Bonjour!!
Aah, Paris. The City of Light. The City of Love. One truly begins to enjoy this wonderful city when all the site seeing and bus hopping is done. The beauty of Paris lies in its culture, its vast and interesting history, its charm, its romance, the architecture, the food. Saying this is my favorite city would be the understatement of a lifetime.
My husband Sean and I, spent 10 perfect days of Spring in Paris for our honeymoon. As the days flew by and with every passing sunset, a pang of sadness grew in our hearts as we counted the time we had left. I guarantee you there is nothing I can say that will do this majestic city any justice. We savoured this city as much as we could with the mere 10 days we had, but it was enough for us to fall heavily in love with it. Here are some things that resonated with us and what we believe, makes Paris the beloved city that it is.
1. Rue Cler walk – then wandering around this picturesque neighborhood. In two two’s you’re at Champs de Mars and the Eiffel Tower.
2. The Arc de Triomphe then window shopping on Champs Elysees – wear comfy shoes and take a nice long stroll.
3. The Eiffel Tower from the Bir Hakeim Bridge – go really early. Great opportunity for pictures as its pretty empty before 8am.
4. Narrow cobblestoned streets – they are everywhere. So romantic! Not on your high heels though.
5. The pristine gardens at Chateau de Versailles – do a private tour to beat the crowds and long lines, then have a quiet evening taking in the sheer beauty of the grounds
6. The chic atmosphere of St. Germain-des-Pres – the cafes, the shopping, the nightlife and the quiet nights. This area boasted the boutique hotel we stayed at.
7. The Wall of Names at the Shoah Memorial
8. Paul – the quiche is divine.
9. Men in three piece suits and shiny shoes riding bikes.
10. Scarves – be sure to have one. Everyone wears them. I went out once without mine and I felt very out of place.
11. Chatting over a glass of wine – Parisians actually talk to each other without the snapchats and the Facebook stories when in social settings. It is refreshing.
12. Luxembourg Gardens – tons of lawn chairs to relax on if you don’t catch a bench. Visit the Pantheon close by.
13. Stracciatella gelato – make a quick stop at Glaces Artisanales for some of the best gelato and sorbet on your way to the Luxembourg Gardens. Thank me later.
14. Large carved brightly colored doors.
15. Ham and cheese crepes – avoid the carts close to attractions. Try for the creperies and patisseries.
16. The ease of getting around – walking and the metro was our main way of commuting. We even commuted back to the airport.
17. Fashion – sophisticated and chic. Leave the sneakers and sweatpants at home.
18. Tiny cars – with those tiny streets and barely there parking spots, I see the need.
19. Always bonjour! and au revoir!
20. Clock at Musee d’Orsay – there are also clocks at the Chateau de Versailles that are designed to work until December 31st, 9999.
21. Dogs everywhere with their owners – didn’t like the constant dodging of dog poo though.
22. The river Seine – an evening cruise is the perfect way to wind down from a hectic day of site seeing.
23. Montmartre – perched on the hilltop it’s by far my favorite neighborhood in all of Paris. I felt right at home roaming through its quiet, stone-paved streets.
24. Getting lost. We found the best places to eat that way.
25. Artist lined streets in Montmartre.
26. Saint-Andre des Arts – lots and lots of little shops and novelty stores. Check out Creperie des Arts for the best crepes ever!
27. Boulangeries – all that dreams are made of.
28. Outdoor cafes – our favorites were in the St. Germain-des-Pres and the Latin Quarter areas.
29. Macarons – don’t take too long to savor them, they have a 2-3 day shelf life.
30. Angelina’s L’African Hot Chocolate – this is hot (dark) chocolate of the Gods. It’s so thick and decadent. There can be a little line to dine in but it moves quickly. It’s worth it.
31. Long sunsets – in April dusk came at around 8pm and the sun finally set shortly after 9pm.
32. Specialty chocolate shops – there were some lovely ones on Ile de la Cite. Hop across after visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral.
33. Feeling like a cast member of The Bourne Identity – the sirens!
34. People watching – just sit and look at Paris going by. It’s satisfyingly relaxing.
35. Sacre Coeur Basilica – go late afternoon on a weekday to escape the throngs of people.
36. Recognizing locations from popular movies – The Tourist, Midnight in Paris and Inception comes to mind.
37. Nostalgia after only one day back home.
38. The architecture.
39. The Marais – We spent the last day in this area. Convenient bus and metro stations, great food and amazing views of the Eiffel Tower at night.
40. The friendly and accommodating people we met in our quest to knowing Paris. This made our trip extra special.
We had so much planned for this trip, but from the moment we arrived we accepted that Paris is to be appreciated slowly in order to capture its sweet essence.
So, what do you love most about Paris? If its your first time or your dream destination, what are you looking forward to in the City of Light?
Thanks for stopping by!
