Eiffel Tower, Paris

Eiffel Tower, Paris, PARIS! All the tour books, online research, talking with friends who have been there, and pre-trip planning don’t prepare you for the overwhelming feeling of immersion once arriving in Paris. On a recent business trip to London, I weighed the pros and cons of going to Paris for the weekend.

Pros:
1. It’s PARIS.
2. Only a 2½-hour train ride on Eurostar from London.
3. Because I can.

Cons:
1. Cost of Eurostar: $300 round-trip.
2. Can’t think of anything else for a con.

Upon arrival at Paris Nord Train Station, my plan was to grab a taxi to my hotel, located just blocks from the architectural wonder of the Eiffel Tower. When I stepped outside, one of the first things I saw was McDonalds.

Needing to make a pit stop, craving a coke and French fries, and just curious to know what a McDonalds experience in Paris would be like, I walked across the street and went inside. The fries, coke, and lines to order were all pretty much the same as in the U.S.A., one exception being that I could’ve ordered a beer with my fries.

Having taken care of the necessities, off I went off to grab a taxi to the hotel.

The Eiffel Seine is a quaint boutique hotel, “Art Nouveau” style. It’s in a great location for sights and restaurants, with only a four-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and public transportation right outside the door to get to other areas in Paris. Just outside the hotel was a crepe takeout stand where I had an incredibly delicious ham and cheese crepe – the best food I had in 36 hours.