Paris. Here I Am!

Daily Miles: 25.44 | Total Miles: 16,374.26

My alarm rang before 6 a.m. Cold coffee, shower, getting ready, and then I was off. It was already warm, overcast, and humid. One of those days where you know you'll be sweating from the very beginning. And I love it!

Today's destination was Paris.

The route took me through all kinds of terrain. Small hiking trails, cycle paths, busy roads, and of course a few obstacles. At one point I had to cross the Seine via a bridge with many stairs, which is never particularly exciting when pushing a buggy. There were also a couple of nice encounters along the way, and before I knew it, I was making my way into the city.

Eventually I arrived at the hostel. Initially there was some confusion about where I could leave the buggy, but thankfully Keval made an exception and allowed me to park it in the garden. Problem solved.

I had a shower, reorganized a few things, and then headed straight back out.

Only a few meters from the hostel I found myself helping to push a car uphill. It was a rather strange situation. After a while I realized we needed more people, so I shouted for help and others stepped in and took over. Problem solved again.

Then came the part I had been looking forward to.

I walked the three miles to the Eiffel Tower.

As I made my way through Paris, I felt both awe and a certain kind of shock. There was so much to look at. Beautiful buildings, busy streets, cafés, tourists, locals, and countless scenes unfolding all around me. Sometimes I simply stopped and looked around. Paris is one of those cities that reminds me how many different ways there are to live a life.

At the same time, I found myself once again noticing the contrast between wealth and poverty. I know it exists everywhere in the world, and during this run I have seen it in many different forms. Yet I still don't get used to it. For me, it's a good thing.

Eventually I reached the Eiffel Tower, bought a ticket, and made my way to the top.

What a view.

After spending some time there, I came back down and walked through the city, making my way along the Champs-Élysées before eventually heading back to the hostel.

Now I am sharing a very small room with five other women.

Perfect for one night. Tomorrow, the journey continues.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea