I am writing this blog post late Tuesday night, January 28, 2020. There’s less than half an hour remaining in the day. Tomorrow, it’ll mark 72 hours since the sudden and tragic death of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, former shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. As I’m sure you already know by now, Bryant perished in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other people. He was only 41 years old.

This tragedy has been the center of attention for much of these past few days and understandably so. The magnitude and recognition of Bryant is almost unattainable by so many other global icons around the world. His death will be discussed for much of this year and for years ahead. It’s on the same level of coverage of Michael Jackson’s death and the OJ Simpson case.

The whole thing is incredibly sad and I feel so terrible for the families who lost their loved ones in this accident. But I am writing this blog post for a specific reason. A couple of years ago, when I was a junior in college, I wrote an article for our school newspaper about the death of former Major League Baseball pitcher, Roy Halladay, who died in a plane crash on November 7, 2017. Although he wasn’t as big a name in the sports world as Kobe was, his passing left an impact on me and made me realize that no matter how much fame, adulation or experiences one has had in his or her lifetime, at the end of the day, we’re all in the same position of being subjected to the frailties of life.

Life is unfair, that’s the bottom line. It’s unfortunate and harsh, but it’s the truth. Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow and I feel people should recognize that a bit more. Although the death of Kobe was stunning, it’s not a totally, incomprehensible reality. Yes, I get that it is incomprehensible for people to accept. Hell, it’s still incomprehensible for me to accept. Kobe was bigger than life. You mention his name, about 95% of people would know who he is off the top of their head, even if they don’t follow basketball closely. But what I am trying to say in regards to his death not being an incomprehensible reality, is that events such as these occur in life, and they can happen to ANYONE.

We may not think like that, because I feel that we often look up to celebrities, athletes or noteworthy figures with praise and respect for how they’ve constructed their lives. And for that reason, I think we tend to think that they’re untouchable at times. But that’s just simply not the case. They are people too just like you and me, and they have their rough days and moments just like anyone else. And they’re not indestructible from life. This all might sound like something you’ve heard time and time again and you may not want to hear it anymore but it’s the truth and you need to recognize that life is a privilege and not a guarantee.

We really need to start living in the moment a lot more and holding each other closer and tighter because you might never know if an encounter you may have with someone you love dearly, might be the last one you’ll ever have with them. It’s a terrifying thought but it’s what reality boils down to. Don’t ever take a day in your life for granted. Something bad can happen at any moment. It could strike down as fast as lightning and change everything in your life from that point on.

With all of this being said, you cannot ever give up on life. When you lose someone near and dear to your heart, you need to try your best and stay strong and move forward. It’s increasingly unwell for your mind and physical health to be dwelling on the hardships too often. I’m not saying you need to completely get over a personal loss because I know that some of those personal pieces have a special place in your heart that is irreplaceable. You need to hang on to those pieces because they’re a big part of your life. However, you cannot rely so much on them to propel you through where you are currently.

Nothing ever lasts forever, physically that is. The person’s spirit and legacy will always live on forever and that’s what’s most important. I know this was an emotional reading for you but I feel that this is an important life lesson that I learned, and I feel you should learn to. It’s totally normal to feel sad when something or someone you love is gone. But always be grateful for the time and memories you had with them. It’s better to have experienced love and affection than none at all. It makes you a stronger-minded individual and opens you up to new things along the way.

You may initially be perplexed by the title of this blog post. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “What the hell does that mean? The unknowns are the key?” What I mean by this saying is that unfamiliarities play a vital role in your progression through life, and there’s no better way to discover this then through traveling. Whether it’s a country you’ve never been to or an abandoned house sitting in the middle of nowhere in your hometown, you can learn and appreciate the simplicities of life more and more.

For example, say you discover an old abandoned location in your hometown. You develop a fascination and curiosity in your mind. You thought you knew everything there is to know about your home and upbringing when at the last second, you realize there’s more than you know. That’s the beauty of life itself, you don’t know everything. There are always new things to learn, explore, analyze, practice, and develop. An abandoned location may not initially sound appealing to some people but if you give it a chance it could leave a lasting impact on you.

