Wherever I look, it seems like the whole city is full of immigrants. I never thought that after coming to Europe, after coming to the capital of a country, I would feel like this. It feels like there is no law and order. It feels like we are in an uncivilized place a long time ago. Man, such a scary feel, to be honest; I don’t feel in West Africa as much as I feel here. I literally feel like they will kill me.
My name is Tourvashu, and after traveling to Japan and returning to India, I am leaving for our next trip. It’s 9:30 in the morning, and my flight is at 10:30 towards a Western European country: France. This is the most visited country in the world.
The Journey Begins: From New Delhi to Doha
So I have checked in for the flight, got the boarding pass, and security and migration are done. My airline to France is Qatar Airways, and I am going to travel in Qatar Airways for the first time. Right now, I am at Indira Gandhi International Airport. My first flight is from New Delhi to Doha, Qatar. It’s a 4-hour flight.
I have a layover of a few hours in Doha, Qatar. Then after that, it’s a 6.5-hour flight from Doha to the capital and largest city of France, Paris. France comes under the Schengen zone, so I have taken a Schengen visa. With this, I can go to many European countries along with France. Overall, this is my third Schengen visa, and I have got a one-year Schengen visa. I think 90 days stay is written.
After 4 hours of flying from India, I reached Qatar’s capital, Doha. Right now, I am at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. It is very well made. Even inside the airport, it is a very big, massive garden. There are a lot of trees, plants, and gardens below. Look, they have been installed, and you can even walk on it. There is a pedestrian bridge built on it. It has been decorated very well with lighting, different plants, and trees. Full of greenery in the middle of the airport. It is a very big area, a magnificent garden.
The incredible indoor tropical garden at Hamad International Airport, Doha.A lot of people transit from Doha via Qatar Airways, and many come to see this garden. They come to roam around, and they come here to rest. A lot of people are sitting, lying down, reading a book, or passing time with their family. You can hear the natural sounds of birds and nature here.
Travel Costs Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of the costs incurred for this trip so far:
| Item | Cost (Approx. INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen Visa | 12,000 INR | Valid for 1 year, access to 30 countries. |
| Flight Ticket | 30,000 INR | New Delhi to Paris via Doha (Qatar Airways). |
| Transport Card | 2 Euros (210 INR) | Paper card for Paris transport. |
| Train to City | 13 Euros (1,340 INR) | Airport to City Center. |
| Hostel | 5,000 INR/Night | 50 Euros per night in the city center. |
Arrival in the French Republic
Finally, the boarding of the flight to Paris, France started. After taking a 6.5-hour flight from Doha, we have landed in the capital of France, Paris. Finally, welcome to the French Republic. The official name of France is the French Republic, and we have already entered the Schengen zone.
So, when I went to immigration, there was a lady immigration officer sitting there. She took my passport and asked me, “Do you speak French?” I said, “No.” After that, she didn’t ask me anything. She scanned my passport and gave me the entry stamp. This is the international airport of Paris, CDG Airport.
So, now I have to go to the city center of Paris from this airport, which is about 25 km away from here. The bus and train also go from the airport. I was looking for the bus, but they are saying that there is a strike going on here. Some bus or another keeps getting cancelled. So, I reached the train terminal inside the Paris airport and purchased the train ticket.
“Beware of Pickpockets”
I have reached the city center of Paris by train. It took about half an hour to reach the city from the airport. However, the atmosphere was tense. There was a lot of announcement in the train, in English and French: “Beware of pickpocketers, beware of pickpockets.” Anyone can take your luggage and go. So, take care of your luggage, hold it carefully, and take care of yourself.
It’s 12 o’clock in the afternoon. I am staying in a place called Saint-Christopher’s Inn. I have taken the hostel in the center of Paris. My hostel costs around 50 euros per night. That means I have to spend 5000 rupees per night in Paris, that too in a hostel. Right next to this place is one of the biggest train stations in Paris, Gare du Nord.
Arriving at Gare du Nord, one of the busiest and most chaotic stations in Paris.The Shocking Reality of the Streets
Welcome to the most visited country in the world. Yes, more than 100 million tourists visit France every year. That means more than 10 crore tourists come to this country every year, more than any other country in the world. France is the 20th largest country in the world in terms of population, with approximately 68 million people living here. That means more tourists visit this country every year than the population of this country.
France is often considered the global leader in fashion, and Paris is often considered the fashion capital of the world. Also, the largest time zone in any country is in France. France is the 42nd largest country by area, but in this country, there are a total of 12 time zones, more than any other country in the world, because of overseas territories.
But here I am seeing, since I have come to Paris, that the French population is not as much as the immigrants. Wherever I look, it seems that the whole city is full of immigrants. France has the largest African population in Europe, and the largest number of immigrants in any European country is in France, at least in Paris.
So here I am walking and I see so many African shops, especially hair shops. I see so many immigrants here that I am afraid to use the camera. If you know my travels, you know I have traveled almost all of North Africa and West Africa. The largest African population here has mostly come from the regions of Africa where I have traveled.
Threatened and Bullied: “They Will Kill Me”
Do you know what happened just now? I was just showing you the region. Oh man, people are shouting so much here. “Okay, okay, okay.” No, me. Me. I never thought that after coming to Europe, I would feel like this.
So here I was just talking to people and showing you the area. Suddenly, some people came and started pushing me from behind. I got scared all of a sudden regarding who is pushing me. And then when I turned around, people started shouting: “Camera, camera, camera. Filming, filming, filming. No, no, no, no, no.”
