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Hello everyone, I may have a new favorite city. Paris
truly called to me in every way possible and I could see myself spending a summer there. I loved it so much!!!!!!! My friend who went with me, (also named Natalie) and I went late Friday night, and arrived at our hostel alongside Notre Dame around 2AM. We went right to bed so we could start bright and early. We woke up around 9, started where we were, Notre Dame area, and made our way to the Eiffel Tower by the end of the day. Macaroons, Crepes, Baguettes, you name it, we had it! The weather was supposed to be crummy with rain all weekend,
butwe lucked out all Saturday being sunny,60s, and Sunday high 50's with just a short rain shower!
First, we went inside Notre Dame, and as I thought it was beautiful, I think it was a bit overrated I have to say. I thought it was much bigger. Going inside La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona I think was even more mind blowing. We then went along all the cute streets around the cathedral and admired every cute thing there was to admire.
I loved the bridges, the rivers, and how it really ties the city together. It is a much simpler city to navigate than London from my experiences. I loved that you could walk everywhere and run into something to do along the water and at the end of the day be at the Eiffel Tower. We then stopped along different locals selling art, and looked at all of it and how beautiful it all was. We made our way to the Louvre, and did not go inside. I am not someone who is too interested in artwork, especially on a beautiful day. I think in order for someone to go and see something so important and special, they need to really be interested in it to enjoy it and make it worth your while. We did get the cool perspective photos with the triangles though!! Since we didn't do the Lourve, We wanted a museum that was different, and on our way to the tower. We went inside, Museé de L'armée!
They had armed men everywhere which made me feel very safe but this was just beautiful! Outside this museum was giant grassland field, and
there were bunnies just hanging out all in the open grass! Not typical of me to see, I am used to them hiding, and running away. We then walked to the Arc de Triomphe. After that, we walked around the roundabout that is by the way HUGE!!! And we saw this man with the tiniest crepe stand, and we thought, hey we should see if he has any different flavors. He had one for 3 euros that was called, Lemon Sugar. This is literally what it was, he uses his tool to make the crepe on his circular grill. He squeezed the lemons on the crepe, and then poured some sugar on it, folded it like a pro, and served it to me. It was warm, sugary and lemony and all the best things! I loved the street food 😊 By this time in the day, our phones were near dead. We looked for a cafe and actually ended up going to a restaurant near the eiffel tower to charge. It was called, Brassiere de tour Eiffel. We had a nice dinner, rich conversations, and the cutest french waiter.
By the time we were finished, we had
battery and were ready for the eiffel tower. We were so surprised how quick it was to get in the lines. We went around 8:30 and the line moved quite quick and we waited probably less than 20 minutes. This was for the elevator option. The stairs one may have had a much longer line. Honestly, I thought that 14 euros was a great price to go all the way to the top, (with student ID and probably 17 without one). I have heard that its much more expensive, but we found different. The Eiffel tower was my favorite part , (after the crepes and macaroons 😊 ) The view was just breathtaking and being up there was magical. The second floor had stores, a gift shop, macaroons (of course we got one to eat up there) and they were the best!!! The entire time we held on to our purses tight. I have found while traveling that you are the absolute most vulnerable to be pick-pocketed when you're looking at something beautiful. A cathedral, a painting, a beautiful view, you name it. Thats when you are most vulnerable, because what you're standing in front of is just so amazing
that you have no clue someone may have their hands down your bag. I've had great luck, but because I have been smart. Lets not let that run out. The top floor felt sooo high. We went up in those little elevators and I kept saying "We're not there yet? OMG" I thought it would take maybe 30 seconds but it was , more like 2 minutes!!! So high up!!! This was gorgeous. I loved the view, right at the sunset so we were there at the perfect time to see it at the best spot. And the Champagne bar!!! We didn't get one, but we both agreed it would be perfect right when we graduate college to go up there and pop a bottle 😊 We took some great pictures and made our way down to the field in front of the tower to see it twinkle.
We sat down in the field in the night and admired the tower from a far, and there were men everywhere selling wine,champagne, and more alcohol. They wouldn't leave us alone, every 20 seconds a different man would come up to us and ask if we wanted one. As
much as we did, we didn't wanna trust them.. Also, there were people with bikes and the little carriages attached. I have seen these by soldier field in Chicago when there's a concert, or event there, but these were all pimped out in Paris. They had music, lights, blankets,and food on them. Impressive!! We didn't take one, but it was very tempting. As we sat in the huge field, I learned that the tower only twinkles for 5 minutes every hour at night. As gorgeous as it is, I like that its not always doing it because it sure saves a lot of energy to not have it twinkle all night. So, at around 10:59 on saturday people began clapping and getting excited for it to twinkle. That's when I knew it was about to start! It did and it was soooo beautiful and I loved it!!! We took an Uber home to the hostel, which was very cheap. From the tower to Notre Dame was not bad at all. We went straight to bed. Amazing full day in Paris 😊
Sunday, we had breakfast in the hostel, and decided we would stay near our
area in Notre Dame, my personal favorite area! We shopped at the little street sellers for loved ones, went to the bridge with the locks for love. Sunday being mothers day, I did a lock for my mom! A super special love of mine!! I love you mom!! Then, we walked down little streets and had a french lunch. 15 euros for a 3 course meal 😊 I loved this because outside the restaurant was the cutest most stereotyical french man with a beret and a classic waiter outfit on. He was old with a mustache, but he was so lovely. Invited us in and he had to accept. My lunch was first a ham and cheese crepe, (so good), then a cheese and potato dish. This was amazing!!! We shared a ice cream and chocolate mousse for the dessert. I loved this 😊
We had to get back to Charles de Gaulle by around 4, since we were not familiar with that airport so we took the metro underground to the airport. I loved paris so much and I would love to work there someday, spend a summer, or something. If I were to go back,
I would want to go with my mom to shop!!! Macaroons, crepes, and the people truly were what made my Paris experience so great 😊 I am
SO lucky for all these amazing experiences. Successful weekend😊
Je t'aime paris!!!
More pictures below!!!
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