Bonjour from Paris, France!
Oh man. Where to start. PARIS. I’M IN PARIS, FRANCE. That is all my brain has screamed over and over for the entire trip. This has been my number one on my bucket list since I was a kid. I’ve had Eiffel Tower paraphernalia scattered all over my bedroom since I was 10. I took French class all through high school. This is literally a dream come true. But I am a realist erring on the side of caution. We were a little nervous given all we’ve heard about the French. They’re rude, hate Americans, the streets are dirty, there’s crime all over the city and better hold tight to your belongings because there is a pick pocket lurking around every corner.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
I was so worried about our passports being stolen. We bought those crossbody wallets to keep all of our stuff in. Which, for what it was supposed to do, worked, but was pretty awkward when you went to pay for something and you’re like “oh excuse me while I lift up my entire shirt to grab wet money from my sweat soaked body wallet.” If you are pretty bad about misplacing things or are known to drop things, then this product might actually be a good investment for you. If you visit a place during cooler weather it would work out a lot better layering it over a shirt and hiding it under a jacket. So just be smart. Keep an eye on your surroundings. Don’t walk around with your purse or backpack wide open, or wave your phone around all willy nilly. Common sense goes a long way.
How we got to Paris
We took a train from Barcelona to Paris, France. The ride was breathtaking. Lush green mountains with scattered fields of wildflowers, a random herd of cows (that were beautiful and lean with no spots!), then all of a sudden BAM a huge castle. I had planned to do all sorts of journaling and reading while on these trains, but instead I stared out the window and napped. This is the best way to get around Europe. Especially if you can afford to splurge on first class trains. All of the sightseeing plus wine and snacks?! Sign me up.
Where to stay
We got off our train and took a cab to our AirBnb. Our host was wonderful explaining to us how to get there. There are a ton of translator apps. Almost everyone, everywhere, uses them, so communicating in a foreign country has gotten a lot easier. You should still try to learn a few key phrases in case of an emergency. It goes a long way with the locals when they hear you actually trying to speak their language.
I highly recommend staying in an AirBnB or other short term homestay. The hotels can get pretty pricey, and staying in someones oh so perfectly French apartment just makes the experience that much more, well perfectly French.
The place we stayed in was perfect. A cozy little apartment with these huge windows with planters hanging outside. We opened them up and got this light breeze and the most amazing smells. Flowers, savory food, something sweet, fresh herbs and dirt. It was wonderful. Exactly how I always imagined it.
Morning Brew
Remember when you wake up in France and go to make your coffee…there is no drip coffee pot! BUT, there is espresso! I was never a huge espresso fan. It was bitter, such a small amount, and made me jittery. Maybe it was the jet lag mixed with the excitement of being there, but that first little cup of espresso was the most delicious morning cup o’ joe I’ve ever had. I didn’t even care that there wasn’t any creamer. That’s a pretty big deal coming from the creamer queen.
Wandering into Paris, France
We woke up early and ventured out to find breakfast. Our only plan was to walk towards the Eiffel Tower and to stop wherever our noses lead us. We walked past so many bakeries. Steaming croissants being put up in windows, the most perfect pastries I’ve ever seen, macarons displayed in every color and flavor you could imagine, rows of baguettes being taken out of the oven. I gained 10 pounds just by looking at them. We couldn’t wait any longer to eat, so we stopped at a cute little cafe. It had a decent amount of people dining, and a little outdoor seating area with a view. We ordered a quiche and mixed fruit pancakes with a couple coffees and some fresh orange juice. The tables were so small that it looked like we ordered every item on the menu. The pancakes were so delicious. They didn’t even need syrup. The quiche was perfect. The crust was so light yet so buttery. And the eggs were so light and airy. This day was the best start to any day that I’ve ever had.
The Arc de Triomphe
As we walked, we turned a corner and there was the Arc de Triomphe. There it was in all its glory. The streets were filled with people taking pictures, and a busy traffic circle surrounds it. You can walk to the base of it or pay a fee to walk the stairs to the top. This trip we were under time constraints, so pictures from the sidewalk will have to do! Until next time you beautiful arc you.
