An Unforgettable Week in Paris

Last week, I lived the dream in Paris, France. My Nana and I did all the usual, touristy, bucket-list items, but we also made a point to speak the language, talk with locals, and enjoy the full Parisian experience. Here are some of the highlights from our trip.

Writing this post took some restrain: I literally have over 800 photos and videos from the trip (I know, I'm crazy...) and many more memories. There is no way I could share everything here, but how do I decided? Well, being the organization-nerd that I am, I broke it down into a few categories:

ART:

Okay, I am a major art lover. Our first full day in Paris was spent almost entirely in the Louvre and I'm not mad about it.

The Louvre is absolutely breathtaking. Whether you're a history lover, art fanatic, cultural student, or just want a good photo-op, le Louvre is 100% worth the visit.

Galarie d'Apollon

Pretty amazing, right? This photo was taken in the Gallery of Apollo and can you blame me for being in complete awe of the expansive hall? The walls and ceiling were covered in ornate sculptures, gold work, and paintings. The French crown jewels were displayed in a glass case in the middle of the room. The Gallery was a huge scavenger hunt; every time I looked around I noticed a new detail or embellish.

But the Louvre is so much more. I could talk about it all day! We spent about 6 hours there and barely made a dent. The Louvre was once a medieval fortress but was converted to an ornate palace by the dramatic Francois I. Louis XIV later contributed many fabulous renovations to the Louvre, but resided in the summer palace, Versailles.

The art scene in Paris is incredible. We hit a museum (or two) almost every day. Everywhere you look is beauty and art. The buildings are decorated with statues and picturesque detailing, the gardens finished with fountains, the churches decked with stain glass windows. There will be a more in-depth art post in the near future!

Churches:

I'm a double pastor's kid, strong believer, and daughter to a Dad who's an ecclesiastical history fanatic. Needless to say, seeing these old churches was pretty life-changing.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Ladies and gents, Notre Dame. Yes, it completely lives up to alllll the hype.

Though the ancient cathedral was just a short walk from our hotel, we waited to visit until Sunday. My Nana and I attended the 10:00 Gregorian Mass, which proved to be one of my favorite moments of our whole trip. Notre Dame is breathtaking; I was in awe of its beauty and the craftsmanship that constructed it. How, I wondered, could 12th century engineering and resources possibly build such a magnificent structure?

The service too was the experience of a lifetime. It was conducted in French and Latin, and while I have studied both languages, I could barely understand anything save for the Lord's Prayer and a few hymns. But that's what made it so amazing. Language didn't matter. Understanding didn't matter. The passion and faith were understood, and that's what mattered. Language is no barrier for God.

Food:

So we all know that French food is amazing. Nana and I had breakfast at the hotel every morning: a traditional meal of orange juice, yogurt, jams and honey, baguettes, croissants, and cafe au lait. But every meal was a treat. We especially enjoyed walking to a Gelato shop by our hotel for a nice desert on a warm evening. (Gelato also lives up to allll the hype!!)

I had a plethora of fantastic foods, but I always looked forward to a strong and sweet espresso after dinner. Besides eating at restaurants and cafes, we picnicked in the park, picked up "walking sandwiches" on our way back to the hotel, and stopped at our local Supermarche for the necessities (Orangina, chocolat, fruit, etc.).

The drinking age in France for wine and beer is 16, so I tried wine a couple times. I'll save you the trouble: alcohol is not worth the hype. Not for now at least! I'd much prefer a nice coffee or mocktail.

One of my favorite parts of French dining is the informal seating. Certain restaurants will seat three parties of two to one long table, thus giving you a great chance to interact with locals. And by the way, the French are not as snooty as people say! Maybe it's because my Nana speaks impeccable French, but they were willing to talk to us and were so funny! When traveling, definitely ask the locals for the unknown, must-do locations of their city. Less tourists and more charm. It's a win-win.

Dessert!!

That's it for now. I have so much more I could say about Paris and my unforgettable week there, so stay tuned!! I am so incredibly thankful for this experience and had to jump on every means of documentation.

au revoir,

Sophia