The moment I felt threatened for filming in the immigrant-heavy districts of Paris.They forced me to turn off my camera. I felt like they were going to kill me. A lot of people came and surrounded me. I feel like when I used to travel in West Africa, it used to be like this. People used to come and shout, grab me, and make me delete videos. It’s the same here. Because the population is the same: North Africa, West Africa, sub-Saharan Africa.
It feels like I’m not in Paris, not in France. I’m traveling in Africa. I feel like I’m in the city center of Africa. And it is said that in metropolitan Paris, millions of people are of African origin. One reason for this is that France has been the second biggest colonizer in the world after Britain.
A Scary Feeling
People are shouting everywhere. Some people are off camera, some are on camera. It’s such a scary feeling, to be honest. I don’t feel in West Africa as much as I feel here. Literally, people are coming and shouting at me. And some people even wanted to kill me. I felt like if I had waited a few more seconds or done something else, maybe people would have killed me here. I’m very scared here. I feel like I’m walking here asking myself: Am I in Europe or not? Am I in Paris or not?
The Market and The Chaos
Look, this is a market of one of those people. I’ve come quite far to another area. They’re saying, don’t show the people here, show the market. Look, this is the market here. And here you get plantain, yam, cassava. The things that you get everywhere in West Africa. In Africa, this is consumed a lot.
Look at this, okra. The big okra. It feels like we’re in a market in West Africa and we’re looking at stuff. There is Cassava, which is consumed a lot in Africa. I’ve eaten a lot of cassava. They are selling fish, the big chili. It looks like they’re selling everything here. Wherever you look, you can’t see the local French people. You can see very few. You can see a lot of other nationalities.
Traditional West African staples like Yam and Cassava for sale in the heart of France.Some parts of the city are neat and clean, but some parts are very dirty. Look at this. There’s trash and garbage everywhere. There are a lot of people walking around. As soon as the crowd starts increasing, I’m so scared to go there and take out the camera. I literally feel like they’re going to kill me. They’re getting so aggressive.
I met a Bangladeshi guy while walking. He told me not to use the camera. I don’t trust them; they can do anything. You can walk around without a camera, but with a camera, they can do anything. I never thought that I’d feel like this in the capital of a country in Europe. I feel like there’s no law and order. Feels like we are in an uncivilized place a long time ago. Everything is chaotic and unorganized. They are standing on the road, sitting on the road, selling goods, shouting, doing anything.
The reality of some Paris streets: trash and a lack of organization.Seeking Solace in French Cuisine
In the Paris region, there are some areas where the population of immigrants is 30-40%. But France is also very popular for its bakeries worldwide. In French, the bakery is called Boulangerie. When I’m walking in Paris, there’s a bakery shop at every 50-100 meters. Look, this shop opened in 1980. It’s been more than 45 years since this shop opened. It is an Artisan Boulangerie.
A typical French Boulangerie, offering a glimpse of traditional French culture.This is a proper French bakery. There are a lot of French cakes, French sweets, and French pastries being sold and available here. I asked, “What do you recommend?” They said, “Croissant.” I’m not able to pronounce it properly, but let’s try the worldwide French bread croissant.
I met a woman there. She said, “I was born in Belgium, but I live in the UK. From Congo.” She explained that French is the official language of Congo. As you can see, there are more immigrants from the country where French colonized. I also met a woman from Tunisia. She said, “I live next to Libya. At the border of Libya.” We discussed how Libya is not very safe, but the food is good.
The Legend of the Baguette
In French cuisine, these two items are ultra popular worldwide: the Croissant and the Baguette. This is the identity of French cuisine. The Baguette is very popular; you will get it all over France. If you travel to French colonized countries like West Africa, this bread is eaten a lot there.
In France, superstition is believed. If you go to any shop, this Baguette is always kept straight. People do not keep it upside down by mistake. French people believe if your Baguette is upside down by mistake, it is a big bad omen. It will be extremely unlucky for you. This superstition started in France in the medieval age, around 200 years ago. At that time, people were hanged as a punishment. The executioners used to leave the Baguette upside down, so it started to be believed that if this Baguette is upside down, it is a symbol of death.
I am eating this Baguette sandwich which has a lot of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. This Baguette is so hard. It is breaking with so much difficulty. It is extremely hard. I have to break it and cut it from the mouth to eat. It is not cutting. It is making a crackling sound. While chewing, my mouth started aching. I don’t know how I will be able to eat it all.
The famous French Baguette—extremely hard and steeped in local superstition.The Eiffel Tower: Icons and Illegal Sales
Now I have come to see one of the most visited monuments in the world, which does not need any introduction: the Eiffel Tower. In the year 1889, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, this Eiffel Tower was built. Today, it is an iconic symbol of the whole of France.
However, below the Eiffel Tower, there are a lot of African and other nationalities. Look at the small type; they are selling souvenirs by laying mats. You will find a lot of such shops on the ground. A lot of immigrants are selling souvenirs here. It is 8 o’clock in the evening, and the Eiffel Tower seems to be lit up.
The Eiffel Tower at night, the world-famous symbol of the French Republic.Suddenly, when the police came, a lot of shopkeepers started running here. But the police did not stop; they went ahead. Then they stopped. All these shopkeepers are selling souvenirs on the ground. Everyone starts running away with all their belongings. Sometimes they leave it and run away. Then the police distributes all their souvenirs to the public for free because everyone is illegal here. As illegal immigrants, they are selling souvenirs on the road.
Illegal street vendors selling souvenirs on the ground, ready to flee from the police.Final Thoughts: So guys, after seeing the Eiffel Tower of Paris, I came back to my hostel at night. In this article, I just wanted to give you an overview of Paris. My reason for coming to Paris, France was that I have to obey the rules of my Schengen visa. It was a shocking experience where I felt threatened and bullied, seeing a side of the city I never expected.