For my first ever trip to Europe back in 2010, I put Paris on the list. It’s one of those cities I’ve always wanted to visit. I had some ideas about what to expect but was even more excited about how the real thing would measure up to those expectations.
It’s good that Tess agreed to come with me even if she’s been there, or else I think I’ll be too overwhelmed. For my first solo travel I chose a place that’s a bit more laid back and also considered the language factor. (Read Barcelona: My First Solo Travel). Navigating the complex metro system was a bit of a struggle which I left for Tess to battle with.
I’m just pretending to look like I understand this thing.
Once we were over that hurdle, it’s time to go sight-seeing!
Seeing it for the first time made me want to cry out of sheer joy!
The Louvre
Venus De MiloWinged Victory Of Samothrace
I must say when I first walked into the hall containing the famous Mona Lisa I didn’t know how I’d feel. There was a big swarm of tourists around this relatively small framed portrait. When I saw it, I thought, “Hmm…Is it just me or does it look exactly like it does in photos?” 😀 But I guess it’s the feeling of seeing a piece of monumental art, a frozen moment of time in that single picture which inspires awe. It’s unlike anything else.
Notre Dame CathedralView from the topMusee d’Orsay
Palais GarnierThe Arc de TriompheView of the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de TriompheWalking along the Champs ElyseesAh… no, thank you.Feeling like Amelie at Sacre Coeur
MontmartreDo I have enough money for an artwork? Or a crepe?
I do!Snacking in front of the Moulin RougeThe Pantheon
We also took a day trip to the very opulent Palace of Versailles. The line was long and it was a very cold day but apart from that exploring the place was just amazing.
Lunch: Galette provencal and four cheese pasta
Being the foodie that I am, one of the things that made me really excited to go to France was the eats. But alas, four days wasn’t enough. Still, I feel so lucky to have sampled the cuisine and would definitely go back in a heartbeat to eat more.
It’s not hard to find good food in France. Communicating with the waiters and understanding the menu is another matter though. If you have difficulty just take the plat du jour, un boisson, and a dessert…if you can even pronounce those words correctly. =p Here are some of the things I was able to try during my Parisian vacay.
Pastries: Tarts, Croissants, Eclairs, & Pain au chocolat. The latter is bread that has the same texture as a croissant filled with what else? Chocolat! The French baker version here in the Philippines is quite good, but the ones (take note: I didn’t just eat one) I tried in Paris were a bit flakier and the ambience makes them taste so much better. As for eclairs, the chocolate ones were one of my favorite breakfast items. Pastry for breakfast is simply the best.
Of course it wouldn’t be a complete French experience without the cheese!
And the chocolat!
It was so much fun going around Paris with Tess. This Euro trip sparked a love for the continent which led to a couple more visits afterwards. Check out the rest of our travels on this site, so we can continue to share our stories with you.
For me only the top two pictures opened up. Can you look into it? I’d love to see the other ones, as I am sure there were more.
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Really? Are you using mobile, Evangelina? I’ll look into that. Thanks for letting me know.
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Yes, ipad. I tried it both ways, just clicking on the post and going on the website, I only saw the two statues on top.
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That’s odd…I checked both mobile and desktop versions and the photos appear…
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I will try again, thanks for looking into it.
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I appreciate the feedback. Hope you enjoy the website, Evangelina.☺
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I finally could see them. Very nice, brought back good memories and your food pics made me drool.
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Amazing! Great post!
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Thank you!😊
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