There are a series of abandoned buildings in my hometown which have been greatly dilapidated as the years have come and gone. These buildings were a mental institution a long time ago. The place is called Letchworth Village and it leaves a dark legacy of abuse of patients that’s still felt today ever time someone walks through there. It was even featured on the reality television show, “Ghost Adventures,” as a hot spot of paranormal activity.

Despite this, I cannot help but stay curious because I want to know more about why this occurred in the first place, especially in a town like mine where I feel completely safe and appreciative of the beauty that’s bestowed on me and my fellow Stony Pointers. Jacob is also fond of exploring places outside of civilization and they’ve had a lasting impact on him. He appreciates the stories and history lessons he learns from abandoned monuments, to temples to unknown caves that are deep within a wooded area. No matter what it may be, anything has the capability of appeasement.

Another benefit of visiting unknowns is that they really teach you to live in the moment. You’re captivated by what’s in front of you, nothing more nothing less. You’re intrigued by the sights and sounds that surround you from head to toe, and you become consumed with the everlasting desire to feel a connection in that very moment. At the end of the day, you never truly know how much attention an abandoned building in a town or city receives. The fact that you discovered it and you’re aware of its existence, makes it sweet. It becomes a part of your life, a place where you can allow yourself to really embrace curiosity and see what’s out there.

This is probably the toughest blog post that I’ve written. Why? Well that’s because I simply just don’t feel that I have the energy or motivation to write tonight. However, that’s no excuse for not writing at all, and that’s what this blog is about. In order to fulfill my dreams of traveling the world, I need to stay committed, regardless of how I am feeling on the inside. Dedication is the ultimate element when it comes to achieving a desired goal, and for too long, I feel that although I’ve been dedicated to many things in my life, I haven’t been dedicated enough.

I’m trying to change that and am writing this blog post as best as I possibly can by the force and will of my cramped fingers and fried out brain cells. This is the toughest part of chasing your dreams. There are times where you’re not going to be in the mood to do something, but at the end of it all, you need to suck it up, remember WHY you’re doing this in the first place, and tell yourself that you’re doing this for a reason. That reassurance provides a sense of pride and tenacity, and you should use that to step forward, toss out all of the distractions or excuses that are aching for your attention, and do what you need to do.

I remember when I was in high school during my freshman and sophomore years. I watched this guy’s YouTube channel frequently. His name is Giavanni Ruffin. He aspired to play in the National Football League but was not drafted out of college. Despite that, he remained determined and continued to train day in and day out to reach his dreams. He filmed his workouts and placed a motivational voiceover over the footage, to create an inspiration piece for viewers to lean on in times of doubt. The epic music score used, the insane workouts he did and the speech that was going on in the background just culminated in a masterpiece that touched my heart. It made me realize that nothing is handed to you on a silver platter and you have to scratch, and claw and drive to whatever it is you so desire.

As I am writing this blog, I am now finding that drive to make this blog stand out more than any other blog post. It goes to show that mentality can change in the blink of an eye if you have something to look back on, if you have that little birdie on your shoulder reminding you why you’re here. Ruffin’s videos had a lot of memorable quotes that I still remember to this day. The biggest quotes for me were, “when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” That could not have been more true. In one of the videos, a guru describes a scenario. Say for instance you’re under water, and a wave comes crashing down upon you. You’re desperately trying to reach the surface but the water is making you work for that taste of fresh air. You want the air so badly, you’re desperate, you’re doing whatever you need to do to take it and then…you break through.

That’s the same mentality you need to have when it comes to down to chasing your dreams. You need to want it badly and trust me when I tell you, I do want to travel the world badly. There’s another inspiring quote in another one of Ruffin’s videos in which he states, “the poorest man isn’t the one without a penny, the poorest man is the one without a dream.” Money can’t buy happiness. Happiness comes from within, it’s natural, it’s a warm, comforting feeling we all crave for. I realize that that feeling for me comes from traveling and that’s why I do these blog posts.

I don’t just do them in order for me to get there, I do them to really reach you too. If you’ve made it this far reading everything that I’ve written, I feel that I’m doing my job. If not, then either I’m failing at that, or you’re not giving me a chance, which relates to my previous that I had written.

