Paris, France by the numbers

By Kaitlin Mills On July 23, 2009 · 12 Comments

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Kaitlin Mills offers a glimpse into her time in the City of Light, Paris.

Number of hours spent inside a plane to get to Paris: 20

Metro. Photo: pedrosimoes7.

Number of screaming children inside the plane: 3

Stairs climbed to get to the top of the Arc de Triomphe: 284

Minutes spent recovering from climbing those stairs: 10

Topless woman seen: 12

Strange etchings found in the concrete: 1

Number of pastries eaten per day: 4

Kilos gained: 3

Number of French words known: 1

Fellow Australians found in one tourist spot: 23

Dogs seen in the airport: 4

Number of times I looked the wrong way before crossing the street: 7

Times I almost got run over: 8

Number of proposals seen: 2

Armless statues seen: 1

Servings of cold tomato soup eaten: 0

Parisians annoyed: 12

Number of French flags seen: 51

Phallic symbols climbed: 1

Number of stairs up to my hotel room: 36

Number of times I got a blank look from the hotel reception guy: 15

Hours spent lost in a museum: 3

Number of times I was slammed up against the language barrier: 11

Pyramids seen: 4

Number of statues mistaken for real people: 1

Palaces seen: 2

Times I ate at McDonalds: 7

Photo: geoftheref.

Times I eat at McDonalds when at home: 0

Tour guides that were helpful: 0

Number of annoying aunties following me around: 1

Naked gold statues seen: 1

People seen going into confessionals: 0

Kilometers from home: 16,962

Snails eaten: 0

Number of buildings mistaken for the Notre Dame: 2

Priests found inside the Notre Dame: 3

Number of times I ate Daffy Duck: 2

Topless women seen dancing with snakes: 1

Clear blue skies seen: 0

Days spent in the city: 13

Days until return trip: 367

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Flat broke but pining for Paris? Check How to Move to Paris with No Money , Top 10 Free Things to Do in Paris & How to Enjoy Paris for Free.

About The Author

Kaitlin Mills

Kaitlin Mills left Brisbane at 17 and has been trying to stay away ever since. When not traveling the world she is writing about what happened and planning the next adventure. She has recently found Europe and after standing at the top of Switzerland can’t wait to go back.

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http://musictravelwrite.wordpress.com Michelle

No snails??? Aw, come on….

And there’s nothing better than getting lost in a museum. Sounds like a great time!
Kaitlin Mills

I couldn’t do it, I swear – they told us to poke it with a toothpick to make sure it was dead, and it was green and slimy.
I found the most interesting stuff when I got lost in the Louvre so it was all good. Can’t wait to go back.
http://wayworded.blogspot.com/ Hal

“People seen going into confessionals: 0″

Priceless.
Kaitlin Mills

Thanks. That was inside the Notre Dame, there was like four confessionals set up, with English speaking priests and everything. I stared at one of the priests sitting in there for awhile, fun stuff.
http://www.paul-sullivan.com Paul Sullivan

One armed statues, museums, stalking aunties, pyramids and topless women dancing with snakes. You obviously know how to have a colourful time Kaitlin! Thanks for a very amusing article.
Kaitlin Mills

Thanks, it was a great trip. Most of those things were in the same place too, at least the statues and pyramids were.
http://www.tvrotsyourmindgrapes.com Marissa

“Number of times I looked the wrong way before crossing the street: 7″

Haha, I was in Europe earlier this year with some Aussie friends (I’m American) and they were looking the wrong way almost everywhere except in London where I was the one who kept almost stepping into the street and into traffic.
Kaitlin Mills

I know it was so terrible, by the end of it I was just looking left, right, up, down and sideways just to make sure that they wouldn’t run over me.
http://travellerwithin.blogspot.com Mo-ha-med

Great job!
I’m in Paris for another month and you’re making me all nostalgic…

This said, I did see a few blue skies, had snails before, and take oh so much pleasure in annoying those Parisians I have, I’m afraid, broken your record there.

Have a great time in France!!
Kaitlin Mills

Thanks. I have to admit annoying those Parisians was kind of fun, keep up the good work then.
Rachel

Funny, but so true. Its the unexpected that happens most. I feel better though knowing I’m not the only one not to try Escargot while there. I did however find a place in Beckley, West Virginia, USA that served them, oddly enough. Very delicious, though. Hope your return trip is a lot of fun and good luck in all your future travels.
http://www.ilovefrenchmovies.com Will

You ate at MacDonald’s seven times!? I’ve never understood the appeal of eating the same food on vacation that one could get back home.

Paris, France by the numbers

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