In Love with Paris

Like many people before me, I fell in love with Paris the first time I visited on our honeymoon two years ago. It is a wonderful city to get lost in. Sure, the museums and monuments are impressive, but my favorite thing is wandering the streets, perusing the shops, relaxing in the cafes, drinking wine, eating amazing cheese and talking to the locals. Parisians get a bad reputation for being rude to tourists, but I have always found them to be very nice. I think they do probably get sick of tourists, but aren’t New Yorkers exactly the same and can you really blame them?

Evan and I are leaving today for Bordeaux, so I thought it would be appropriate to post the Paris photos. I was happy to get the chance to go back with my friend Sarah (Smiz) and show her the city. We stayed in an adorable hostel, met some wonderful people and explored the city of lights. First, we visited Notre Dame, which I hadn’t been inside before. It always feels a bit weird to be in a place of worship that is crawling with tourists, but it is an impressive structure.

Next we found some lunch at Rue Mouffetard, a street market I remembered fondly from my previous visit. We got some wonderful rotisserie chicken and potatoes covered in drippings.

We then hiked to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and took in stunning views. After climbing back down, we watched a ceremony take place underneath.

After resting at a cafe and grabbing some crepes (a must in Paris), we headed to the Eiffel Tower. This has to be one of the most photographed structures in the world. It is a symbol of love and lovers; families and close friends gathered to watch it light up and sparkle. We sat out on the lawn with people from around the world, drank wine and enjoyed the view. We met a sweet Italian family, shared wine and snacks with them and tried to communicate with each other. We even had handstand contests on the lawn. I am now Facebook friends with the mom and dad. I love keeping in touch with friends from around the world.

The next day we visited Versailles. we walked for miles around the grounds. Both times I have gone, I have loved the gardens more than the palace itself, but both are amazing to take in. I will let the photos speak for themselves.

We went out to a nice dinner that night. We found it in my friend Heather’s guide book and it lived up to the review. It was a magical night filled with good food and a unique atmosphere. The waiter was very personable. He even finished off his night by sitting down to drink wine with customers.