More specifically, I saw Paris. I am not ashamed to tell you that ever since reading the book Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins in high school, I have been obsessed with the idea of Paris. Although I've always wanted to go, it was her novel with its dreamy descriptions of the Latin Quarter and creperies that sent me into full on desire mode. And spoiler alert: I was not disappointed.
This past weekend, I got the opportunity to hop over to Paris (by way of a bus. and a ferry. and the weirdest tunnel I've ever been in) and as I write this, I'm wishing I was still there. Paris in Autumn is in the Top 5 Most Beautiful Things I Have Ever Seen. In Scotland I found myself homesick for London, but I could have happily spent a week wandering around Paris, eating Croque Monsieurs and practicing my mediocre conversational French.
My flatmates and I arrived in Paris on Halloween morning after driving through the night, and after getting lost for 20 minutes (which, considering it's a foreign country & we've gotten more tragically lost in London, is pretty impressive) found ourselves on the metro zooming towards our hostel. A couple of fun facts about the Parisian metro: (1) it always smells like pee and (2) French commuters are not messing around; I saw so many people hit the 'door open' button and jump out while the train was still in motion that I think my heart rate is still recovering.
We made it to our hostel in record time, and after gorging on the free breakfast spread (baguettes! nutella packets! cheese! real coffee! indie pop!) we set out for our first full day in the city. We headed to the Eiffel Tower first, where we walked up 700 stairs before getting the lift to the sommet of the tower where I was graced with one of the wildest views I've ever seen (and justification to eat whatever I wanted for the rest of the weekend). From above, Paris is beige and expansive with sweet Easter eggs tossed in: the colors of the carousel across the street, huge gardens, the Arc de Triomphe, and the changing leaves on the bank of the Seine all greeted me from below.
This past weekend, I got the opportunity to hop over to Paris (by way of a bus. and a ferry. and the weirdest tunnel I've ever been in) and as I write this, I'm wishing I was still there. Paris in Autumn is in the Top 5 Most Beautiful Things I Have Ever Seen. In Scotland I found myself homesick for London, but I could have happily spent a week wandering around Paris, eating Croque Monsieurs and practicing my mediocre conversational French.
My flatmates and I arrived in Paris on Halloween morning after driving through the night, and after getting lost for 20 minutes (which, considering it's a foreign country & we've gotten more tragically lost in London, is pretty impressive) found ourselves on the metro zooming towards our hostel. A couple of fun facts about the Parisian metro: (1) it always smells like pee and (2) French commuters are not messing around; I saw so many people hit the 'door open' button and jump out while the train was still in motion that I think my heart rate is still recovering.
We made it to our hostel in record time, and after gorging on the free breakfast spread (baguettes! nutella packets! cheese! real coffee! indie pop!) we set out for our first full day in the city. We headed to the Eiffel Tower first, where we walked up 700 stairs before getting the lift to the sommet of the tower where I was graced with one of the wildest views I've ever seen (and justification to eat whatever I wanted for the rest of the weekend). From above, Paris is beige and expansive with sweet Easter eggs tossed in: the colors of the carousel across the street, huge gardens, the Arc de Triomphe, and the changing leaves on the bank of the Seine all greeted me from below.
After finally making our way back down the huge structure, we were all a little hangry and all pretty close to heights induced panic attacks regardless of whether or not we actually have height phobias or not. We got crepes from a cart a little ways down the road from the tower, and lounged in the park in front of it, which instantly fulfilled every one of my young adult novel dreams. When we decided our legs had recovered at least slightly, we had a necessary embarrassing photoshoot in front of the Eiffel before trekking over to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysee... where we had another slightly embarrassing photoshoot.
By the time we strolled down the Champs-Elysee, our crepes had worn off and our legs were moving increasingly slower, so we turned down some side streets until we came across a small cafe, where we we treated ourselves to what we believe was the most decadent meal of our entire lives. There were mini pots of mashed potatoes, a bottle of wine, and a jazz band playing next to us. We rolled our way back to the metro, and found our hostel in full Halloween swing, so we quickly threw together some costumes with the help of glitter eyeliner and multiple hairties and joined in the festivities.
The next morning we got up bright in early for another baguette breakfast before heading out for another full day of sightseeing. Our first stop was the Pere Lachaise Cemeterie on what happened to be All Saint's Day, which is when the Parisians visit the graves of their loved ones and important canon figures alike. It was another gorgeous, warm day so it was easy to forget we were wandering among the dead with the sun shining down on the flowers and cobblestones. We visited Jim Morrison's grave and left gum and our initials, and also became well acquainted with Victor Noir, whose death you can read about here.
After getting lost in the village that is Pere Lachaise, we hopped on the metro towards Notre Dame where I got to see some of my best friends, Jacqui and Jenna for the first time since August. They aggressively attacked me from behind, and my natural Taken-inspired instincts caused me to shriek at the top of my lungs in front of a world-known monument, but it was still a delight. We explored inside for a little bit, before walking across the river to pick up some croque monsieurs and had a cute picnic in a private park that we stumbled upon.
