I apologize for the lack of photos. My powershot went missing about a month ago, and without Nikon 1 and 2 (Rainey and Zachary), pictures don’t really surface. Andrew has a few locked away on his camera, but for now, your imagination will have to suffice.
When asked to describe our trip to Paris in 3 words?
Delicious, Relaxing, Productive
In a mere 48 hours, Andrew and I managed to see the most famous sites of Paris, while not feeling rushed (Romaerobics, anyone?). The trip began with a speedy Eurostar journey (the Evening Standard crossword keeping us occupied most of the way.)
Meet The Parisien Hotel. So after staying at several youth hostels, it was almost weird to be staying at a legit hotel. I was a bit iffy about it—hoping for the best, but definitely prepared for the worst. The hotel ended up being perfectly nice, but the stench of smoke was overwhelming. Not only did we immediately throw open the very French windows, but Andrew stuffed dryer sheets into the pillows! I suppose the maids got the hint, because when we returned the next day, they had left us a bottle of fabric freshener along with our chocolate Easter eggs. So thoughtful.
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The first day in Paris started with a navigation of the Metro (where we met Canadian siblings Tim and Cara) and a visit to Norte Dame Cathedral (where we were herded like cattle and did not see Quasimodo). The best part of this touristy adventure was when Andrew lost one of his gloves (not to mention the time he lost ME!) and went on a panic-stricken search through forests of legs and feet to find it—which he did!
Leaving the cattle herd for greener pastures, we walked along the Seine until we found Musée d'Orsay, our day one museum of choice. Because we’re both huge fans of impressionist art, and because of the museum’s perfect size, it was easy to spend a couple of hours exploring without feeling weighed down. Even had a good dose of comic relief when we found a large group huddling, a docent doing her analytical spiel, and discovered one of the most awkward/hilarious paintings I’ve ever seen. Even Andrew had to back away, laughing and saying, “I’m not mature enough!” That makes two of us.
Of course, Paris wouldn’t be complete without the Eiffel Tower. Having seen it during the day during an 8th grade family vacation, my big goal was to see it lit up at night and CLIMB it. So after checking out the architecture in the broad daylight and winding through Parisian streets during bipolar on-again-off-again downpour, we found ourselves a place to enjoy an early dinner (happy belated birthday to me!) so that we could return to the Tower after sunset.
The Tower lit up? Gorgeous. Climbing it? EPIC. Definitely worth the cost and the loss of breath.
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Day two began with a quick gaze at the Arc de Triomphe, which wouldn’t be complete without a terrifying sprint across the infamous traffic circle-- because pedestrian subways are for sissys, right?!
A leisurely walk down the Champs-Élysées led us into several car-dealership-mini-museums, a delicious sandwich shop named PAUL, and a giant Sephora where perfume/cologne testing ensued, leaving us smelling like floor 2 of Macy’s for the remainder of the evening. And where were we for the remainder? Trudging through the Louvre. Or rather, zipping through the Louvre. Museum number two – while impressive with its endless amount of priceless artwork--proved to be incredibly massive, overwhelming, and crowded. After cramming in as much as we could take, we grabbed a quick dinner, sneaked in some chocolate macaroons (a lovely surprise), and jumped on our Eurostar train back to London—home sweet home.
Paris as an adult was worlds away from Paris as a 14 year old. Climbing the tower at night was alone worth the second trip—but visiting the Musée d'Orsay, running across 52 lanes of very unorganized traffic, and attempting to speak French to people who can clearly speak English, are among many reasons why this trip will forever remain more memorable in my mind.
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