Travel Stories

FRANCE: A Day in Paris (& A Night at The Hoxton Hotel)

Framed print above a chair at The Hoxton hotel, Paris

I emerged from Gare du Nord, into the rain. The sky was grey. The pink blossom glow faded second by second as I walked to my hotel; umbrella resting on my shoulder, bounding over puddles, eyes on everything.

The Hoxton, Paris. Although not particularly welcoming in layout (you have to walk through the bar and sitting rooms to get to the reception area) it was, from all I could see, a most beautifully decorated hotel.

Sofa with cushions beside a window at The Hoxton hotel, ParisThe Hoxton, Paris mug on a deskTan leather armchair and bookshelves at The Hoxton, ParisSweeping spiral staircase and plants at The Hoxton, ParisRattan chair and a fern at The Hoxton hotel, Paris
I didn’t see the restaurant. When I asked if I should book a table, the receptionist said, ‘You are on your own, you should eat in your room!’ At first I was slightly offended by this, but by the time I’d met my bed (which was super squishy and smelt like Play-Doh), I felt it was the right advice.

I put the tele on and ordered room service. I couldn’t work out why there was so much stabbing. It seems that in between me selecting La Vie en Rose and my cheese burger arriving, I accidently missed the bit where I started watching Zodiac.

Retro blue telephone on a wooden floor at The Hoxton, ParisBlack anglepoise lamp against a dark wall at The Hoxton, ParisNisshoku wristwatch on a table at The Hoxton, ParisGlass tumbler on a table at The Hoxton hotel, ParisRiut bag on the bed at The Hoxton, Paris

In the morning I packed up my bag and readied myself for a day of exploring. No real plans, destination Eiffel Tower.

I must give a massive shout out to Sarah for lending me one of her amazing Riut Bags. It’s the most comfortable and versatile back pack I have ever carried. It’s a multi-pocketed genius thing. All the zips are hidden against your back for security, and in this new design the bag is convertible from an everyday bag to a full-on travel pack, with just a few clips and adjustments. No backache.  I didn’t even feel like I was carrying a bag.

Bronze door knob on a grey Parisian doorRound metal kiosk on a Paris streetWine glasses in a Paris shop windowPorcelain cat in a Paris antique shop windowBlue feather display in a Paris shop windowBare trees and arcades in the Palais-Royal garden, ParisPink magnolia flower in the Palais-Royal garden, ParisStatue among pink magnolia blossom in ParisPink magnolia bud in Paris in springMagnolia blossom in a Paris garden
I walked to Le Louvre, via the gardens of the Royal Palace where pigeons posed amongst pink magnolia trees. At Le  Louvre people queued to pose on small pillars and pretend to touch the pyramid top. It was fascinating to watch.

Through Tuileries Gardens where I found crows and starlings, and across the River Seine. Down passed Bourbon Palace (didn’t look like a biscuit, disappointed) and along Rue de l’Universite to the Eiffel Tower.

Visitors by the glass pyramid at the Louvre, ParisRed interior of a Paris café seen through a windowCrow on the gravel in the Tuileries Garden, ParisGreen metal chairs in the Tuileries Garden, ParisClassical statue with a pigeon on its head in the Tuileries, ParisPigeon by the fountain in the Tuileries Garden, ParisThe Eiffel Tower seen through bare winter trees
What a beautiful and remarkable feat of engineering. So many times you see a landmark in reality and it doesn’t match what you’ve seen in photos (Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid anyone?) but I really did like the Eiffel Tower.

I sat and watched people buying the little monkey-metal towers that men were jingling on big wire rings, like bunches of keys chiming together. Occasionally a tiny tower would drop off into the dirt and be pecked by a pigeon or hidden by someone’s shoe.

Street seller holding bunches of Eiffel Tower keyrings in ParisBlack boots on the pavement near the Eiffel TowerPigeon walking past a street seller's Eiffel Tower keyrings in Paris

It was quite muddy at the Eiffel Tower, people short-cutting across what was once grass, multiple children falling face first whilst parents posed for selfies.

The weather had been forecast as light rain, there were a couple of light ‘mistings’ (not worthy of being called showers) but other than that it was a cool crisp day, perfect for exploring.

Tourists taking photos in a park near the Eiffel TowerGroup posing for a photo on a park bench in ParisPink magnolia tree in bloom against a red building in Paris

I took the long walk back along Rue Pierre Charron and the Champs Elysees, window shopping and car spotting.

22.2 Kilometres. Not one cat.

People kept asking me for directions in bad French. I’ve been mistaken for Indian, Pakistani, Latvian and Irish before, but never French.

One man even stopped to ask (in French) where my bag was from, and once I’d ascertained that he wasn’t a mugger (and remembered that I was carrying a bag!) I told him. He said it looked Parisian.

I spoke French to people. I ate a baguette.

Grey sports car parked outside a Paris boutiqueOrange classic Mini parked on a Paris street

I got the RER to Charles de Gaulle airport. There was a rainbow coming out of the rear of an Easyjet plane (maybe that explains the delays). I sat and drank Orangina next to a family who were eating beef crisps.

On the night flight home I tuned in to a conversation between the flight attendant and a French passenger. ‘Anything from the trolley?’ asked the attendant. ‘L’eau’ said the man. ‘Sorry, I don’t speak French,’ she said and carried on, wheeling her way into every elbow and knee in her path.

Celery stalk lying on the pavement in Paris

The Hoxton Paris 30-32 Rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris, France

I was a guest of The Hoxton Paris and my stay was complimentary. As always, my opinions are my own.