Paris...the stories.

It has been WAY too long since I have updated this, but FINALLY I am back.

Paris...Paris the city of love and beauty..I cannot WAIT to go back! And NOW it is so very soon!!!

So..as for the stories..

Day 1:

We arrived in Paris and luckily had the privilege of staying in a Marriott hotel for only 8euro per person...A DREM COME TRUE-cheaper than a hostel. During our time here, we took the metro everywhere and started the day off visiting Notre Dame-my favorite church in all of Europe. We walked all across the Seine river in Paris and passed by Shakespeare and Co. While embarking towards the center of the city, we passed the famous lock bridge: Pont Des Artes where all the locks of couples around the world remain to seal their love in the most romantic city in the world and the story goes, once you lock a locket on this bridge, years later you have to come back with the same person and unlock it together.

On our way to the Musee d'Orsay, it started to rain, but we were in Paris! Like we cared...we stopped in this tiny café to get quiche and coffee. I swear, that quiche was the best I have EVER tasted in my life..sorry Momma. We got free entrance into the Orsay, luckily to my expertise accent claiming to be Italian international students. After the Orsay, we walked across the Alexander Bridge right across from Napoleon's mansion and to our surprise, ended up at Champs Elysees (shaump-del-ee-zay) and walked to the most famous opera house in the world, where the inspiration of Phantom of the Opera transpired. Palais Garnier is the name. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we did this the next day. We ate some amazing crepes and made our way back to the metro to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time. My friends had all been to Paris before, so they made this experience very special for me as we got off the metro, they immediately put their hands over my eyes and guided me to be what felt like a mile-blindfolded to the most spectacular view and I was standing underneath it. It was breathtaking and so surreal...I could not believe I was in Paris, but here, it clicked..I get goosebumps thinking about that moment. After we took about a million and five pictures, we had dinner at Relais de l'Entrecote where we had salad, and amazing all you can eat steak and french fries-the REAL ones..

Day 2:

We had chocolate croissants and coffee for breakfast..my favorite thing for breakfast in Europe that I have had almost everyday while traveling on the weekends. This day, we were able to make it into the Opera House and it was incredible. The pictures cannot even do it justice..it was BEAUTIFUL. I cannot wait to share ALL of my pictures from all of my adventures during this trip, and EVERY trip-for that matter. Afterwards, we headed to Montmartre to see Sacre Coeur and saw tons of local artists selling their work and I even had a chance to watch some of them paint the spectacular view before our eyes. We stopped for a quick picture or two at Moulin Rouge and then headed back to Champs Elysees to go to the famous macaroon shop: Laduree, which was CRAZY expensive, but so delicious...and SO worth it! It was this night..where it happened. The moment where my life changed. On top of the Arc de Triomphe at precisely 8:00pm where the most amazing view of my life was revealed to me. The glittering of the Eiffel Tower on top of the Arc de Triomphe.

If you are going to Paris...YOU MUST DO THIS. It changed my life. Most beautiful, breathtaking, life-reflecting, momentous 4 minutes of my life. This time, I am not exaggerating. 

After this amazing moment, we bought a few bottles of wine, some baguettes, brie and grapes and had ourselves a little party in the hotel room for the night.

Day 3:

Daylights Savings. 

Funny story, we woke up 1 hour ahead of what we wanted to, but that was actually a wonderful surprise because even though no cafés were open yet, we had an extra hour to get our gear together. We ate at Hotel Invalides Caffé fairly close to the Roudin Museum and I sat for a moment or two, and pondered with "The Thinker." We only had about 3 hours left in Paris before we had to depart, so we went to the Louvre Museum, to which I will definitely be returning in less than TWO weeks! I saw the original Mona Lisa, Venus di Milo, the Code of Hammurabi, Cupid and Psyche, and what really caught my attention: the vast painting of the crowning of Napoleon. This museum is incredibly huge, I was told even if you spent 24 hours a day for a year, you wouldn't get to see everything this museum has.

An amazing trip indeed...I cannot WAIT to return to you, O dear Pari, in just 17 days.