Ultimately, Ruffin’s quotes define life and dreams. You cannot not have dreams because then you’re not striving to do anything, you’re just going with the flow. Going with the flow may not necessarily be a bad thing but I’m out to do something so much more, and I want that to be the mentality you have too. So with all of that being said, here are the videos of Giavanni Ruffin.

How many times have you heard that saying? I’m sure the answer would be, “a lot.” Well, although this saying may sound a bit redundant and cliche, it really is more valuable than you might think. I learned that this statement is more relatable than I could have ever imagined. In fact, I feel it is more immeasurable nowadays than it has ever been before. The statement is not at all complicated to comprehend. It’s basically the antithesis of the belief that what you see is what you get.

For me personally, if I had to choose between that belief or this one, I’d go with this one, because I truly believe you need to give things a chance before coming to a final conclusion. When I say, “give things a chance,” I don’t mean give it a few seconds, a minute or even a day. Some things tend to take a bit longer to become accustomed to or appreciate. This was something that I was taught through Jacob’s videos. Before I became exposed to his content, I had a very low patience level, which is hypocritical of me because things move at their own pace and I am not exception.

Jacob taught me that we should not judge a country, race or religion solely by what we see in the media. Rather, he suggests we take it with a “pinch of salt,” and keep an open mind. This is where not judging a book by the cover comes into play. You see, Jacob just got done visiting countries in the Middle East. Countries that are well-known for being quote-on-quote, “dangerous.” These included Iraq and Syria. When those two countries are brought to somebody’s attention, usually the initial thought is, “war,” and it’s hard not have that thought after all of the coverage that these countries have received specifically due to war. I am not in any way trying to deny the existence of war in those countries, but what I am trying to do is to make you really think about that area in general. Is all of it covered in war? And when I mean all of it, I truly mean ALL OF IT.

It’s not a difficult question. The answer is, of course not. Yes there are areas you should be careful in, but don’t think for a second that it’s totally unsafe. Within those countries is goodness, and that goodness emanates from civilians, nature, culture and cuisines. The goodness outweighs the badness by a ton. Nobody wants their country to go through war destruction and hardships and people I feel need to keep that in the back of their minds that things are out of people’s control. What we see in the media more often than not I feel is desperation, desperation for a story and reaction. In other words, all of that footage we see of protests, bombs and tears is meant to get more investment from the audience.

Now don’t get me wrong, some of that footage is necessary to show because people need to be aware of the ongoings in different areas around the world and how people are being affected by them. I just feel that there’s a certain extent to how much should be shown and addressed, especially when it comes to politics. I feel sometimes that politics exacerbate situations or crises in certain countries. I feel that the political agenda contains a lot of ego-driven tactics that either become abused or miscalculated and as a result, more hardship and uproar occurs.

Through it all though, I think people need to be cognizant of the fact that every country is beautiful and unique. You can’t rely solely on what is shown in the media all of the time to shape your perception. Whether it’s Iraq, Iran, Syria or Venezuela, each country is a home to people and the people are really what defines a country. Remember, most people around the world are friendly and because of that, most countries in the world are friendly and beautiful. So just because you may see some graphic images or clips in the news, obviously keep those who are being affected in your thoughts and prayers because not everyone has a level playing field of life. People sometimes are given unfair and unspeakable situations that we just have no say in.

I’m aware this is a controversial topic but I do feel it needs to be addressed to a larger extent. We need to give every place a chance and we need to reach out to those who are struggling to make the world better. Nobody is able to do anything alone. We all need to look out for one another because we’re all family at the end of the day, I cannot stress that enough!

During my junior and senior years of college, I participated in two mission trips that transformed me. In my junior year, I went to Beaumont, Texas, a town not far outside of Houston. I went there with 14 other students and three chaperones, just five months after Hurricane Harvey had struck back in late August 2017. I had always wanted to explore more of my home country and I felt that this would be a great opportunity to not only explore the second-largest state in terms of land, but I could also maybe learn about Southern culture.

