Here are some random facts about what I noticed in Paris:

• Not only is it the City of Love, it’s also the City of Graffiti.

  No where in the world have I seen so much graffiti. People managed to get spray stuff in subway tunnels— and I don’t mean the station platform areas.

• Paris has very divided rich and poor communities.

  Beyond the grandeur of the central Paris, the outskirts are extremely dilapitated— the city definitely has major poor/rich income gaps. Shawn and Fadi warned us before our trip of notorious pick-pockets in Paris— which really freaked us out. Luckily, we were all okay.

• Paris is quite diverse

  Surprisingly, I witnessed a healthy mix of cultures in the city. Although it is hard to say, since many of the people we saw were probably tourists too. But nevertheless, I saw many Asian and Middle-Eastern looking workers in many of the many places were went.

• Paris has a extremely extensive subway and commuter-rail system

  Large historical cities have always been blessed with a healthy mass transit system. Paris is no exception. We travelled around the city at ease, though it often takes a long time to transfer to another platform at interchanges. Here’s the map.

• Louis Vuitton is overrated

  All of us decided to visit LV on popular high-end shopping street, Champs d’Ellysees. There was this sexy Arab bouncer at the door, and he made visitors line up to get in— even when it was clear that a lot of customers left. Once inside, there was many departments— bags, accessories, clothes, watches, etc. It was so blah, we had to leave. There was a bitchy Asian sales associate there, but that’s another story.