Europe. A place of grandeur — towering monuments, ancient castles, and layers of history that feel almost mythical. It’s why people book their flights, pack their cameras, and chase that feeling of awe. The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Sagrada Familia, the Mona Lisa… all incredible, all worthy of the bucket list.

But this time, I want to talk about something smaller.
The quiet, funny, little things that made me pause, laugh, and smile — the details that made Europe feel alive.

In Paris, I found myself at the Champs-Élysées when nature called. I found myself in search for a restroom (or in Europe the WC). The nearest restroom was inside a McDonald’s — but here’s the catch: you had to order something first to get a bathroom token.

So, I walked up to the counter and ordered, “A small coffee and a bathroom token, please.”

The line was longer than I expected, even for the men’s restroom. But everything went according to plan. I finished my business and cleaned up before exiting.

My uncle thankfully picked up my order for me. When I came back for my drink, my uncle was standing there with the biggest smirk on his face. When he finally showed me my order, what I got was the tiniest cup I’ve ever seen. I’m talking espresso sample size. Being from the U.S., where even our “small” could hydrate a small family, I couldn’t stop laughing. That tiny cup was probably a courtesy cup back home. But in that moment, I loved it — it was so Parisian.

Of course, you can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. My family and I had already visited during the day, but my aunt insisted - “You haven’t really seen it until you’ve seen it at night.”

It was our last night in the city, and I decided to surprise everyone with an Uber XL to the tower. I was already planning to meet up with a friend so I decided, why not take the family along with me. When the car pulled up, it wasn’t just an SUV - it was a limo-style ride, complete with starlit ceiling lights twinkling like the Paris night itself.

Driving through the city, music playing softly, the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance, surrounded by my family - it felt cinematic. One of those moments you don’t plan, but never forget.

The little things are easy to overlook. And often times they are. As a short guy, this sentiment is far too relatable haha. But in all seriousness, those small, unexpected moments are what make a trip feel real. They’re what make travel stick with you long after you’re home.

It’s not always the cathedrals or castles. Sometimes, it’s a miniature coffee cup and a glowing Uber ceiling that remind you how wonderful it is to simply be somewhere new.

These are just a couple fun stories of my first time traveling to Europe but I have plenty more to tell! So this is just the start to the series about the ‘little things’ that made my travels special.

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Until next time,