Paris

Paris is like a dream. It is the only place I've been to that completely lived up to my expectations. 

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” 
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

After living my whole life in London, I am well adjusted to the hustle and bustle of city life, and no place other than it can ever feel like home. London, for me, is all about power, strength and determination, whereas Paris is soft, beautiful and cultured.

Growing up, I was drawn to stories that were set in Paris, for example, Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo, Moulin Rouge directed by Baz Lurhman, and Midnight in Paris written and directed by Woody Allen. It became number one on my most wanted places to visit and the summer of 2013, I was able to tick it off of my bucket list. 

We only spent 3 days in the city, and even though we saw all the main 'sights', I left feeling like there was so much more to explore and vowed I would come back again for her (Paris is most definitely a woman). 

This is the first landmark we saw after coming out of the Gare du Nord. The size is overwhelming and makes our Marble Arch look like a peanut in comparison. 

The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

We completed underestimated how far our hotel was from the Gare du Nord, and decided to walk to it instead of taking the Metro which took us about two solid hours. However, with heavy bags on our shoulders and flimsy sandals on our feet, we didn't complain. The sights we saw on the way there made up for it all. 

In Paris, there are lovers everywhere, going for strolls along the Seine, in al fresco coffee shops, having picnics, in deep conversation on benches. I don't know whether its because it has been drilled into me that Paris is the city of love or because there were just more couples, but it is definitely noticeable when you are there. 

Victor Hugo is one of my favourite writers ever. He penned the classic Les Miserables and Notre Dame de Paris, which I mentioned above and seeing this made my day. The city is saturated in deep, rich history, and every time you turn a corner, there is a new famous street where something legendary happened. 

We arrived at our hotel in the evening, just in time for dinner. Chaz and I got dressed and headed down to the restaurant, too exhausted to look for somewhere else to eat. 

I had duck with bernaise sauce and pomme frittes <3 

Then we headed out to discover Paris by night. It was so beautiful and exactly as how you would imagine it to be. 




























The next day we visited the place I was most excited about seeing - The Notre Dame. I have had visions of myself climbing to the top and discovering Quasimodo and singing 'God Help the Outcasts' whilst standing in front of the Virgin Mary since I was a child. It was quite possibly the prettiest cathedral I've ever been to. 

Breakfast outside Notre Dame

Grabbing a bottle of water and jumping on the Metro, we had no time to stop. The Lourve was next on the itinerary! 

This lovely man got in my shot...

The sculptures, the paintings, and the architecture are all breathtaking and overwhelming, but the Mona Lisa is so tiny I would've missed her if there wasn't such a huge crowd around her! 

The next day we visited the legendary Champs-Elysees see and visited 'the village of sin', Montmatre. 














We then headed back and spent the afternoon in front of the Eiffel Tower, soaking the image in as it was our last night in Paris. 





On our last morning in Paris, there was time to visit one last place and the place we chose was the Notre Dame. 










Paris, I loved you. Until next time, you beautiful city.