Paris, a very sweet "première fois"

While it's true that "Paris is well worth a mass," my first visit to the city consisted of a leisurely weekend spent exploring the boulevards and boulangerie. I have chosen to divide this story as if it was one of the most famous cakes from French patisserie, the Opera Gateau. It is formed of three layers: the primary layer is made of Joconde biscuits, named for the Monna Lisa; the intermediate levels are composed of chocolate ganache and coffee syrup cream. I think this analogy does a pretty good job of summarizing what I have seen in Paris.

The Paris that makes you look up 

 The countless historical structures that everyone has seen countless times, whether in art or movies, make up the top layer of my cake. This is the quintessential Parisian feature: visitors from all over the world wait in line for hours merely to see famous structures or to stroll down the same corridors that former monarchs once inhabited. This layer is similar to the Opera Gateau's coffee syrup cream that is the distinctive taste that you are always drawn to but you can never get tired of.

The pure Paris, that still belongs to its citizens

I had the good fortune to have a close friend who has lived in Paris for a long time show me around. A tiny win that gave me the opportunity to see and explore neighborhoods and areas that are rarely mentioned in travel guides, even the most comprehensive ones. Few individuals, in my opinion, can claim to have truly visited Paris without having been through these streets, where it is challenging to locate a café where locals only hang out and where English is never spoken. This layer is unmistakably the chocolate ganache; it's more distinctive and unexpected than the coffee portion, though not as well-known.

The green side of  Paris

One layer of our cake—the one composed of Joconde biscuits—is still missing. This layer reminds me of all the parks and green spaces that are spread across the city and provide an escape from the rush of tourists and traffic. A unique feature that serves as a green lung for Paris and is home to numerous zoos and exhibitions. The coulée verte, or "green belt," was the section that most amazed me. Once an abandoned rail system that ran through the city, it was transformed into an area overflowing with various plant species from every biome and region of the globe. 

In conclusion, even though I was only in Paris for a weekend, my initial impression of the city is unquestionably positive. It was an excellent opportunity to get an introduction to this incredible city, but it would require at least a full immersion week to fully experience the French capital, including time to see the museums and Versailles.