Au Revoir, Paris! Hello, London! Day 13 Adventures

Bonjour, fellow adventurers! Our last day in Paris has arrived, and it's bittersweet. We woke up, showered, and got to cleaning our Airbnb. Our host lives here full-time and was away for work, so we wanted to leave his artistic studio spotless to show our gratitude. It was the perfect place to call home for our Parisian adventure.

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All packed up and ready to go, we needed one last meal in Paris. Our first choice, a local pastry shop, was unfortunately closed with no indication of when it would open. Perhaps they were participating in the Fête du Pain? With our breakfast plans dashed, we decided to return to Little India, specifically Indian Bites. We had dinner nearby last week and were charmed by the area and the tantalizing aroma of spices. We ordered samosas and chicken biryani to go. Back at the studio, the delicious, well-spiced aroma filled the room. It was a perfect final meal in Paris—so much better than the highly-rated Indian restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. Little India is definitely the place to go for authentic, well-spiced Indian food.

After lunch, we took the bus to Gare du Nord. A word of advice for anyone taking the Eurostar: arrive early! We had to go through customs twice—once for France and then for the UK. The lines were long, and the process was similar to airport security with luggage scans and passport checks. But finally, we were on the Eurostar, and the excitement kicked in.

As the train sped away from Paris, we watched the scenery change. The graffiti-covered outskirts of the city gave way to open fields and quaint villages. Such a dramatic shift from the hustle and bustle of the City of Lights. It's easy to see why someone might live in Paris and never need to leave—everything you could want is just a few blocks away.

As we approached the Channel, fun facts about the underwater tunnel popped up on the screen: did you know the Eurostar travels 246 feet (75 meters) below sea level through the Channel Tunnel? We were joined by many English travelers on the train, and hearing so much English again felt strange after being surrounded by French for so long.

We arrived at St. Pancras Station, a reminder of how crowded London can be. We took the Tube to Maida Vale and found our new Airbnb. It wasn't as stylish or chic as our Parisian studio, but it would do for our time in London.

For dinner, we headed to Bombay Chow, an Indo-Chinese restaurant. While Indian Bites had more authentic spice, Bombay Chow offered an interesting fusion twist and did a decent job; the place also had very nice decor and vibe. It was a nice way to kick off our London adventure.

Welcome to London! Paris, you've been a dream. Until next time!

Cheers, The Trekking Pawns