But I also kept an open mind and reminded myself that I was not going for a vacation. More than anything, I was going to help those who desperately needed it. I’ve been blessed with a family, home and clothes and food, and sadly, many people lost those gifts that too often I and others take for granted. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to not even wake up in the morning without even having my head rested on a pillow. It really struck a chord inside of me knowing that the storm had wiped out so much of family’s homes. The toughest thing for me to comprehend was people losing personal memories, whether it’d be items that they’ve kept for years or photo albums containing printed images that cannot be recovered because they were taken during a time when you couldn’t take a picture with a phone.

The work we endured was horrendously painful, not physically but emotionally. We virtually had to tear out walls of houses to get rid of the disgusting mold that had built up after the storm. The houses were in such a dilapidated state that some of the walls probably would’ve given way within the next month. Additionally, there was flooding emanating from the bathroom toilets, and it’d soak up rugs and spread all over the floors. If that wasn’t enough, I remember we had to tell a home owner we had to literally take out a wall in the house, exposing it to the outside. I’d probably break down and give up if I was that owner.

In spite of all of that struggles I witnessed, I will say that I was inspired by the gracefulness and resiliency of the people of Beaumont. Every owner I spoke with touched me. They are strong individuals and were appreciative of the tireless amount of time and effort we put into resolving any kind of situation the best we could. I knew throughout the entire trip, that eventually I’d be able to have my house to return to and my education. This trip really taught me to think twice about complaining and having sympathy for myself. Compared to this, my problems aren’t even close, and I feel guilty when I look back on it. The people of Texas are still struggling in this aftermath and it’s up to us to reach out and provide the help they desperately need.

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/hurricane-relief/hurricane-harvey-relief-information.html

I realized that travel is more powerful than I had originally thought. At the end of that same year, I went on another mission trip to Puerto Rico, which had been struck by Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. Just as Harvey had done to the people of Texas, Maria wiped out a lot of Puerto Rico. It was a Category 5 storm and according to Mercy Corps, it was the worst natural disaster to strike the island in nearly a century. Many people were thrown into poverty and the island’s population suffered accordingly. Mercy Corps also stated that by 2024, Puerto Rico’s population is projected to fall another 8%. https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/united-states/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico

The people of Puerto Rico were also incredibly inspiring. I remember vividly one house I worked on, which was being renovated under the tutelage of a girl around my age, if not younger. It was at that moment that I realized that anybody has the potential to do anything regardless of their age. It’s all about experience and putting yourself forward. You are able start early if you’re able to. The family we were helping out involved a woman who was still living by herself, but was suffering from ALS, which is a horrific disease that kills the motor neurons in the body.

But the fact that this woman was not letting a disease take her down also captivated me. It’s astonishing sometimes to think that here’s someone who won’t be able to speak or move, still doing her best to live her life to the fullest. That’s the mentality I realized you need to have through life. I don’t know if I have that strength just yet but hopefully I do develop it some day. I hope I develop it through the lessons I’ve learned and continue to learn from these kinds of people down the road regardless of where I may be.

After going on five trips and ten plane rides in the course of eight months last year, I’m not planning on any extensive travels as of now. Believe me, I would like to, but I am just not financially able to do so. So right now, I’d like to outline my New Year’s Resolutions for 2020.

1. Mature- This is something I always try to do every year. Last year, I was probably too immature because I was running around, spoiled rotten, being able to do virtually anything I wanted to do, with the help of others. Nowadays, I have to be a bit more cognizant and responsible with my spendings and actions and start behaving a bit more like an adult.
2. Continue working on this blog- I hope to include some advertisements in my blog posts to try and make some money for myself. But I also want to really get people to check this thing out and inspire them in any way, shape or form.
3. Land a paid internship over the summer- I applied for a global news position with the Associated Press on December 15, but I don’t expect to get it, due to the heavy competition that I’m faced with and the fact that AP is extremely meticulous in its choosing. They won’t just select anybody, and I’m not sure I’d stack up well. But I am proud I went in and gave it a shot because it really appealed to me, mostly because of the international locations that looked intriguing; New Delhi, Jerusalem, London and Rome.
4. Create a documentary on my hometown- Stony Point, New York, in Rockland County, New York, has been my home for 17 of my 22 years of existing on this earth. I moved there in 2002, at the age of 5, and the town has meant a lot to me. It is after all, where I’ve made lifelong friendships, memories and lessons. It’s also a beautiful town with a magical scenery that I feel goes unnoticed too often and I want to be able to bring that to the screen as best as I can.
5. Read more- This is something that I have struggled with massively. I haven’t read a book from cover to cover, in literally two years, and that’s an embarrassment and I’m ashamed to even admit that. I’ve been sucked into my phone and have aimlessly been binge watching YouTube videos. Some have meaning to me, others don’t. Some I watch out of sheer boredom. It’s time to expand my horizons and learn more, and reading is the perfect way to do just that.

