A Solo Trip to Paris Brought Alive the Child in Me!

I travelled across Europe, through Spain, Italy and France, to find that many magical experiences awaited me from its charming countryside towns, epic castles, dazzling art to its legendary history. 

Chilling around the Barcelona Port: I loved spending an evening unwinding and enjoying the shimmering cityscape at this small countryside area, that stretched out before the lively and young city of Barcelona. It might be slightly far from the city, but I found that it still had all the touristy attractions like a beach, a cathedral and many restaurants. My favourite pastime was watching the city lights glimmer in the water.

Most hotels and apartments here open to this beautiful view of the beach and ocean. Did you know, the famous club Al Pacha originated here?​

Goofing around in Valencia: I loved walking through the streets of Valencia, a place full of whimsy and magic. It is one of the prettiest cities in Spain and is known for its great street art and fun-loving residents. In fact, I made a new friend too – a forest elf who took time away from the book he was reading to click a picture with me!

When in Italy, EAT: As you can see, I clearly love my pasta! Italy has beautiful food traditions and I was overjoyed to be able to experience at least some of them. This country loves to eat AND feed its people, making it totally my kind of place.

Red Carpet Fun at Cannes: I’ve always wanted to visit Cannes – the glitzy world of camera flashes and movie stars walking out of million-dollar cars. So here I am, outside the venue and behind me are the red-carpeted steps that lead up to the theatre that hosts the film festival. It is here that you would have seen all the best-dressed stars pirouette, smile and air-kiss their way inside!

Louvre, the art wonder of the world: They say no visit to Paris is complete without a visit to the Louvre and I agree. The beautiful glass pyramid you see behind me is where you enter the museum from. This area has a great vibe and a walk around here at night, through the grid of cobbled alleys filled with cafes and sharply dressed Parisians, makes it amply clear why the world can’t get enough of this city.

My Fairy-tale Trip to Disneyland: About an hour away from Paris, on its outskirts, lies the sprawling dreamy world of Disney that transports you right back to your childhood. And I was all set for nostalgia and happiness to engulf me as I boarded the shuttle to the magic land. ​

They say what you feel is what you’ll reflect, and a smile is not just an expression, it’s a feeling - though mine looks more like an animated laugh. The reason for my joy? This vibrant Sleeping Beauty Disney castle behind me!​

What lies beneath the busy streets of Paris: Did you know that Paris is called the ‘City of Lights’? Well, underneath all those glittering lights, there is an entire underground world of tunnels filled with skulls and bones, called the ‘Catacombs of Paris’. Back in the late 18^th century, when Paris’ cemeteries were overflowing, the city administration built an underground quarry for their dead. It is open to tourists, but clearly, this experience is not for the faint-hearted! 

The Catacombs lie deep inside the heart of the Earth and I had to climb down around 130 narrow steps that curve in a spiral to finally reach the underground tunnels.​

Did you know this place has around 6-7 million human skulls? Some of these also belong to French Revolutionaries and other important historical figures. I was absolutely fascinated by this walk back in time, through ancient caves and tunnels filled with stories of intrigue and history. ​

Pampering myself at Monaco: One of the world’s smallest cities, Monaco sure packs a lot of punch. I loved exploring this city of glamorous casinos, glitzy nightlife and fast cars that stretches lazily along the rich and luxurious French Riviera. The perfect place to let my hair down and pretend to be Hollywood royalty for the night.