If you are reading this, you might have something in common with me: I yearn to travel, but due to the current conditions of the world, this yearning may be for not. I have always wanted to travel the world, but unfortunately have not been able to do so as my adult years thus far have been spent in lockdown or partial lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up, traveling farther than a province over was virtually impossible, so in my childhood I could only dream of travel destinations near and far.

When I turned 12, I had decided that on my 20^th birthday, I would go to Paris, France on vacation. I had planned the entire trip. I wanted to spend 2 weeks in the city, visiting various coffee shops and tourist destinations during the day and clubs at night. I watched YouTube videos on the best places to go in Paris and what to avoid. I wanted to see, hear, and eat everything that Paris had to offer.

Well, let me tell you, this was not the case. My 20^th birthday was in July of 2020, only 5 months after the beginning of the pandemic. In my life, I had just returned to work and was yet to even be allowed to have small gatherings in my home. Paris was the last thing on my mind, getting through “these uncertain times” was at the forefront.

So, what was I to do? The trip I had been planning in my daydreams for the last 8 years was looking more and more impossible. Everything that I did was from the comfort of my own home, and I hadn’t gone farther than the grocery store for months. Well, in the fall of 2021, after my 21^st birthday, I had the privilege of taking a Travel Media course where I was introduced to a new age of travel: virtual travel.

So off I went, looking to subside my yearning for travel through the internet, where I have been receiving virtually all entertainment for almost 2 years. Is it possible to travel this way, while still stimulating all your senses the way that physical travel has?

Seeing the Sights of Paris

I began my virtual travels by simply searching:

On this search, I found a virtual 360° tour of Paris, and I could not help but be in awe of the amazing sights that were captured.

The tour starts off with likely the most well-known tourist attraction in Paris- The Eiffel Tower. You have the ability to look around at the scenery and explore the field for viewing the tower. The tour then moves up the Eiffel Tower, giving you a spectacular view of Paris from a bird’s eye view.

The next stop on the tour is the Louvre Museum, home of the Mona Lisa. Unfortunately, you are not given a look inside the museum, but you are given the opportunity to look around the outside of the unique building and landscape around it.

Next, the Triumphal Arch. Admire the incredible architecture and the tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame. Then, you get the chance to watch the Paris traffic from the top of the Triumphal Arch. You can pan around the stunning skyline, where you will see the Eiffel Tower standing tall between clusters of cement.

Sticking with the theme of high-up places, this tour takes us to the Tuileries Garden Farris Wheel next. Yet another spectacular view of the Paris skyline and amazing park scene, you can practically feel the wind blowing through your hair.

Moving a short walk away is the Notre-Dame Cathedral. One of my favourite destinations on this tour, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is known for its gothic appeal and stunning interior. Unfortunately, in 2019, the cathedral suffered pretty significant fire damage, and is only recently beginning its rebuilding process. This tour gives us a look at what the inside of the Notre-Dame looked like before the devastation, making it a priceless part of the tour.

The tour continues to cover the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Montmartre Place Du Tertre, Pompidou Centre, Holy Chapel, Abbesses Metro, Galeries Lafayette, Macarons Shop, La Defense District, City of Science and Industry, Moulin Rouge, Palace of Versailles, Hall of Mirrors, and lastly Neptune Fountain.

Although the tour is only about 5 minutes long, it is packed with plenty to see and learn. It may not be exactly like visiting Paris, but it certainly got me excited about travel. This guided tour could also serve another purpose- you could definitely use the tour as a guide to travel from place to place once you actually decide (or are able) to visit Paris.

Hear the Sounds of Paris

Another way that I was able to experience Paris from the comfort of my own home is through the sense of sound. There are plenty of ways to experience the sounds of Paris, whether that be through music, audiobooks, or podcasts.

A couple examples of music that I listened to transport me to Paris, France were as follows:

• Bons baisers de Fort-De-France by La Compagnie Creole
• Petite fleur by Jill Barber
• Flou by Angele

I found a playlist on Spotify called Paris Vibes that has over 5 hours of French music to make you feel like you are in a Paris café or even nightclub.

If you are looking for something in your own language set in Paris, audiobooks are the way to go. The literary trope of authors romanticizing Paris has always satisfied my novel cravings, so I have put together a list of audiobooks that will transport you to Paris.

• Paris was the Place by Susan Conley. This story is truly heartwarming, following a woman in Paris working with immigrant girls looking for asylum in Paris. If you are looking for a little romance, this book has that too.
• Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Victor Legris: If you are looking for a murder mystery novel set in the late 1800s, this is a great option set in Paris.
• The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure: This novel is set in 1942 Paris, following an architect forced to support the Jews in a Nazi-occupied Paris.

Lastly, podcasts are a great way to transport yourself to Paris from home. One that I listen to is The French History Podcast. Each episode is stand-alone, so you can listen out of order and still learn everything there is to know about the history of France.

Taste the Foods of Paris

The part about Paris that I was most excited for was all the amazing food. Unfortunately, I cannot simply Skip the Dishes some French macarons directly from Paris, France (although if this were the case, I would not hesitate). So instead, making these foods from home is the next best thing!

I found various recipes that you could try at home:

• Coq Au Vin: Rooster with wine is a classic French stew that is not only delicious, but also pretty simple to make.
• Croque-Monsieur: Likely the most scrumptious, classy grilled cheese you will ever eat, croque-monsieur uses béchamel sauce in the cheese to create an ooey-gooey texture that melts in your mouth.
• French Vanilla Latte: No list of French recipes would be complete without including something creamy and caffeinated. French vanilla lattes are my go-to order at Starbucks, but I am sure that nothing beats the authentic experience of a Paris café.

Conclusion

Overall, traveling to Paris virtually was a pleasant experience. Although it did not fully satisfy my yearning to travel completely, it did leave me daydreaming about my senses in Paris. Oh, to be wearing a beret, exploring small cafes in Paris with a book in my right hand and a latte in my left. That sounds like true bliss. But for now, I will sit behind my desk, crappy Tim Hortons coffee in my left hand, the Eiffel Tower spanning the height of my computer background. Until it is yet again safe to travel, Paris and I will continue our long distance relationship.