In my last blog post, I mentioned how people should take advantage of traveling the world if they are able to do so. Right now for me, it’s a bit complicated. I’m not in a position to do that. I am not financially fit to travel the world on a full-time basis as of now and that’s okay. There’s no rush for me to and there should be no rush for you too.

Everyone is at a different position in his or her life and for those who aren’t able to travel right now, I think this post can help you satisfy your desires. Since I can’t travel on a full-time basis yet, I’m starting to build towards doing just that. That’s the whole purpose of starting this blog in the first place. Blogging is a tremendous way to bring in some dough for yourself. Over time, the more you work on a blog, and the more readers you acquire, the more opportunities you can acquire as well.

You can have the opportunity to run ads on your website and that generates revenue whenever somebody reads your blog online. Ads are essential and are a key component to getting yourself to travel the world. Now, it may take some time, planning and sacrifices. I realize that if I want to start bringing in some revenue for myself, I am going to really have to work my tail off on this website. I am aiming to write at least one blog post per day. They won’t be super long, but to come up with something to write about every day is the challenge. Keeping it fresh and having the desire to do this will determine whether this will be yay or nay.

If I give myself a deadline, that’ll help, because limiting myself and committing myself to do an action will force me to give it everything that I’ve got. That’s a key for those who want to travel more. If you do want to do so, you have to start motivating yourself. One thing I’d recommend, and it’s obvious, is to start saving money and be responsible on what you do spend it on. Limit the amount of times you go out with friends to bars or restaurants and eat at home instead. Limit the amount of times you use the internet or television to prevent your bills from skyrocketing and instead pick up a book or go on a run or walk and explore what’s in your area.

Exploring around your area is a great way to get yourself in the right state of mind for when you go out in the world. Your curiosity and admiration will grow and you’ll find yourself appreciating the things around you much more often too. I am also keeping in touch with Jacob and my fellow Exploriors and getting advice from them and using their experiences as a way to propel myself to my own experiences. There will be sacrifices you’ll have to make and many of these will stink. People move at their own pace but don’t try and compare yourself to others when it comes to moving ahead.

I sometimes feel left out or disappointed in myself for not going out there and traveling as much as I would like to. But I have to remember, that I am me, and that’s a great thing. I am my own person and I move at my own pace. My role models such as Jacob, Drew Binsky and Indigo Traveller, have their own unique personalities and mentalities and have designed their lives their way. That’s huge because again, it’s all about bringing in different perspectives to learn more and expand your horizons. I’m in a different spot compared to them and that’s another thing I have to remember.

I’m doing different things and am in a different geographic location. I’m still learning new things and I am still new to adult life. It took the three of them a lot of work and dedication to get where they are today. Jacob is an extremely intelligent individual, one of the smartest people I have seen on YouTube and he gives a lot of great advice on starting your own businesses. I recommend checking out his channel and really try and understand what he’s explaining.

As mentioned, I look up Jacob’s demeanor and perspectives of life and use that as guidance for my life, because they are inspirational. So if you aren’t traveling right now, don’t worry. You’re good, you’re not doing anything wrong. It may take a while, but you’ll get there one day trust me. I know I will one day and I also know that one day, I’ll meet Jacob and my fellow Exploriors in-person.

