The second half of my spring break was a childhood dream come true, I got to go to Paris! For as long as I can remember, I have been in love with all things Paris. The Eiffel Tower, crêpes, macaroons, their style, the romance of the city, everything. All I have to say is that Paris was everything I expected and more, and I cannot wait to go back.
On our first day, we were introduced to the Paris metro. Even though it is 100% better than the public transportation in Rome, trying to figure out how to buy tickets and where to go when you don’t speak any French at all was definitely a challenge. Once we made it to our cute B&B we set out on a mission to find baguettes and macaroons, the perfect way to begin any Paris trip. After we ate an unhealthy amount of our baguettes and some of the yummiest macaroons I’ve ever tasted, we decided to go see the Eiffel Tower’s light show. Seeing the tower sparkle was beautiful. It was like a scene from a movie. It is definitely a view that I will never forget.
The most delicious pastry in the world.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle is the prettiest sight. This picture doesn’t do it justice.
On our second day we went out and did some of the mandatory touristy things. First, we woke up very early to get in line to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Seeing Paris from above was amazing. There was a fog that covered the outskirts, making it appear as if the city went on forever. After the tower, we started walking towards the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. We didn’t pay to go inside the Arc, but seeing it in person was so cool. Unfortunately, part of the Arc is undergoing conservation, so we didn’t get to see the entire structure but it was still a magical sight. The street of Champs-Élysées is magnificent. The shopping, the size, the lights, everything. I could have spent days on that street. Once we finished our sightseeing we decided it was time for the Lock Bridge and the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore. On our way over we stopped at this little crêpe stand, and I had the best crêpe I have ever eaten in my entire life. If I could live off of one piece of food forever, it would be this woman’s nutella crêpes. As we were looking for a place to sit and eat, we happened to bump into the Notre Dame. So of course, we chose to sit in front of the Notre Dame and eat our crêpes. The Notre Dame is one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Its gothic architecture makes it so different from any church in Rome. Even though I loved the outside, I still compare every church’s inside to the Sagrada Familia. When we finished at the Notre Dame we walked over to the Lock Bridge. I, of course, had to put a lock on that bridge. I couldn’t leave Paris without doing it. Finally, our day of touristy things ended at the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore. I also could have spent all day in there. There were so many cool books, and the atmosphere was perfect. For dinner that night, I caved and went to Chipotle. I have never missed a food as much as I miss Chipotle. It was definitely worth the walk and the euros.
Perfection.
It’s still beautiful, even with the conservation work.
The yummiest crêpe of all time!
The Notre Dame! So beautiful.
The lock bridge was amazing. It was so neat to see locks from so many people and from so many different years.
My lock!
My delicious Chipotle dinner.
The next day we went to the Louvre! As an Art History major, the Louvre has been on the top of my museum bucket list and I can actually cross it off! So cool. Paris is full of places I could spend days in, and the Louvre is 100% one of them. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to view the entire museum or my favorite piece due to it currently undergoing conservation, but I was still in Art History heaven. Seeing artwork that I’ve learned about but only seen in books, like the Stele of Hammurabi, an altarpiece by Cimabue, the Venus de Milo, and of course the Mona Lisa, was amazingly overwhelming. I most definitely will be visiting this museum again. For dinner that night, we went to a cheese fondue place in the Jewish quarter called Pain Vein Fromages. We got the classic fondue with bread and potatoes and the house white wine. It was delicious.
I just had to take a mirror pic in the Louvre.
The Mona Lisa.
Our cheese fondue dinner! So yummy!
On our last day we did some more walking. We visited The Eiffel Tower one more time, and took a million pictures, ate some more crêpes and macaroons, and headed to the airport.
Paris was my favorite part of my spring break, not only because it was a place I had only ever dreamed about visiting, but because it exceeded all of my expectations. I was worried that I would arrive in Paris and be underwhelmed by what I saw, and that was not the case at all. I fell in love with this city over and over again, and I cannot wait until I get to go back.
Paris, I love you.
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Killian Gilvary
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">I am currently a junior at the Pennsylvania State University, majoring in Art History and Criminology. I am an active member in the service sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma, and I enjoy giving back to my community and school. In my free time, I enjoy photography, cooking, reading, and spending time with my friends. Traveling to Italy has always been one of my goals, and I have been lucky enough to receive the opportunity to study abroad in Rome. I look forward to seeing all of my favorite works of art in person, as well as being able to immerse myself in the Italian culture. I hope my blog will not only allow you to view my experience in Rome, but that it will also allow you to immerse yourself in the Italian culture through my photos.</span></p>