La Piece de Resistance 
And there it is. The Eiffel Tower. The structure is magnificent. It’s so tall. Like could you imagine having to build this thing and be all the way at the top?! No thanks.
There was a lot of construction around the base of it. Which got in the way of a lot of our photo ops. I think we were at the back side of it. Later that day we were walking along the Seine and came across a big grass area where everyone was sprawled out on blankets having picnics, playing music, napping, children running around playing, all with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. This is what I have been waiting for. Everything about this view was perfect. I highly recommend getting a baguette, some cheese, and maybe/most definitely a bottle of wine, and posting up here.
I would walk 500 miles
We saw all the things that day. The Notre Dame, the Pantheon, the Place de la Bastille, and town halls that have the most beautiful architecture. It felt like we walked a million miles. Highly recommend a comfy pair of shoes. Good support. All the old lady things. I was totally picturing myself looking chic and wearing cute wedges all around. HA. Cobblestone streets are still a thing there. I almost broke my ankle walking around in my sneakers. I would have looked like a one legged baby giraffe if I wore my cute shoes. How do people do it?! Teach me your ways!
To the Louvre!
The next day we woke up early and headed to the Louvre! We purchased the skip the line tickets and audio guide, which I highly recommend.
To learn more about this, click here
We got there before they opened. We wanted to walk around the Palais Royale gardens and sip our espresso before expanding our minds with art history. There was a kinda cute, kinda creepy circus thing happening next to it. Man, I love it here. When the Louvre opened, we walked up and right in with our tickets. There was hardly anyone there. I cannot stress this enough: GET OUT EARLY WHEN VISITING A NEW PLACE. Especially during high tourist times. We got about an hour of silence before the place was packed. It is quite a surreal experience seeing these things in real life, when I’ve only admired them in pictures for so much of my life. I got a little teary eyed when I saw the Nike of Samothrace and the Mona Lisa. These will be core memories for sure.
The Champs Elysees Paris, France
Afterwards, we strolled down the Champs Elysees and ate at the most glorious McDonald’s we’ve ever seen. Look out for the white arches! Only 2 locations in the world have this! (The other is in Bruges, Belgium). We ordered everything through a kiosk, which was the first time we had ever experienced that. While waiting for our food, we perused the dessert counter. IS THIS REALLY MCDONALD’S?! Macarons in every color, cakes, muffins, and cookies. Why doesn’t every McD’s have this?! Wait until our family hears that we came all the way to Paris just to eat at McDonald’s.
After our lovely lunch we strolled along the Champs Elysees and decided we were gonna do a little shopping. When in Paris right? My husband saw a Supreme store and decided to wait in this huge line, just to enter and see like two racks of clothes. After that kind of a wait we felt we had to get something. So a $175 tank top will have to do. I wanted to check out the Louis Vuitton store. I walked by and saw people shopping with glasses of champagne?! Bye honey, I’ll be in here all day! Unfortunately, you only get fancy libations if you are making big purchases. I was determined to get something. I was going to buy the smallest, cheapest thing I could find. Which ended up being a keychain for $650. And no, I did not get that.
Bastille Day
Our last day in Paris, France. Which happened to fall on Bastille Day. What a send off! I had read about this day, and figured it would be similar to our 4th of July. The French take their celebrations to a whole other level. There were parades, air shows, people gathered listening to speeches, people driving down the Champs Elysees laying on their horns and hanging out their windows waving French flags. It was awesome. The real party starts once the sun goes down. They light fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. What a sight to behold. It was a giant party in the middle of the streets and it went on all night long.
I will never forget my time here in Paris, France. It exceeded all of my expectations. Little me put Paris on a pedestal, and it did not let big me down. Being here and experiencing this with my best friend and the love of my life, makes it that much sweeter.
Follow us to Marseille and celebrate!…
