Ahhh Paris! Everything I had imagined, but also not really. If that makes any sense. Accordion music didn't follow me everywhere I went like in the movies, but the buildings and details were just as pretty as in the movies.
I ended up going with Mackenzie, Theresa, and Tania, who met us there. We got there pretty late, and just kind of crashed after sitting on a bus for a few hours. Mackenzie was actually staying at another hotel, so we made plans to meet up with her the next morning. Our hostel was super cute though! There were crazy prints all over the place - cow print in the staircase, stripes in our room, etc. - and an indoor courtyard right where you walked in. And the staff was super super nice.
On Saturday, our only full day in the city, we went to the Louvre. Or as I called it earlier that week, “the triangle museum” because I couldn’t remember the name when talking about what we wanted to see. We didn’t end up going inside it because the line was ridiculously long, but we did take the typical tacky tourist pictures outside it. Guess it just means I’ll have to come back someday and go in. Afterwards, we walked around Tuileries Garden, which is right next to the museum. It was beautiful there!! Now that spring is coming, all the trees and flowers are coming to life and it makes me the happiest. We really lucked out on the weather while here too - it was 70 degrees both days!!
From there, we went to the Notre Dame and checked it out inside. We saw it just one week before it caught on fire. It was really pretty inside. All the detail on the walls and arches and ceiling was crazy! We even saw a baby get baptized in the church, with the priest singing and a cute 2-year old sister (I’m assuming) running around everywhere. Afterwards, we stopped at a crepe place for a crepe and some water. Honestly...wasn’t super impressed with the crepe we had.
After that, we went on a boat tour around the city right by the Eiffel Tower while the sun was setting. We saw the city - buildings, bridges, statues, etc. - from a new perspective while all aglow from the sun setting.
Since our tour ended right by the Eiffel Tower, we decided to check it out and see it up close and personal. I was honestly much more impressed with it than I thought i would be. I originally thought the Eiffel Tower might be a little overrated, but it ended up being just as beautiful as in all the pictures! We stayed to watch it turn on at night, and enjoyed the view. After a little bit though, it (and all the other landmarks) turned off for an hour for Earth Hour to raise awareness of climate change. Earth Hour turns off the lights of famous monuments around the world for 60 minutes, from 8-9pm, once a year.
Before heading back to the hostel for the night, Theresa, Tania, and I went to Pierre Hermé for macaroons. Tania got the recommendation from a friend who lived in Paris, saying they were THE best macaroons. And I have to completely agree! I’m not usually a fan of them, but these...these were so good. We were next to the Arc de Triomphe, and it was about to turn back on by that point so we stayed to watch that. A little less anti-climatic than if it were the Eiffel Tower I think, but still just as pretty!
The next morning, Theresa, Tania, and I woke up, checked out of the hostel, and got breakfast at Circus Bakery, a local bakery (shout out to fellow exchange student, Leonora, for the recommendation!). The bread and cinnamon buns were SO GOOD! From there, Tania went off to do her own thing, and Theresa and I headed to the Eiffel Tower to go up top. And Mackenzie made plans to just meet us at the bus station.
It was really really fun with just Theresa though! We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, where the view was beautifulllllll. The city, although kinda a dirty/grimy feel to it, is just so pretty with all the details on each and every buildings. And we seriously got so lucky with the weather being sunny and 65 degrees. After that, we ate lunch at Fragments, another recommendation from Leonora. Again, such good food!! From there, we headed to the bus station, found Mackenzie, and headed back to Brussels.
Check out the full gallery from Paris here.
