Unexpected Layover at Paris CDG Airport
Pale-faced and completely drained, I barely managed to get a ticket and am now on my way to Spain. My layover is in Paris, France. So, one way or another, I've finally made it to France—even if it's just the airport.
I ended up flying Air France, and despite the name, it was really disappointing. The plane was old (one side of my tray table was about to fall off) and the seats were cramped. The plane was so awful I even suspected they put me on it on purpose because my ticket was cheap. Still, if I had to find one good thing, it would be the staff's bright, refreshing smiles. As an Asian with relatively small facial features, seeing French people with their big, expressive smiles taking up half their faces felt like a breath of fresh air and really lifted my mood.
Inside, Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport has two identical structures, like a mirror image. I don't know if they did it to keep the design simple, but for someone trying to vicariously enjoy Paris by exploring the airport instead of the city, it's incredibly boring. There's nothing particularly unique to see, so I just wanted to sit down and rest, but since it serves as a European hub, it was so crowded that there was nowhere to sit.
There were so many people that my trauma of almost missing my flight kicked in at the thought of lining up to eat at a restaurant. So, the best I could do was a sandwich from a convenience store. And what kind of sandwich looks so good on the outside, but when you open it up, the ham and cheese only go halfway down? You know those fake burgers from China you sometimes see on the internet that only look good on the outside? It was exactly like that. I ate it thinking it was my version of French cuisine, but... convenience stores really are best in Japan.