Oh Paris.
I fear that I may never stop talking about the 5 short days the three of us spent in Paris. I never actually wrote anything in my notes about my time there, but I believe that to be because I knew I'd remember everything about this magical city. Every detail about the french streets, the romantic lights, and the quaint cafes. Every sound from the boats on the Seine River, the taxis during our bike tour, and the music playing on the Champ de Mars. Even every smell from each and every crepe that I ate that week, and boy did I ever NOT hold back on those. The locals there, the architecture of the buildings (from the modern addition of the prism in front of the Lourve to the renovations of Rodin's house) the history behind the city...just about everything could never be erased from the deepest crevices of my mind. They are most certainly engraved there for the long haul.
Sigh.
I sound like a typical teenager obsessing over that cute boy I went to the one party with.
In all honesty, Paris, France you have my heart. And I am certainly not embarrassed to be associated with the so called "obsessing teenager" mentioned above.
I fear that I may never stop talking about the 5 short days the three of us spent in Paris. I never actually wrote anything in my notes about my time there, but I believe that to be because I knew I'd remember everything about this magical city. Every detail about the french streets, the romantic lights, and the quaint cafes. Every sound from the boats on the Seine River, the taxis during our bike tour, and the music playing on the Champ de Mars. Even every smell from each and every crepe that I ate that week, and boy did I ever NOT hold back on those. The locals there, the architecture of the buildings (from the modern addition of the prism in front of the Lourve to the renovations of Rodin's house) the history behind the city...just about everything could never be erased from the deepest crevices of my mind. They are most certainly engraved there for the long haul.
Sigh.
I sound like a typical teenager obsessing over that cute boy I went to the one party with.
In all honesty, Paris, France you have my heart. And I am certainly not embarrassed to be associated with the so called "obsessing teenager" mentioned above.
Instead of explaining my day by day in this historic french city, I think I'll simply highlight my favorite details from our adventures. I certainly have quite a number of photos from this stop detailing all of my favorite things. As a matter of fact, saying that half of our pictures came from Paris is certainly not an understatement. Most of them were redundant and staged, but we didn't care. It tells our story, and I'll apologize in advance for the possible overabundance of photos you see throughout this page.
The hostel we called home for those four nights in all actuality became our home. Paris Namdemun on the outskirts of the city might appear too far from all the happenings of the inner city, but the atmosphere there will absolutely be worth the commute in. The Korean family that owned it were lovely people, and their cooking skills were even more top notch. They provided breakfast for their guests every morning, and if you could make it back for dinner (and trust me, you should at least once), they went all out on Korean dishes.
TALK ABOUT MOUTHWATERING.
TALK ABOUT MOUTHWATERING.
The Fat Tire Bike Tour is a must while you're in Paris. We signed up for both the day tour and the night tour, and it was such a great idea! With us fresh off the flight to Paris that day, the bike tour allowed us to learn about the history of the city from knowledgable tour guides so that in the remaining days, we were able to go back and appreciate them even more. The day tour took us to Place Joffre, right past Musee Rodin with a stop in Esplanade des Invalides across from the Musee de L'Armee. (I understand if this is jibberish...I had to go back to google maps myself in order to relive it and share it on here). We proceeded over the Pont Alexandre III arched bridge and along Avenue Winston Churchill until we made it to Av. des Champs-Elysees. From there, we headed towards the Lourve all the while listening to our day guide explain different facts about the city. My memory evades me at the moment, but I know we ended up tracking back a ways, passing the building they used as a blueprint for central station in NYC, and ended up in front of the Eiffel Tower.
C'est Magnifique!
The night tour took us a different way, and I'll be honest and say I don't remember how we started, but we donned our reflector vests and traveled away from Tour Eiffel. Our destination would be Notre Dame. We crossed lovers bridge, ate a delicious sandwhich, learned about the prism at the Lourve, took a boat ride on the Seine River, and ended at Tour Eiffel yet again. I'm sure I've missed some important, worthwhile details, but I hope this paints a small picture of just how memorable our bike ride was.
C'est Magnifique!
The night tour took us a different way, and I'll be honest and say I don't remember how we started, but we donned our reflector vests and traveled away from Tour Eiffel. Our destination would be Notre Dame. We crossed lovers bridge, ate a delicious sandwhich, learned about the prism at the Lourve, took a boat ride on the Seine River, and ended at Tour Eiffel yet again. I'm sure I've missed some important, worthwhile details, but I hope this paints a small picture of just how memorable our bike ride was.
We visited Versailles. The trip there proved complicated seeing as these three Texans don't frequent subways or metros often at all. Oh, but how worthwhile this palace was to have allowed us to forget all about our metro mishaps.
I picture Heaven to look similar to Versailles with its golden gates a plenty and it's green shrubbery surrounding the entire perimeter.
We travelled down the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, and in my head I heard Phil LIggett commentating our every step. The steps up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe seemed to mock us as it had to have been the millionth step in all our journey.
We walked through the Musee Rodin with gelato melting down our hands. I eagerly turned every corner to maybe catch a glimpse of Owen Wilson reading Adriana's diary.
We pretended to each be Esmeralda while touring Notre Dame. Unfortunately, we did not climb those steps to the bell tower...we rationalized that we had quite possibly seen enough stairs for a lifetime.
We ended our days with a bottle of wine, a baguette, and each other's company in front of the spectacular night lights of the Eiffel Tower.
I picture Heaven to look similar to Versailles with its golden gates a plenty and it's green shrubbery surrounding the entire perimeter.
We travelled down the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, and in my head I heard Phil LIggett commentating our every step. The steps up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe seemed to mock us as it had to have been the millionth step in all our journey.
We walked through the Musee Rodin with gelato melting down our hands. I eagerly turned every corner to maybe catch a glimpse of Owen Wilson reading Adriana's diary.
We pretended to each be Esmeralda while touring Notre Dame. Unfortunately, we did not climb those steps to the bell tower...we rationalized that we had quite possibly seen enough stairs for a lifetime.
We ended our days with a bottle of wine, a baguette, and each other's company in front of the spectacular night lights of the Eiffel Tower.
Coincidentally, or perhaps completely on purpose, Midnight in Paris plays in the background as I complete this post. The movie has since finished while I continue to make a futile attempt at perfecting this, so I've turned my spotify on to it's soundtrack.
Si tu vois ma mere is currently on repeat.
They say Paris is most beautiful in the rain.
I agree.
I also think it's most beautiful day/night, rain or shine; summer, winter, fall or spring.
...there goes that obsessive teenager again.
Oh well.
Si tu vois ma mere is currently on repeat.
They say Paris is most beautiful in the rain.
I agree.
I also think it's most beautiful day/night, rain or shine; summer, winter, fall or spring.
...there goes that obsessive teenager again.
Oh well.
I'm sad to say my travel posts have come to an end. I loved sharing every memory I had with whoever you are that have taken the time to read my sub par writing. You guys are the real MVPs. The two girls that are featured alongside me in the photos are my best friends, and I think they'll laugh and cry and reminisce on this wonderful experience.
NOW. TO PLAN MY NEXT ADVENTURE.
NOW. TO PLAN MY NEXT ADVENTURE.