My Last Minute Journey to France

by Daniel Pokhoy (Canada)

I didn't expect to find Canada

In July 2018, I was fortunate enough to attend the Mission Impossible Fallout premiere in France. I thought that alone would make the trip unforgettable, but there was so much more. I excitedly landed in France, and immediately ventured off doing as many touristy things I can during my short stay. The catacombs was first, starting my trip off underground while ending the trip at the top, the Eiffel tower (which we will get to later). I've seen the catacombs in movies, overly exaggerated for the sake of Hollywood. From that, I descended the long spiral staircase somewhat fearful of what would be seen down there. When finally reaching the bottom, it was what can only be described as an organized and unnerving. It was essentially a well lit museum decorated with systematically placed skeletons and gated off areas. I peered passed the gates into restricted areas, left to only my imagination for what lied within that maze. After that brief historical experience I decided to check out the Arc de Triomphe, little did I know there would be a familiar struggle to get to the top. I can say with certainty that I definitely got my steps in for the day. When reaching the top, I felt like I was right in the center of Paris, with it being surrounded by the major roundabout. I got a beautiful view of the whole city, for the first time really taking it in that I was in Paris. That view made me excited to explore everything I saw below, but first it was about time to try the local cuisine. I found the closest place to eat I could, being exhausted and hungry. I felt the only right thing to order, being in France was escargot and some local wines. At the end of my one meal I concluded France has the best food in the world. Admittedly, I at first thought they got my order wrong thinking I was eating mushrooms, but it was in fact escargot. After just knowing the difference, it made it taste 100 times better. I went back to my hidden away hotel, and spent a good while of the night in the garden unable to sleep knowing tomorrow I would meet the cast of Mission Impossible being one of the first to see the movie. The next day, I woke up and threw on my best outfit as if I would be blending in with celebrities. I stood on the side of the red carpet waiting anxiously for the cast to pass by. I got my autographs and entered the fanciest theater I've ever seen, feeling like I was walking down the red carpet myself. I hung from the prop helicopter set up doing moves on it pretending the cast was watching in amazement. After that, we went into the theater and I was placed in the very front row which sucks for actually watching the movie, but for when the cast comes out to introduce the movie I was within arms reach yet again. I watched the movie constantly pointing out that I've been to all of those places in the movie as it takes place in France, basically saying I lived the movie Mission Impossible irl. The movie finished and we were quickly escorted out to which I immediately went back to the hotel, ecstatic from what I just saw, venturing into areas which I did not know were restricted. Once I did make that realization, I immediately thought what would Tom Cruise do. I rolled around the unoccupied area as if hiding from imaginary people calling the night shortly after that. The perfect finisher to that trip was the Eiffel Tower, more stairs, I know. I made my way to the top to an unbeatable view just in time to see the sunset. Little did I know that it was Bastille day, which led to a spectacular fireworks display, viewed from the best spot in town. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, the next day France won the World Cup. That in itself is a story on it's own.