Month: August 2025

I had only ever been to Disney California just recently, and even then, I didn’t go into the actual park but rather the free area around it. Growing up, I liked some Disney and Pixar movies; however, I never considered myself a diehard Disney kid. I wasn’t sure what to expect in Disney Paris; however, the experience far surpassed any expectations I had. The theming was immersive, the rides were thrilling, and the stores made me excited to shop. I had felt the magic of Disney.

One thing I was surprised by in my experience with amusement parks was that the food was good at Disney; it wasn’t cheap, but it also didn’t break my wallet.

Despite being the newest of the Disney parks, built in 1992, I felt an old charm from Paris Disney. The sections of the park were so fun to walk through. Everything nerdy about my interests was rediscovered in the park. I loved the fantasy section, as it had Mr. Toad and Alice in Wonderland.

I also have to comment on the technical aspect of the rides. I was stunned by how impressive some of these rides were. There was a lot of thrill, and yet they still sustained fantasy and wonder throughout it. Every detail was amazing. I loved the haunted house and the mountain roller coaster. I thoroughly enjoyed screaming my head off on every ride.

I found it interesting to be in a park where a lot of the visitors were from countries outside the US. It made for an interesting people-watching experience, as for the most part, parks in the US really don’t cater to foreign travelers. It also seems that quite a few Parisians also enjoy the park, which was a bit surprising, as I feel having this mega park in your backyard would create some animosity.

I truly feel that I did everything I wanted to do in the park that day. No stone was unturned.

While the south of France wasn’t originally on my bucket list, having the opportunity to go was an amazing experience. In the morning I took a nice train down with Avery and Naomi. The train ride was the longest I had taken in Paris, but it was an enjoyable experience. Upon arriving in Marseille, I could feel the change in scenery, and the Mediterranean was a warm welcome. The architecture and warm breeze contrasted Paris’s dense city life. Rolling hills, with tile roofing on the buildings.

We stopped off at lunch, brought in by the smells of seafood. The fish I ordered was delicious, as was the spritz I ordered. Everywhere you looked there were pretty views. It was a beautiful blue-sky day. Naomi was here to get her tattoo, and Avery and I tagged along. We decided to go to the beach.

The water was cold but felt refreshing in the heat. Feeling the waves roll through you as seaweed danced in the water was something I had missed about going to the beaches back home. I was excited to be in an ocean I had never been in before.People watching along the beach and sunbathing was a relaxing way to spend the time out of the water. I could see myself staying there a few days; however, the day trip was still something I am glad I did not miss. We visited the Palais Longchamp, which certainly commanded its presence.

This natural cliff element was stunning to look at. The ride home on the train was not as nice as the train to Marseille; however, I struck up a conversation with an older passenger that ended up lasting the whole train ride. It was a nice interaction that made me think about the world and furthered my thoughts on France.

The Moulin Rouge, Sacre-Coeur, and the bohemian fever dream all come together to make this hub for artistry and wild nights. The undesirable land became a haven for the insane and creative. I find as the phrase goes, “art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Montmartre certainly has this.

The Musée de Montmartre, a beautiful building, held the halls of excellent artists of the bohemian era. Walking around Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre revealed the inspiration for the art within the museum.

Seeing this connection between what I saw and what the artist saw inspired something in me. I was swept up in a multitude of emotions. There was nostalgia for something I hadn’t seen before. What these artists saw, in a way, is how I was seeing Paris. Walking the streets of Montmartre, feeling the cobblestones, the smells, the sights, the sounds. I felt as if the art was an expression of what I was seeing.

Sacre-Coeur felt mystical, like seeing Jareth’s castle in the sweeping shot of Labyrinth. The Basilica stands tall at the top of this hill, with the might and wisdom of a building that appears much older than it is. There is something that sparks dark fantasy about the contrast of the lands below Sacre-Couer.