Being able to see the world is something I think people should try and do as often as they can. If you keep yourself reserved to your home country, that’s completely fine, you’re entitled to living your life the way you want to. But you’re missing out on so much, trust me. To be able to go out and see what the world has is magical. There’s always some place in some country that has the ability to move you on the inside. In other words, your ideas and thoughts about something may be alternated, and that’s not a bad thing at all.

For example, you may think your country’s culture is the same as many others in terms of food, clothing and music. American culture is very international and has reached so many parts of the world and has influenced many things. However, you’d be pleasantly surprised how a change in culture can motivate you. Meeting people of different nationalities is a thrill, especially for me. I have come in contact with people as far away from me as India. Whenever I get the chance to talk with them over Instagram or Telegram, my heart races and I’m very engaged.

I repeatedly say to myself, “Hey, I’m talking with somebody in India. That’s pretty cool.” And again, it goes back to what Jacob tries to stress on his channel, which is that people are all the same. Sure we come from different upbringings, but man, when you combine different elements of nationalities together, that creates something special. It enables you to leave your mark on different people and teach them new things and vice versa. Everyone needs to know more than just their own country.

If that’s all you’re invested in, just your own country, then you’re not going to be able to comprehend the bigger picture of why things occur in life. Social media does play a vital role in connecting people from all over the world, and that’s the thing I can say I like about it. Meeting new people and exploring new places gives you a sense of free will and engages your interest. It is the best way to live in the moment. When you travel, you have to go out and engage, otherwise, you’re basically trapped where you are and you have nowhere to go.

WiFi limitations are actually a blessing in disguise sometimes, because it forces you to take your eyes off the screen and pay more attention to what’s in front of you at the current moment. This helps you discover more about yourself and it can also lead to you finding out just how strong and resilient you are both mentally and physically, which is huge. Too often, I feel people are okay with being ‘comfortable.’ You have to get passed that at some point. Life isn’t always comfortable and it shouldn’t be. Cause if it was, then it would just be bland and everything would be served on a silver platter. There’d be no creativity involved whatsoever.

Everybody possesses creativity and some don’t even realize that. It’s buried beneath you but you have to find that key and unlock that chest that remains covered in cobwebs. The cobwebs are your electronic devices, your iPhone, laptop and so on and so forth. I’ve realized that this has been the case for me since my sophomore year of high school.

Creativity leads to ideas and ideas lead to actions and actions can lead to anything, especially adventures. Adventures are special. They give you the opportunity to write the next chapter of your life, something you can reflect on for years and say proudly, “I did that.” It makes you feel good about yourself, which is always an essential aspect you must have. Traveling makes me want to think of what else the world can do for me, and what I can do for the world. I am interested in making a difference in people’s lives.

I remember a comment I left on one of Jacob’s videos where I mentioned that we [people], “are all brothers and sisters, and we have to look out for one another.” I’ve realized that that is true and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. You have the potential to make the world a better place. Anybody can go out and do a good deed and improve the quality of life on earth. The connections and possibilities are endless.

So I end this post by saying that life is a precious gift, and we have to remember that. It has its flaws, no doubt, but the good outweighs the bad by a ton. It’s up to us though to ensure that that remains a constant for the foreseeable future.

London captivated my imagination from the moment I stepped onto its soil. There are so many things to do and see around the city that it’s a lot to take in. Here are 7 things you should know about visiting London.

