Tourette’s in Paris: A Journey Full of Tics, Triumphs, and Tantalizing Experiences

So, I’m still trying to catch up on writing about our two-week Thanksgiving trip, and boy, do I have a story to tell! I feel like I have to mention most of our trips are a reality thanks to Going (former Scott’s Cheap Flights) and I do have a partner code if you’d like to sign up: https://goingwith.me/zzpeb5wb

If you read my last entry, you’ll remember that our time in Buffalo ended with a bang at a Bills game. My senses were on overdrive, to say the least. Anyway, we made it to the airport bright and early, and we settled down by our gate, determined to catch some shut-eye before the flight. But let me tell you, my tics weren’t having it. They were loud, constant, and annoying. People couldn’t help but stare, whisper, and even mock me. Now, usually, I don’t let it bother me, but this was next-level.

I tried explaining to the gate agents that I had Tourette’s and my tics were acting up that day. But surprise, surprise, they weren’t exactly friendly about it. Can you believe it? I usually get a 9/10 approval rating from airport staff, but that day wasn’t going so well for me. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, right before we boarded, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I started sobbing because it all became too much. I told Ricky how frustrating it was for me to go through this daily. It’s ridiculous that people can be so blatantly rude when faced with something they don’t understand.

With an 8-hour flight ahead of us, things were looking pretty dire. But hey, luck was on our side when we found out we had no one sitting in the middle seat. It was just Ricky and me with the entire row to ourselves. And guess what? We had some amazingly kind and compassionate ladies sitting behind us (a mom and her daughters). But of course, on the other side of the plane, we had people staring and asking rude questions because my tics were that loud.

Truthfully, it was a terrible flight experience, but hey, I’m an expert at taking a crappy situation and shoving it in a box so I can enjoy other things. When we finally landed in Paris, I turned to Ricky and said, “Well, that sucked, BUT we have a whole week in Paris ahead of us, so let’s just forget about everything until we get back home and have time to unpack it all.” I’m not sure if it’s the best way to deal with things, but hey, it’s been working for me so far!

Wow, that was quite a venting session, but it feels so much better to put it all into words. Now, I’m ready to talk about Paris! We landed bright and early at 6:30 am, and luckily our Airbnb host said he could hold onto our bags until check-in time. Getting to our Airbnb was a breeze – just two short metro rides from the airport. And let me tell you, using the metro in Paris makes me feel like a local (I daydream a lot).

Our place was right in front of the Opera Garnier in the 9th arrondissement, which is an incredible location. It felt like we scored a major deal on this place, probably because it was off-season. The studio we stayed in was pure luxury, with impeccable taste. It was designed by the famous French designer, Jacques Garcia, and surprisingly affordable. Sometimes, I still can’t believe we actually stayed there. It was like all my Parisian dreams come true!

Here’s a big tip for you: we bought a 2-day Paris City Pass before our trip, and the amount of money we saved was urneal. We hardly paid for any attractions out of pocket. We could have even used it for breakfasts and lunches, but we were short on time, so we had to plan our meals based on the different regions we explored. Adding the link to the pass we used: https://parispass.com/en-us

Our morning was jam-packed with action right from the start. After dropping off our bags with our host, we had an hour before our reservation at the Musee de l’Orangerie. We stumbled upon a charming little cafe called Carrousel by the Jardins des Tuileries and had the most amazing breakfast. I had pain au chocolat and hot chocolate that was to die for. We then strolled over to the museum, where I came face-to-face with one of the most mesmerizing art collections ever. The complete collection of Monet’s water lilies was displayed in two massive rooms. As a Monet fan, I would go back to France just to see all the museums I missed that have his work. Oh, and let’s not forget about the impressive collection of Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso at the museum.

We then walked to the Musée d’Orsay, and I have no idea why I didn’t visit when I lived in Paris. It might just be my favorite French museum. The impressive collections aside, the building itself is straight out of a fairytale. At Musee D’Orsay, they had an exhibit that had just opened featuring Van Gogh’s paintings from his final months. In just two short months, Van Gogh created over 74 masterpieces and 33 drawings before his tragic death. I was so captivated by this exhibit that I just wandered, gazing at the art in awe for a while. I barely took any pictures because, let’s be real, how can a photo do justice to those incredible pieces? Eventually, found myself standing next to an elderly lady looking at the exhibit, and we both wert tearing up. She kept saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I couldn’t agree more.

Now, let me be completely honest here – by this point in the day, Ricky and I had been awake for over 24 hours. We were mentally and physically drained from the crappy plane ride. We were so exhausted that we were getting dizzy from sheer tiredness (it was quite a sight, really). But did that stop us? Absolutely not! Next up on our itinerary was a quick visit to the Louvre.

Ricky did almost fall victim to some scammy ladies trying to rope him into signing something so they could most likely pick pocket him, but fear not, I came to the rescue. After our close encounter, we decided to walk from the Louvre back to our Airbnb, which was about a 20-minute stroll away. Despite our exhaustion, every few minutes, we’d stop to take pictures and soak in the beauty of the city. Paris has a way of captivating your heart, even when you’re running on fumes. Luckily, our Airbnb host allowed us to check in early, so by noon, we were crashing into our comfy bed. A few hours later, we woke up refreshed and ready for round two!

After our power nap, we had reservations for a super cool activity that was also covered by our City Pass – a workshop at the Caves du Louvre. Located just a short walk from the Louvre Museum, this wine cellar offered a fun and interactive tour, complete with wine tasting. Ricky isn’t a huge wine person, but he ended up really enjoying the tour. After the wine tasting (and probably because we hadn’t eaten much and had indulged in lots of wine), we took a leisurely stroll around Paris and did some shopping.

