I found my way to all of my destinations, but getting back was the hard part, especially when you’re facing the night. After the museum, I headed back to the hostel. Unfortunately it wasn’t as easy as I hoped. I continued to search for Metro 4. I didn’t know at the time that you could take another numbered metro that would lead you to the correct metro, so I walked around looking for Metro 4. I was still in the outfit from the day before because my suitcase hadn’t arrived and fighting daylight, so I was walking at an olympic speed walker’s pace.
I finally found some signs that lead me to points on my map. That helped me get to the correct metro.
Paris was gorgeous as the sun set, but it made me nervous that I would be lost at night.
Once I got to the Porte Saint-Denis, I was able to look at my map and follow the roads. The Porte Saint-Denis was built in 1672 under the order of Louis XIV as a symbol of his victories on the Rhine and in Franche-Comte. The Porte Saint-Denis replaced the Wall of Charles V which was built in the 14th century.
The architecture and detail was impeccable. I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that the lion looked kind of like my dog, Mr. Grumples.
I finally got on the right metro and got off at the right station, but finding my way back to the hostel at night was the most difficult. I walked around for a good three hours trying to find things that looked similar. I asked a few people, but they didn’t know where it was. The hostel is fairly new so people don’t know much about it.
I finally found the hostel and basically kissed the ground, I was so happy!
My luggage was sitting at the front desk and I couldn’t have been happier! I was fighting jet lag at the time, so I grabbed some trail mix, a diet coke, started to blog and then called it a night. I was heading to Strasbourg in the morning and wanted to get some rest!
Trisha says
I just realized you took a picture of the Best Western my husband and I stayed in!! That part of town made me nervous but there was a great bakery nearby so that was a little ray of sunshine everyday! I didn’t enjoy my time in France but seeing your pictures actually make me miss it–you take beautiful pictures!!