1. Pricey and crowded- Let’s get this out of the way shall we? London, like many other cities, attracts a lot of tourists and therefore, is very pricey and crowded. So if you’re interested in going around and seeing the well-known sights, get your wallet ready and be prepared to wait on long lines, cause this city is packed.
2. Remember, cars on the right side- If you’re a tourist, remember that cars drive alongside the right side of the road. Additionally, the steering wheel is also on the right side of the car.
3. Biking- If you plan on biking in London, the way you do it is similar to other cities, in that there are bike racks in different locations, that provide a code that allows you to pick up and return bikes freely at will. Also, biking itself in this city is quite the experience. You’ll be biking in the streets along with taxis, motorcyclists and BUSES. If that’s a lot for you to handle, than maybe pass on the biking.
4. Weather- One of the biggest concerns for travelers when they go to the UK is if the weather will hold up. Yes, London does get a lot of rain, but you should not let that bug you because it does not, I repeat, DOES NOT, rain there all of the time. A sunny day in London is relaxing and warm, and my girlfriend and I were blessed with outstanding weather throughout our time there.
5. Appetizers and main courses- When you go out to pubs, the servers will usually provide you with your appetizers and entree together, which will certainly give you plenty to eat. For some, I know you prefer having your appetizer served separately, but in London, that’s not the case.
6. Metro systems are great- The London metros are quick, easy and efficient. Like Paris, it’s the best way to get around the city. Sure the London bus tours attract a lot of people and they provide great views but the metro is where it’s at.
7. The London Eye isn’t that great- I’m sorry if I offend any fans of this structure. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and the views were amazing, but it just didn’t inspire me the way I wanted to be inspired. The reason I guess was because we were locked inside a pod and were slowly moving around in a circle. Yes the top of the Eiffel Tower is very crowded and it’s hard to maneuver yourself around there, but at least you’re able to do so. The London Eye, you’re there from start to finish. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be kind of bland. I enjoyed the experience but it was also overrated for me. I don’t have the desire to do that again.

When I went to Paris in May 2019 with my girlfriend, I had a general idea of what to expect. However, I took that expectation with a tiny pinch of salt, and prepared for myself to be blown away by what this exciting city has to offer. Here are seven things you should know about Paris.

1. Paris is insanely touristy- Yes, you may already know this, but every year, thousands of people visit this remarkable city. It is especially crowded during the summer months so if you’re planning on going there, I’d recommend coming in the early to mid-spring, when it isn’t too hot and summery. If you really want to come at a time when the tourist numbers are low, then save your visit for the fall or winter. But regardless, this city is always alive so if you’re looking for a place for peace and quiet and little to no civilization, than Paris is probably not for you.
2. The main attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre- Be sure you absolutely want to visit these kinds of places. Don’t just visit them for the sake of visiting them. If you’re one of those people who goes to the top of the Eiffel Tower just to say, “I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower,” just avoid doing that, trust me. I wanted to go to the top because I love skyscrapers and they fascinate me. But one time is more than enough for me because of the insane lines and crowded spaces all over the tower. The views are spectacular and worth it but you have to be really into that stuff if you want to make the experience memorable. Same thing goes with the Louvre. If you’re into art and museums, you’ll love it. If not, don’t waste your time.
3. The Parisians are super friendly- This was one thing I was curious in figuring out. I was wondering how the Parisians would interact with me and my girlfriend since we’re both American. They were so gracious and lovely and they always helped us out if we needed it. We’d walk around tiny villages and people greeted us with smiles and laughter and it was very warming.
4. Paris subway systems are really great- This is the best and easiest way to get around the city. My girlfriend and I relied heavily on them and they were easy to follow along with. They’re also very cheap as well which is always good.
5. French cuisine and gelato- I’m a picky eater but I will say, I really tried to eat French food and boy am I glad I did. Escargot and frog legs were two of the more interesting dishes I’ve tried and they both exceeded my expectations. They were delicious, as well as the chocolate gelato. Oh man, is that stuff good. I could eat that any day or night of the week. It’s so rich that it’s addicting.
6. Eiffel Tower ladies robbing you- If you’re around the Eiffel Tower or another touristy location, be aware of the women who walk around aimlessly trying to nail tourists for money. They’ll get right in your face and ask if you speak English and then ask for your signature and a payment to, “help them fight for a cause,” which isn’t the case at all. It’s a scam so don’t fall for that. Simply say, “no,” and just walk away. And if they continue to harass and bother you, either tell a security guard nearby or just keep walking, eventually they’ll give up.
7. There’s more to Paris than you think- The best piece of advice that I could give anybody going to Paris for the first time is to really soak up everything around you and not get pulled into the “simple,” things. Really try and immerse yourself within the city and think outside the box to try and make this experience as unique as possible. In other words, reach out to Parisians and try and speak French with them, or visit local areas and just walk around and admire the city, it’s one of the most beautiful in the world.