By the time we strolled down the Champs-Elysee, our crepes had worn off and our legs were moving increasingly slower, so we turned down some side streets until we came across a small cafe, where we we treated ourselves to what we believe was the most decadent meal of our entire lives. There were mini pots of mashed potatoes, a bottle of wine, and a jazz band playing next to us. We rolled our way back to the metro, and found our hostel in full Halloween swing, so we quickly threw together some costumes with the help of glitter eyeliner and multiple hairties and joined in the festivities.
The next morning we got up bright in early for another baguette breakfast before heading out for another full day of sightseeing. Our first stop was the Pere Lachaise Cemeterie on what happened to be All Saint's Day, which is when the Parisians visit the graves of their loved ones and important canon figures alike. It was another gorgeous, warm day so it was easy to forget we were wandering among the dead with the sun shining down on the flowers and cobblestones. We visited Jim Morrison's grave and left gum and our initials, and also became well acquainted with Victor Noir, whose death you can read about here.
After getting lost in the village that is Pere Lachaise, we hopped on the metro towards Notre Dame where I got to see some of my best friends, Jacqui and Jenna for the first time since August. They aggressively attacked me from behind, and my natural Taken-inspired instincts caused me to shriek at the top of my lungs in front of a world-known monument, but it was still a delight. We explored inside for a little bit, before walking across the river to pick up some croque monsieurs and had a cute picnic in a private park that we stumbled upon.
Then came the most important part of the entire trip: the macarons. I had only had macarons once before in my life, but I truly believe that my life was changed by the tiny cookies from Paris. I bought five for insanely cheap (pistachio, chocolate, strawberry, mint, and the godly chocolate and orange) and ate them in rapid succession. I've formally decided that I now want macarons for any and all events in my life that require a baked good: graduations, birthdays, arbor day, Tuesdays...
Unfortunately we had to part ways with Jacqui and Jenna after the macarons, so we headed back to Notre Dame to make wishes on Point Zero.
Unfortunately we had to part ways with Jacqui and Jenna after the macarons, so we headed back to Notre Dame to make wishes on Point Zero.
Legend has it that anyone who stands on Point Zero (which is the distance from which all of France is measured) is (1) will have their wish come true due to coppery star powers and (2) is destined to return to Paris someday. I don't want to jinx myself or anything, but I can't help but be 100% certain that the last bit is true (I can't tell you my wish, though).
Afterwards, we headed over to Shakespeare and Company to wander around the tiny labyrinth where the likes of Hemingway used to hang out, and then made our trek over to the Louvre. I'll admit, from the Latin Quarter to the Louvre choked me up: it was so incredibly beautiful with the foliage lining the Seine & I had a little difficulty believing that I was really in Paris. However, what really took my breath away was walking through the archway to the courtyard of the Louvre, when the pyramids and the arc and the Eiffel Tower all came into view at once; not to mention the fact that the Louvre is gigantic. We all stood stunned on the stairs (in the way, of course) before making our way inside to go visit Mona Lisa and Aphrodite. The shock of where we were soon wore off when how much we had walked that day caught up with us, and we ended up dragging our feet through the glossy halls before collapsing onto the stairs outside and just taking it all in as the sun set. We watched the Eiffel Tower light up...and also all the cute French dogs & babies running around.
Then, we decided we weren't ready to head back to our hostel yet, so we headed out for a quick dinner, before picking up a couple bottles of cheap wine and taking them over to the park under the tower where we sat and just STARED at the twinkling lights for two hours. Well, when we weren't staring at the various couples getting it on--ah, the city of love-- or the group of rowdy Spanish boys who didn't know the meaning of "flash photography" in English or French.
Afterwards, we headed over to Shakespeare and Company to wander around the tiny labyrinth where the likes of Hemingway used to hang out, and then made our trek over to the Louvre. I'll admit, from the Latin Quarter to the Louvre choked me up: it was so incredibly beautiful with the foliage lining the Seine & I had a little difficulty believing that I was really in Paris. However, what really took my breath away was walking through the archway to the courtyard of the Louvre, when the pyramids and the arc and the Eiffel Tower all came into view at once; not to mention the fact that the Louvre is gigantic. We all stood stunned on the stairs (in the way, of course) before making our way inside to go visit Mona Lisa and Aphrodite. The shock of where we were soon wore off when how much we had walked that day caught up with us, and we ended up dragging our feet through the glossy halls before collapsing onto the stairs outside and just taking it all in as the sun set. We watched the Eiffel Tower light up...and also all the cute French dogs & babies running around.
Then, we decided we weren't ready to head back to our hostel yet, so we headed out for a quick dinner, before picking up a couple bottles of cheap wine and taking them over to the park under the tower where we sat and just STARED at the twinkling lights for two hours. Well, when we weren't staring at the various couples getting it on--ah, the city of love-- or the group of rowdy Spanish boys who didn't know the meaning of "flash photography" in English or French.
Don't tell London, but I fell head over heels in love with Paris. It was one of the most gorgeous places I've ever had the pleasure of going to, and my only wish was that I had more time there. But I'm not worried about it--I have faith in Point Zero, after all.