There's something so relatable about that idea that true understanding only comes from firsthand experience.

It’s easy to be swayed by the opinions, anecdotes, or stereotypes that get passed around about a place, but they can never replace our own encounters.

Your experience in Paris really emphasizes how preconceptions often don't hold up in reality.

You went despite hesitation, and it sounds like you discovered so much more than you expected – even beyond the Louvre!

This perspective is a great reminder to approach new destinations with curiosity rather than expectation.

Thanks for sharing.