La Ville Lumière

Paris. The city of lights. The city of love. The place that captured my heart.

When we knew Scotland was going to be our new home last year, the husband and I talked about where we would love to go while we were in Europe. Flying is super cheap once you've actually crossed the Atlantic and we want to make the most of it. Rome was on the top of the list. So was Reykjavik. London, Madrid, Dublin, and Paris were a few others. But knowing what our budget would be, the priority became Paris. And I will say, if you get one shot at Europe, make sure that Paris is one of your stops. What made Paris extra special was that we got to celebrate our 4-year anniversary in this beautiful city. It may or may not have added a layer of gold to the entire trip. 

I wish I had my reaction on camera when I got into the city. The hubby said it made his day. We took the metro from the airport into the city center, and when we emerged from the station, I was in heaven. The architecture, the limestone buildings, the layout of the city, everything was of beauty and brightness. It immediately captured my heart and put me in a state of wonder. 

After we found our home for the next several days, we walked across the city to an event we were attending (if you're ever in Paris in May, I highly recommend going to their Taste of Paris festival). But what really did me in was when we walked toward a beautiful bridge after the event. As we got closer to the bridge, I suddenly could see the Eiffel Tower. It was all lit up and shining bright. I was in awe. It was such a beautiful sight, a stunning piece of architecture standing tall and proud for everyone to see. Magic... that's what it was. 

Over the next several days, we covered Paris. And when I say we covered Paris, I literally mean we pretty much covered the entire inner circle that makes up the city of Paris. We hit up all the tourist stops, the parks, and cafes. We attended events in town and sat on random benches. We ate pastries by the Seine and indulged in an anniversary steak. We taste-tested many macaroons and sipped a variety of lattes. We were exhausted, but in the best possibly way. 

Wine by the Seine. Yes please

One of the best happy little accidents (and became one of our favorite parts about Paris) was that a high school friend of mine happened to be there the exact time that we were there! She was with her mom and sister, a family I knew all too well. We were able to line things up to enjoy a bottle (or two) on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. We laid out a blanket and talked about the last decade of our life. It was fulfilling and marvelous. Obviously most people can't have this experience, but man, what a sweet sweet memory we have in such an stunning place. 

If you're drooling over the idea of exploring Paris, perfect! I've done my job! To make everyone's life easier in the planning process, I'll add our favorite things we did while we were there. Hopefully this makes it easier to plan a trip of your own. 

All the Touristy Things

There are things in Paris that EVERYONE does. Guess what? There's a reason everyone does those things. I'm all about having a unique and exciting experience when you travel, but to pass up the staples, I think you're missing out. 


Eiffel Tower. Like I mentioned before, this is a must. You don't necessarily have to pay the money to go to the upper levels, but go enjoy it up close. Take photos from the lawn. See it during the day and at night. It's a magnificent piece of architecture and should be seen up close and personal. 

Notre Dame. We visited during a church service, which if you don't plan on staying for the service, I'd recommend going in at a different time. Mostly because I don't believe in disrupting a holy gathering with people staring, whispering, taking photos, all that jazz. That being said, it's a stunning church filled with lovely pane glass windows and arches for days. It makes you stop and pause to consume it's intensity. 

My favorite part of the Louvre

The Louvre. Be prepared for exhaustion to set in on this one. Know going in that you will not see it all. It's impossible. You could spend your entire vacation there and maybe see it, but you'll be too dead to enjoy it. I read somewhere that even artists can't handle being there for more than a few hours. It's too much to consume and take in. It all starts to blend together and makes you delirious. Before you go, pick out a few things you'd like to see, and then take in some of the other random art you find along the way. 

Arc de Triomphe. This. Is. So. Big. I never really realized how big this monument is. It's definitely worth a stop. The detail in the this monstrous landmark is remarkable. 

Wall of Love. The wall is more of an obscure place, and by obscure I mean it's not near any of the other monuments. More off the beaten path. But it seems like many people know about the wall. It's a beautiful blue-tiled wall completely filled with the words "I love you" written in dozens and dozens of different languages. It's beautiful and a great photo opportunity. 

Wall of Love with my love

Food

We may not have had "traditional French food" but I think there's more to the food in Paris than that. So here are the things that we couldn't get more of. 

La Bossue with all it's delightful treats

La Bossue. We cannot give this place more praise. It's off the beaten path a bit (near the 9th and 17th arrondissement) but it was fairly close to to where we were renting our Airbnb. But because it's off the beaten path, does not mean it's unknown. This place is packed, and for good reason. It's a very quaint little place chock full of baked goods (think fresh madeleines, scones, cakes, croissants) and delightful coffee. 

Sacree Fleur. If you love steak (and wine!), check out this great spot. Near the 18th arrondissement, this place is reservation only and you must call no earlier than two weeks beforehand. They even have a red wine that a vineyard created specifically for this restaurant. I don't even like red wine and I loved this one. Obviously this small place has more than steaks, but I highly recommend what their known for. 

Pierre Hermes. It feels wrong to go to Paris and not eat a macaroon or ten. We just happened to stumble on Pierre's shop first and picked out four that sounded drool-worthy. Oh my wow. I didn't know I liked macaroons, but here I am, a newly converted fan. They have fun flavors like pistachio, black currant, jasmine flower, as well as more traditional chocolate, coffee and salted-butter caramel. The chocolate was by far my favorite, but some of the other ones were good as well. Which leads us to...

Ladurees. Now there's a great debate on who makes the better macaroon -- Pierre Hermes or Ladurees. Ladurees had a beautiful building right on the Champs Elysees. They have much more than macaroons, but this is what people go for. The line was out the door and I have a feeling that this is a normal day for them. I would say there are more traditional flavors here (raspberry, vanilla, chocolate hazelnut) but plenty of flavors to choose from. Both the hubby and I agreed, Pierre Hermes hit it out of the park. But that doesn't mean you can't taste test the two of them. I mean you are in Paris after all. If nothing else, go just to take a gander and this beautiful building. 

Those were our top highlights, but I promise you, there are plenty more delicious places than what I listed. Traipse around the city, or use an app to help find the perfect place to dine. 

Final Thoughts 

My favorite travel companion

Hit up the parks. There is more to Paris than the traditional tourist pit stops. We chose to map out a path that hit up all the highlights the city had to offer. My husband's favorite stops by far were the parks. Specifically Parc Monceau and Parc Buttes Chaumont. Both were special in their own ways. Parc Monceau has beautiful scultptures and ponds, while Buttes Chaumont has a picturesque view from Temple Sybille, along with waterfalls and a suspension bridge within the park. You can spend time walking around or sit on a bench and take in the sites and smells of that around you. 

View from the Eiffel Tower

Walk, walk, walk. What made our trip so special was the walking we chose to do. While we did take the metro to get to some destinations, we enjoyed the sites and the sounds of the city by walking everywhere. I ogled at the gorgeous architecture, smirked at all the people with baguettes, sighed as I took in the smell of flowers, and became twitterpated with the Parisian culture. Metros are helpful, but it takes away the magic and the spark that Paris has to offer. 

And finally, just go where the wind takes you. Stay longer than normal at a cafe, peruse little markets, stop at whatever restaurant tickles your fancy. You can't (and shouldn't) schedule everything. Be a little spontaneous to really get into the culture. You won't regret it. 


Always, 
A