The Parents Take Paris

Spring break is finally here! Which also means a whole week of stay-cation in Paris, showing my parents around the city of lights! 

It was so nice to see them after two months apart, and the weather even cooperated with us! The forecast had predicted rain but we only got sprinkled on once or twice. During the week, we visited as many touristy sights as possible, even some that I had never experienced! Overall it was a wonderful week, and my only wish is that it could have gone on longer. I really started to feel like a native as I played tour guide for my parents. A few Parisians I encountered were even surprised to find out that I was an American after I had spoken to them in French. (There’s honestly no higher compliment.) The best part, however, was just spending time with my parents. I really did miss them these past months, and I wouldn’t trade this week that I had with them for anything in the world. So, thank you Mom and Dad. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Now that I got all that emotion off my chest, I hope you all enjoy scrolling through my spring break in Paris with my parents. As always, to see full-sized pictures, scroll down and click through the photo gallery.

The Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc du Triomphe. One of the best views in the city, even if you have to walk up a brutal spiral staircase to get there.

The Place de la Concorde, featuring the Egyptian Luxor Obelisk and the Roue de Paris Ferris wheel. My parents and I took a turn around the Ferris wheel, and the view from the top was also incredible!

The Jardin des Tuileries, with the Louvre in the background. It was a bit to cold to sit around and enjoy the view this blustery winter day

One of my favorite pieces in the Louvre: the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

On Wednesday we visited both Notre Dame and Sacré-Coeur, both of which I've visited before. But this was the first time I'd been there that the sun was bright enough to cast rainbows on the wall from the famous stained-glass windows. Honestly breathtaking.

Down the hill from Sacré-Coeur, Place du Terte houses many a Parisian artist eager to sell you a painting of the beautiful city they call home.

Back in high school, when I was last in Paris, for whatever reason I wasn't feeling ice cream our final day in France. Now, five years later, I finally indulged in Berthillon ice cream. It was worth the wait.

A great way to see a whole bunch of monuments and learn about the city's history without having to walk 10 miles is to take a bateau mouche down the Seine river. Yes, that translates to "fly boat". No, I don't know why.

My mom with a real French baguette outside a pâtisserie near my school and apartment. Practically a real Parisian now, Mom!

I just had to introduce my parents to Ladurée macaroons during their stay. Expensive but so worth it.

A trip to Versailles was a first for all of us! So obviously we needed to take a selfie in the Hall of Mirrors.

It's easy to see why Versailles is so famous. No corner is left unadorned.

After spending the morning at Versailles, we went to the Eiffel Tower. The nearly 700 steps seemed a bit too daunting after a day of sightseeing, so we took the elevator, but if you're brave enough, I definitely recommend giving the stairs a go!

Everywhere you look in Paris is a new picture-perfect façade.

The last day we went to the Marché des Enfants Rouges food market, and I insisted they try the sandwiches at Chez Alain Miam Miam. The line is always long, but the sandwichs there are huge and never fail to blow me away.