I didn’t expect Paris to feel the way it did.
Not in a big, dramatic way.
Just something quiet.
It hit me on my first day.
When I saw the Eiffel Tower.
No buildup. No countdown. Just walking—and then it’s there.
That was the moment.
“Nasa Paris na ako.”
It didn’t feel loud.
It felt unreal.
Like I was just passing through something I’ve only seen online before.
The Surreal Part
That’s the best way I can describe it.
Surreal.
Not overwhelming. Not emotional in an obvious way.
Just that feeling of not fully processing where you are.
You know it’s real—but it doesn’t feel real yet.
Moving Around the City
Even after that moment, the feeling stayed.
Walking around, taking the train, sitting in cafés—it all felt slightly disconnected.
Like I was observing everything instead of fully being in it.
But in a good way.
Small Realizations
There were moments where I’d just pause.
Not to take photos.
Just to look.
Buildings, streets, people—everything looked familiar but new at the same time.
That mix is what made it different.
What Made It Stick
It wasn’t one place.
It wasn’t one activity.
It was just being there.
That’s what stayed with me.
