Travel To Paris With Me

This summer has been one of the most memorable I've had in a long time. I was blessed with so many traveling opportunities (ALL of which I took! and ALL of which I will talk about in the days to come.)

​One of the most epic trips I took this summer was a trip to France where I got to see family I haven't seen in over eight years, meet all the new children born in the last decade, introduce my daughter, visit the home of one of my dearest friends, and of course eat all the croissants and cheeeeese!

The itinerary was epic! We visited Paris, Lille, Velargues, Montpellier, and even spent a few days in a playground in Belgium. Each place had their own fabulous attractions and deserve their own post.  Which is exactly what they are getting, starting with the first place we visited, and one of my favorite cities in the world - Paris! 

Paris is a magical city full of history, absolutely fantastic architecture, best smelling bakeries, and subway maps containing illustrations of well known tourist destinations - making it super easy to travel via public transport. Here are some of the destinations I visited and really enjoyed:

Tour Eiffel - The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower should most definitely be on everyone’s bucket list, and if you are in Paris for the first time, you must absolutely visit this area and even go as far as to climb the tower to the very top! I have been to the tower many times and have climbed it on at least 7 different occasions (I brag!). And I must say, this place has always felt so magical and romantic to me, and no matter how many times I would go up and come back back down, it never lost its appeal, until now.

​Back in the day, the streets under the Eiffel tower were open and easily accessible to the public. People were able to walk around under the tower, take pictures, have dates, picnics, and other gatherings. Now, due to the increased amount of terrorist attacks in Paris, this very unattractive glass fence structure has been built around the Eiffel Tower, complete with security checkpoints. It is still free to roam around under the tower near the entrance, but that experience is different as well. Inside the fence were more metal gate structures, and it just felt a bit closed in, a lot more empty, a bit ugly, and kind of depressing. And while I completely understand the necessity for safety, it definitely took away from the magic I once felt there.

​Again, if this is your first time in Paris, definitely go for the experience! The climb offers a lot of history overview and teaches you how the tower was built; it is very educational, a VERY good workout, and if you're on a romantic trip with your partner, you will find a place to kiss on every floor! But if you have done it before, I suggest going to a nearby park, sit by the large fountain overlooking the tower, dip your feet, eat some food, take some pictures and simply enjoy the views from afar.

The Louvre Museum

If I arranged this post based on what I love most about Paris, the Louvre museum would be listed first! I may also be a bit biased because I really love museums, but this attraction just does not ever disappoint! The museum itself is huge! Complete with statues, pillars, paintings- the infamous Mona Lisa hangs there, Napoleon's old homes with original items, items from homes of Kings and queens, and so much more! You definitely need more than a day (possibly more than a week!) to see the entire thing. If museums are not your thing, don’t worry, near the Louvre, you will find the most beautiful little park where you can sit surrounded by castle like buildings, beautiful trees, and just relax, have a picnic, read a book, and just enjoy the views of this super mini version of the Versailles. ​

Rides Near The Louvre

Near the Louvre, you will find a really cute little amusement park which caters to both children and adults. They sell really delicious ice cream and have various attraction rides. The rides include a (slightly overpriced) Ferris wheel called “The View” which allows you to see almost all of Paris, including a very clear view of the Eiffel Tower, and makes for artistic photo shoots. If you are traveling with children, this is a great place to take them to unwind and have some fun.

L'Arc de Triomphe

The arc is nice because it is absolutely beautiful, has great historical significance, and does NOT take the full day to visit! Ha! The line might be a bit long to buy tickets to go all the way to the top, but the views from up there are totally worth the wait! It is also a nice place to just walk around, take some photos, and buy souvenirs. There is a large roundabout in front of it and many tourists like to take the iconic “in the middle of the street -jump with your hands up- with the beautiful streets of Paris behind them” photos when all cars are stopped at a red light.

Moulin Rouge

The street which houses the old cabaret, is probably my favorite street to walk on. The old mill looking house is so pretty, and the street itself feels full of energy! I have not yet seen a show at the Moulin Rouge theater, and if you can afford the high ticket price, I absolutely recommend checking that out, but if not, a simple walk around the neighborhood is just as fascinating. If you are NOT traveling with kids, there are many fabulous sex shops to browse in, as well as the very informative sex museum, which in my opinion greatly surpasses the one in NY by far!

ARcade La Tete Dans Les Nuages

Me finding this arcade was a total but very happy accident. Complete with games for both adults and children, this is Parisian treat is full of great things to do on a night out. They have cute little kid games, a mini carousel ride, zombie shooting games for adults, dance dance revolution, and even a mechanical bull you can ride! The best part is that they are open until 2am while everything else closes at 11pm, so you can still go out, eat dinner, have drinks, and have the rest of the evening to play. 

Click Here for the link to their website.

Famous Churches

• Notre Dame

I did not have the chance to return to this iconic location this time around, but I feel it is noteworthy. This church is huge and famous for its fictional hunchback. The outside of it is absolutely beautiful; there are sculptures lining each part of the church, gargoyles sitting on top overlooking the city, and the massive entrance doors are complete with gorgeous carvings which bring a huge story to life. I never fail to wonder how in the world did they build all those statues and the amazingly decorative doors centuries ago, and attached them to this massive structure. Inside is more beautiful than any church I’ve ever seen, full of statues that line the walls- and artwork on the windows. I find this building to be absolutely magical and a MUST SEE for all travelers.
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• Basilic

    This has to be one of my favorite uphill walks in Paris (yes everything is a workout!) This church is very pretty and can be seen from the Eiffel Tower. All white and dome shaped, it offers a great view and a great place to picnic with your family. (Exercise and picnics seem to be the dominant sub-theme of this post…). Inside is just as beautiful and has the feel of both, a holy temple and an art museum.

Some Daily Wonders

You will not be able to find a bad tasting croissant even if you tried! Every single bakery I went to was absolutely impressive. 

We got to ride our first double floor train, checked out some fantastic French architecture, and did yoga everywhere,

And of course the impressive cheese selection is the reason to consider moving here!

Some Things To Watch Out For

• Pickpockets! They are everywhere! Don’t let the romantic vibe of the city let you lower guard completely. Pay attention to the environment and people around you, especially if you happen to carry important documents (such as your passport) in your purse.  

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• Scammers pretending to be collecting money for charities. They are also everywhere! Well, every major tourist destination at least. You may be approached by someone holding a clipboard claiming to collect emails and donations for various charities often times involving poor or hungry children. To make sure you are giving money to a legitimate organization, ask the person presenting you with the clipboard for their company’s badge. All official charity representatives in France are required to have one. Those who are not from a real organization will smile at you and very rapidly walk away.

 

• Public bathrooms are most often not free. Public bathrooms in large train stations and other populated places in Paris are not free. Their cost ranges anywhere between 0.50-1.0euro. The money pays for their maintenance and therefore they tend to be cleaner and overall nicer than most public restrooms in the U.S. so just make sure you always have some change and small bills on hand.