Paris, je t'aime
It’s been a while since I’ve put out a blog post. I last published a post in June and have several drafts of posts from around that time I haven’t finished. My dad got very sick over the summer and passed away in July. Since then, I’ve spent most of my time traveling, spending time with family, doing a little on camera hosting for Spotlight ATX and focusing on content for a few partnerships. I’d love to get back to writing and blogging on a regular basis, and this post is a perfect place to start. It’s a near impossible task to put into words how much I love Paris, to articulate the way I feel when I visit, and to put together a short blog post about a city that has captivated me for more than two decades and I imagine will for all my days. But, here I go…
This trip in October was my 5th time to Paris, but a very special trip because I went with my mom just three months after my dad’s passing. My mom has been going to France since she was a teenager and speaks French fluently. She has friends in France and always loves to be there, so when the opportunity came up to go with her, I jumped at the chance. {I’ve been in a bit of a “YOLO” mindset since my dad died, but that’s probably a topic for another blog post when I’m ready to write it…}.
I went for 5 nights which is a good amount of time in Paris, but I could {always} have used one more day. Paris is divided into neighborhoods called “arrondissements” and the Seine River runs through the middle of the city. That’s why you often hear of areas referred to as “left bank” and “right bank.” We stayed in the 6th arrondissement which is on the left bank and an area known for good boutiques and restaurants, not far from the Luxembourg Garden, Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter. I love this part of Paris and would definitely recommend it. We stayed at a small boutique hotel, Hotel de Buci which is located on a cute and very lively street with great cafés and brasseries.
After we checked in to our hotel and dropped off our bags, we immediately stopped at a near by café for a bottle of wine. When in Paris… My older brother and his wife joined us on the trip and we were all so happy to be there. Afterward, we strolled to the Jardin du Luxembourg which is beautiful and a must visit spot. We got lucky with the most amazing weather. It was cool and sunny and not at all the typical cold and rainy fall weather that was originally forecasted for that week.
Our first night there we were able to get a reservation at Girafe {thanks to our amazing conceriege at the hotel}, which has a beautiful patio with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower and has exceptional reviews. I’ve had this restaurant saved for months in my “Paris” folder on Instagram and was determined to try to make it there. I literally gasped when we arrived and stepped outside to see the view! As if that wasn’t enough, the food was delicious (I ordered the sea bass and oysters) and we were all very happy with our meals. After dinner, we strolled around the Eiffel Tower, watching in delight as it sparkled, which happens every hour on the hour for five minutes and it’s oh so magical every single time.
Our first full day we slept in thanks to the jet lag, so we got a bit of a late start. We did a little sight seeing around the Palais-Royal and Colonnes de Buren and had lunch at Le Café Marley near the Louvre. I’ve been to the Louvre before and didn’t feel the need to go again, so I didn’t go inside this trip. There are many great museums in Paris, but my favorite thing to do there is just to stroll around different neighborhoods, stopping in shops and cafes. I also love walking along the Seine and across the bridges and seeing all the bouquinistes {book sellers and little antique dealers} set up along the way. That night we had dinner at a great little spot, Poulette, followed by wine at Frenchie wine bar.
The next day we woke up early to head to Versailles. The Palace of Versailles is the former home of King Louis XIV built in the 1600s and is located just outside Paris. We took a train, but you can also arrange for transportation or take an Uber. It’s definitely worth a visit and I highly recommend booking a tour or tickets ahead of time. The palace is incredible and the surrounding gardens are beautiful as well. Just be prepared for crowds. We opted for a casual dinner that night at Les Deux Magots, a famous café on Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and that’s where I made this video lol.
We woke up to another gorgeous day and my mom and I did a little shopping followed by a walk through the Tuileries garden and lunch at a cute cafe near Notre-Dame. That afternoon I met up with a photographer for some photos near the Eiffel Tower. I know it’s pretty silly and cheesy, but I had so much fun getting dressed up and this was something I’ve wanted to do for years, so why not?
We had dinner at L’Ami Jean which Justin and I ate at the last time we were in Paris and I was more than happy to go back. It’s cozy with a small but delicious menu and it’s fun to watch the chef working in the kitchen. It’s located in the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower, so we walked over to see it one last time at night. On my last day of the trip we went to the Champagne region about an hour outside Paris to visit a couple Champagne houses which was a pretty amazing experience. I was so happy to get this trip with my mom in our favorite city and I can’t wait to go back again.
