the romance of the area?????LOL
Madala on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:18 am
Kwa kwa kwa at the pic in-front of the Tower where the camera-person “was tipsy..”… Me thinking that both the photographer & the ‘prop’ were some-how ‘t-sumtin’….. LOL
ROFLMAO on yo Paris walk…. uzophuka amaqakala wena ulibele kukwenza imihlola’pha…..LOL
Can be boy in pic no 4 be tought to stop doing those funny posses when takin a pic??? LOL
Was the tall guy in the 1st pic yo security guard…? So, 41% of his face is hidden “4 security reasons”…LOL
J-Girl on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:50 am
Wowness!!!
khafo on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 11:20 am
Wow, you looked fabulous gal. Jimmy Choo items are stunning. What is nice is the experience (travelling abroad)_don’t worry you’ve got the P-walk.
Cheesa on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 11:34 am
Hey wena BS you make wanna go to Paris right now. If only money was here I’ll go there for the next holiday. You guys seem like you had a blast even though it was freezing cold. Nice write up BS your articles are always enjoyable no matter how long they are. Very nice and lol at that Paris walk tltltltl. When I looked at that pic before I saw the caption I thought who’s that Naomi Campbell to be or what kanti it’s you lol. Paris is a beautiful city that needs to be visited by me. Weeeelllll maybe in 5 years time lol.
Nthatisi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 11:38 am
WoW! Well well well i cannot afford paris clearly! One day iz one day akuna ndaba!
Jozi Insider on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 11:40 am
The Insider would like to give Brown Shuga a complete 5-star rating on the Paris walk and look. You know which pic I’m referring to. It’s so New York, yet totally Parisian in its stride.
Mogwanthi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 11:53 am
hehehe out of everything from Paris BS, can i please have your hair?? Please buy me hair like yours!! Hehehe do people queue up that long to spend money? jha neh Paris, is on my list before i turn 50.lol
Mogwanthi on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:00 pm
WOOW the place looks like such a beatiful place, and you description of the place makes it even more fantastic.kodwa when am i winning this lotto?? But i have a feeling this is going to be my year!!!
Nokubonga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:36 pm
haai Bs…wena Maara….You are having time of your life gal…enjoy it!!!!
The Big Boss on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 2:02 pm
Nice on BS. I was there two months ago. You should have gone up the Eiffel Tower, it has the most amazing view of Paris, especially if u go all the way to the top.
And where are the pictures of the famous Arc de Triomf at the top of The Avenue des Champs-Élysées in the middle of a busy traffic circle?
But Paris is very expensive like u say, more that other European cities, for the mere fact that it’s Paris.
Lela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 2:08 pm
Andinamona andikwazi nokuzinceda. I must get ova my fear of flyn long hours first then think abt goin 2 Paris b4 i turn 40. Nice pics,u guys enjoyd mos.
J-Girl on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 2:50 pm
LOL.. Nokubonga your name reminds of that silly daughter of Cleo’s on the Genrubbish… random i know
Bee on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 4:26 pm
Damn Lelo u luk so hot on dat pic uwedwa kuyo tjo ingathi u were one of them r u sho u not by chance ‘half french-half xhosa’ hahaha! U got me worried now coz my fiencè n my self r plannig to go to Paris in Sept this year for our honeymoon bt ke thina maybe singanentlantla coz flight centre is runnin a special then. Anywy u luk sizzlin HOT-HOT on doz pics!
Lwandie on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 7:05 pm
Loved your account of Paris B.S,am looking forward to your take on Amsterdam… if you get a chance, do come to London for the 2012 olympics and then you will see places that make Hillbrow feel like Hollywood.
Brown Shuga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 7:09 pm
Thanks guys, glad u enjoyed!!! Working on Amsterdam piece as we speak! Oops, as I write
Bruised Ego on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 7:34 pm
Wow too nice, i enjoyed reading this post, there was a woza woza of some sort, i was glued….
Lahvee on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 9:05 am
Wow, thanx for taking us to Paris and Amsterdam, a nice escape for a few minutes
Dee on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 9:40 pm
I must say u a quite an excellent writer Lelo. Painted a really good picture about Paris. 2yrs ago i was fortunate enough to go there and certainly experienced the best treatment ever even got a chance to sleep at the Hilton Hotel. Those were the times.
Rego on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 10:11 am
DAING! pls put me in ya luggage nxt time
segs on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 10:51 am
you should have taken me in your luggage! my french is top-notch and the French are not unfriendly… hau! they are just francophone… glad you had a fab time! loved the read…
Segololo
babalwa on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 3:28 pm
Hey BS, nice one.
You have refuelled my love & desire for travelling! I travelled out of the country for the 1st time in my life in 2009(I went to Canada) & boy did i love it. It’s true, travelling opens up one’s mind & eyes(might i add..LOL).
So going through your Paris & Amsterdam experience i was like i feel you girl. I’m actually planning to go to NY in 2011….I gotta c it before i sleep forever you know!
I had a good laugh about your Red Light Dstrict experience, I have a friend-collegue from Holland & we actually started having a big debate on the pros & cons of legalising prostitution.
popdronkie on Fri, 8th Jan 2010 7:15 pm
BS this paints a lovely pic of Pareeeeee. I am now living here for a bit and its fabulous. Wish you’d sent a blog about you coming…would have given you places to go to… see how the Africans of Pareeee get down…Hilbrow standards to Joburg northern suburbs…Your account of the beautiful city is great…will make more of an effort to enjoy my surroundings…LOVING the article!
Must see Amsterdam!
Thanks
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