I wanted to see the City of Romance in another light with people dear to me so I decided to take an outdoor adventure in Paris. I planned this trip with my college buddies and we all agreed to see the other side of this city and uncover what many tourists have not yet seen. It was our first time to see Paris and it was expected that we had different opinions of what an outdoor adventure in Paris should include. And to avoid any disagreements, we had to set our itinerary way before we even applied for a Schengen visa. Each of us did our individual researches and each of us wrote what we want to see in Paris. At the end of the week, we all met, compared our individual itineraries, and agreed to do the activities that we all had in common.
An Outdoor Adventure in Paris, France:
Finally the day of our trip came and we arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport. We thought the airport alone was an impressive structure and it was such a great introduction to what we are about to see in Paris. Our outdoor adventure in Paris started as soon as we stepped out of the airport. We took the Line B RER train from the airport to Paris City. From there, we transferred to Metro Line 2 which took us to where we will stay near Blanche station.
Since the theme of our trip is uncovering what most tourists have not seen, we chose to live in an area still close to the city center but not horded by tourists. It is convenient to know that Paris is partitioned into several arrondissements or communities. Each community is assigned an ordinal number similar with New York but from 1st to 20th only. To make it easier for tourists to decide where to stay, the lower the ordinal number the closer the community is to the city center. We decided to stay quite a distance from the center but not too far for our convenience. Plus, we also decided to stay not in a hotel but in an apartment so we can actually feel the vibe of being a local. And so we chose an apartment in the 9th arrondissement. The apartment is actually quite charming and so near a metro station which made traveling easy and convenient.
We got to our apartment a little over noon so we decided to take a quick bite and explore the neighbourhood a bit. We immediately fell in the love with area because it is so close to the Moulin Rouge Theater as well as several local restaurants that are filled with locals. We ate at a place called Quick, which we assumed to serve fast food and we were right. Well, the food was not great but it did its purpose of filling us up at the shortest amount of time. After eating, we proceeded to do the first activity in our itinerary. We walked back to Blanche station, rode Bus 68, and got off at Denfert-Rochereau stations after around 22 stops. Right across the stop is the place called Les Catacombes or The Catacombs.
The welcome sign by the entrance of this place is so catchy yet eerie – “STOP! Here is the Empire of Death.” This place is an underground tunnel converted into a crypt when human bones were exhumed to empty the fully-packed cemeteries prior to the French Revolution. I guess the government expected more deaths during the revolution so they vacated the cemeteries. Anyway, we paid less than €5 to scare ourselves to death – pun intended!
After that crazy adventure, we decided to go back to Blanche so we can rest early. We took the same bus and got off near Moulin Rouge. We were supposed to just buy take out and eat at the apartment but my friend insisted of entering this unique looking bar called Autour de Midi en Minuet. We went in and thought it was just an ordinary French restaurant but when we looked around we realized that it was a basement-type of music bar that plays jazz tunes. We got curious and decided to spend a couple of hours in the place.
The following day, we got ready for the ride of our lives. We all decided to join a scooter tour around Paris because it’s our first time in the city so might as well see the famous landmarks but still follow our outdoor adventure in Paris theme. The fee was quite hefty at around €500 but the security deposit (for the insurance of the Vespa) was returned immediately. We met our tour guide, Milan, and he immediately introduced us to our Vespas and gave us quick reminders plus safety precautions. I should say that driving a scooter amidst the Parisian traffic was quite scary but what the heck it was such an awesome adventure!
After our crazy Vespa adventure, we decided to go to a famous evening destination known as Montmarte. Montmarte used to be a very affluent area in Paris during the 18th century and the remnants of its glorious past can still be witnessed until now. Tourists have polar opinions about this area – some say that it is hounded by pickpockets while others say it is a hidden gem. Since the area is just near our apartment we decide to throw caution to the wind and just explore the place. There we decided to do a bit of shopping along Isakin. My friend bought perfume and I bought classic vinyl. After the quick shopping escapade, we decided to walk back to Place du Tertre which is a cozy, café-filled square where local artists hang out. I should say to keep your things in check while in this area and to not just chitchat with some poser artists. Some here are con-artists so be careful.
On our last day in Paris, we decided to keep the activity mellow and just ride the Canauxrama or the Canal Ferry. I think we paid about €20 per person to do the Canal Saint Martin tour. It is such a romantic ferry ride and I highly suggest you do it with a special someone. The entire ride took more than 2 hours and took us to Bastille, revolving bridges, Basin de la Villete, and the Crimean Bridge.
An Outdoor Adventure in Paris – Make your own Parisian Adventure!
Paris is not just for romantics; it is also for the adventure-seeking souls. If you decide to visit Paris, it is best to make your own itinerary and go with what you truly desire to do. However which way you spend your days in France’s capital city, it will truly be memorable and one-of-a-kind.
As soon as you have decided who your Parisian tour will look like, make sure that you have the necessary documents that will grant you an approved Schengen visa so you can enter Spain. If you are wondering what you will need to apply for a Schengen visa, here are the requirements:
- A filled out Schengen visa application form
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- A couple of recent passport photos with white background
- Travel Insurance – It is best to get it from Schengen Travel Insurance, a more affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Proof of Travel – flight booking, hotel booking, and travel itinerary. You may get a Flight Booking, Hotel Booking, and Travel Itinerary just to get a Schengen Visa without having to pay for the ticket, reservation, or tour packages.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- No Objection Letter – This may come in handy when applying for a Schengen Visa.
- Bank documents
Should you have further questions about the visa application process or obtaining some of the requirements, just contact us and one of our friendly agents will respond to your queries.
