The Paris interview with Agness

Agness – travel blogger

Every other week, Discover Walks will share with some great insight from Travel bloggers from around the world who fell in love with Paris. They will share their favorites addresses and things to do while in Paris. Because genuine advice and stories are so important to us, in addition to our born-and-raised Parisian tour stories, we now bring you real advice from fellow travelers.

Bonjour Agness, can you tell us more about who you are?

I’m Agness, I’m from Poland, and my age is a secret.

Why did you start writing Etramping?

Writing wasn’t something I always thought I was going to do, but I remember thinking that I was at a point in my life which I didn’t want to be at. I was aiming for a goal which seemed pointless. In a sense, I was lost and living a life I didn’t enjoy living.

Writing gave me an escape from that. It meant that I was able to keep a record of the travels I had been on and share them with others. Over time, this continued to evolve, and now Etramping is all about letting people get a true picture of the places we visit.

Why did you start traveling?

For me, traveling has been in my blood ever since I can remember. But it was never about the typical kind of holiday destinations. You know, package deals, typical beach holidays, and such. It was always about the adventure for me. Putting on a backpack and getting out there, exploring a culture and its nooks and crannies. My friends were always out partying, spending all their money, whilst I was out working, trying to save money. All this money saving would pay off though, when I went off on my off-the-beaten-path journeys around the world such as Tibet or North Korea.

What’s special about your blog?

Etramping isn’t just about telling people the great things that we’ve done, it’s about showing them that they can do it themselves as well! Etramping all started when we (Cez and I) decided we wanted to travel. Of course, a big problem was the lack of money we had. We had to start traveling on a budget. There’s a lot on the website about doing this yourself.

But Etramping is also about giving people a true picture of the places we visit. Just take a look at anything about our travels to North Korea. There were several things we were pretty surprised about. For instance, did you know that North Korea has a really good brewery and beer brand? No? Well, you should try it!

What would be your top 3 things to do in Paris?

I would love to walk through the city’s small markets and explore what is for sale. It’s incredible what you can find in flea markets. Usually, what you can buy in a place can say a lot about a culture and the people living there. A good market is a really cultural nook and cranny.

I would also like to be able to explore some of Paris’s smaller, less well-known attractions. I’m pretty interested in the small churches in the city. Places like the Eglise St-Séverin are real hidden gems.

Finally, I would love to sit back and sip a cup of coffee whilst watching the people go buy. It’s just that romantic idea of a laid-back and carefree life. I started traveling to get away from a life I wasn’t enjoying, a Parisian coffee atmosphere sounds like heaven too. Only whilst I’m on a break between adventures though, of course!

Your Top 3 favourite places in Paris?

The Marché Aux Puces De Saint-Ouen is incredible. It’s one of the world’s largest flea markets and I feel right at home walking through it labyrinthine alleys. There’s a huge amount of culture and things to see (and buy!) here. It feels exactly like a real adventure, it’s off the beaten path, and there’s a load of uniqueness about it,

I’d have to say that another top 3 is the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. It’s got a lot of different landscapes, and it’s a really beautiful place. The temple at the top is based on the temple at Tivoli, and it’s just an incredible mix of culture with natural (landscaped) beauty.

Finally, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is a great place for viewing a bit of off-the-beaten-path artwork. The Louvre gets a lot of attention because it’s full of so many different priceless pieces of art. The Musée d’Art Moderne isn’t as popular, but its artwork still has a story to tell.

Your favorite landmark in Paris?

How could I not say the Eiffel Tower? It’s the point from which you can see practically the whole city. It’s not my favourite because of how it looks from the outside, but because It’ll help me look out over the rest of the city and pick some more interesting places to explore!

What is your favorite neighborhood in Paris?

It has to be La Butte aux Cailles. The neighbourhood is just incredible. It’s like a small village in the centre of a city. The whole place is full of windy roads and tiny, packed houses. There are traces of local artists everywhere, and it’s a really distinct place. There aren’t any chain shops here yet, but you can still find a nice small restaurant along the way.

Could you give us your recommendation to first timers in Paris?

Don’t get caught up in the crowds and the hype! Paris is a huge city with a huge amount of things to see and do. If you follow everyone else, you’re going to end up spending most of your time queuing. Whilst there might be a few things you really want to see, make sure to put time aside for exploring the city and learning about it on your own. Also, it is a good idea to get some local expertise by going on a tour with Discover Walks and following advise from the community of people who are in love with Paris on Pepo. Be an explorer, not just a tourist!

Thank you so much Agness, keep on enjoying Paris

Merci beaucoup :-)