We stopped at a charming cheese store and stocked up on cheeses and patés. Then, we discovered a pipe company called Chacom and learned that they are the biggest French brand for creating, manufacturing, and distributing fine pipes. Ricky couldn’t resist and ended up purchasing a top-notch pipe. Next, we couldn’t resist the allure of a bookstore, so we indulged our bookworm tendencies and browsed through books (most of them in French). For dinner, we treated ourselves to a mouthwatering meal at Le Ragueneau. We devoured cuisse de canard confite (duck leg) and a delightful charcuterie board. On this trip, we indulged in all the meats and cheeses our hearts desired. As we walked back to our flat, we marveled at the holiday decorations adorning the shops. It truly felt like a magical winter wonderland.

The next morning, we woke up bright and early and made our way to a charming cafe called Florio for breakfast near the Opera. Our first activity of the day was something unique and highly recommended – we booked a workshop at the Fragonard Museum to create our own perfume. And guess what? It was 100% covered by our City Pass. The regular price for this experience was over $100 per person, but we didn’t have to spend a dime. It’s no secret that Paris is renowned for its fragrances, so I was beyond excited for this adventure. We started by crafting our own signature scents, blending different ingredients and learning about the art of scent combinations. Then, we enjoyed a guided tour of the museum and took advantage of the discounted prices to purchase some fragrances.

The smells were a little overwhelming for Ricky, who ended up stepping out for some fresh air towards the end of the tour. So, if you’re sensitive to strong scents, you might want to take caution. But for me, it was an absolute delight!

As luck would have it, it started raining while we were in the middle of the perfume tour. But hey, don’t let the reviews trick you – Paris in the fall rain is simply perfect! Our next stop was Galeries Lafayette, conveniently located right across from the Fragonard Museum. I had visited this place back in 2016, and I was just as blown away by its elegance and beautiful architecture this time around. The building was decked out for Christmas, adding an extra touch of magic to the experience. We ventured all the way to the top floor and showed Ricky a hidden gem – a rooftop with breathtaking views of the city. Despite the rain, the view was still magnificent. It reminded me why I fell in love with Paris in the first place.

We then hopped on the metro and made our way to the Arc de Triomphe. After grabbing a quick bite to eat nearby, we took some pictures at the iconic monument and even climbed the stairs, which I hadn’t done during my previous visit. However, I have to admit that reaching the top was a bit underwhelming. It might just be a matter of personal preference, but I expected a more awe-inspiring view. It was a lot of stairs for not much excitement. If I had the chance, I would probably skip this part and spend more time walking up and down Champs Elysees, which is right next to the Arc.

Next on our list was a walking tour of Notre Dame. To be honest, I wasn’t initially as excited about this stop, but boy, was I proven wrong! I had the privilege of seeing Notre Dame before the tragic fire, and I knew Ricky really wanted to visit, so we booked the tour (also covered by our City Pass, which saved us around $80 a person). Despite the persistent rain, we learned fascinating historical facts about the cathedral and got a refresher on its myths and legends.

The tour also included entry to the Crypte Archeologique de l’Île de la Cité, which showcases the urban and architectural development of the historical heart of Paris. Although the crypt wasn’t as impressive as I had hoped, it was still an interesting addition to the tour. Afterward, we couldn’t resist popping into Shakespeare and Company, a renowned bookstore featured in one of my favorite movies, “Before Sunset.” We ended up buying books for ourselves – Ricky chose “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (because, duh!) while I opted for a collection of poems about Paris compiled by the bookstore itself.

Now, if you’ve made it this far in the blog post, there’s one crucial Paris landmark we hadn’t visited yet – the Eiffel Tower! Honestly, I purposely saved it for last because I believe there is so much more to Paris than just the Eiffel Tower. There is so much to Paris, I was extremely sad we didn’t have enough time to explore Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris, also where I lived in 2016.

After a delightful afternoon in the Left Bank of Paris and indulging in some mouthwatering food, we finally headed to Champs de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower. Just our luck, the rain started pouring as soon as we arrived. But you know what? It made the experience even more magical. We braved the rain, walked through the gardens, took pictures, and admired the iconic tower in all its glory. There’s something undeniably beautiful about Paris in the rain. Maybe it’s the romantic in me or the influence of watching “Midnight in Paris” one too many times, but I couldn’t have asked for a better way to see this landmark.

For dinner that night, we indulged in some scrumptious Korean food. Let me tell you, the area around our Airbnb was a haven of Japanese and Korean restaurants, and it was like a dream come true for my taste buds. We later found out that the Paris HQ of Japan Airlines used to be on the same street as our flat, which explained the Asian culinary influence in the neighborhood. And let me just say, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill Korean BBQ joint. Oh no, it was something special. The flavors were out of this world, and it had that perfect blend of traditional Korean goodness with a touch of Parisian luxury.

After dinner, we decided to do some more exploring because why not? Paris has a way of making you feel alive and adventurous. We stumbled upon a charming patisserie that was open late, and we couldn’t resist. We treated ourselves to an array of delectable cakes and baked goods until closing time. It was a sugar-filled extravaganza, and our taste buds were dancing with joy.

Although our time in Paris was short and sweet, we made the most of every single minute. Sure, we had a rocky start with my tics causing a bit of chaos, but we brushed it off and kept marching forward. And boy, am I glad we did! Because Paris, my friends, is still my all-time favorite city. It’s a magical blend of elegance, passion, and history that captivates me each time I set foot there. Normally, I’m not one to revisit places I’ve already been to, with so many other countries on my travel list. But mark my words, I will return to Paris in a heartbeat the moment the opportunity presents itself. This city holds a piece of my heart, and I can’t wait to be reunited with its charming streets, mouthwatering cuisine, and breathtaking sights. Paris, je t’aime!