Paris, je t’aime
I’ll admit it. The first time I went to Paris in February 2013 I was not in love with the city. I had romanticized the city in my mind. But it was cold, dark, and we were overwhelmed by the language barrier and the feeling that we were rushing around trying to check things off our tourist list. I left disappointed and confused. Where was the Paris of my dreams?
Checking dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower off my list. Looking back? Definitely not worth it!
I was back in October of the same year for work and my sister joined me. The autumn colors and leisurely strolls through the quiet left bank on a Sunday morning started to turn my opinion on the city. Could this be the Paris I always dreamed of?
Starting to feel the Paris vibes a bit more at the Luxembourg Gardens in October 2013. A must in Paris to enjoy the flowers and people watch from the famous green chairs!
When we returned again in July of 2023 I fell deeply in love with the city and that love affair has continued through our multiple trips this year while we’ve been in France. What I’ve realized is that Paris is much more than checking sites off a list. It is a feeling. Paris has a soul. And you can’t quite appreciate that soul until you slow down and soak it all in.
Paris is meant for afternoon aperitifs and people watching from a café
Of course when you come to Paris you have to see all the greatest hits. But the key is to not spend so much time rushing from one site to the next that you miss the soul of the city. Plan your time. Don’t spend your days in Paris standing in lines! That is not the way to see the city!
Go to places like Notre Dame first thing in the morning. It is free and there are no queues at 8am. If you want to go to the Louvre, Museé d’Orsay or up the Eiffel Tower, buy timed entry tickets well in advance of your trip. That will save you on time in the lines. Book early mornings if possible! That frees your afternoons up for café sitting, garden walking, or street exploration.
Despite their reputation, we’ve had lovely servers at the restaurants in Paris. A smile, a bonjour, and a merci go a long way. Every attempt at speaking French was met with immediate English in return (yes, my accent is that bad!)
Our favorite arrondissements are the 3rd (Marais), the 5th (Latin Quarter), and the 6th (St. Germain). We’ve found a favorite hotel, Les Tournelles, in the 3rd that we’ve now stayed at 3 times. Affordable (by Paris standards!), quaint, and in a great location.
Don’t waste your time sitting in traffic in an Uber or taxi! The city is incredibly walkable and has great public transportation. When you can, walk! Wandering hidden alleys, taking random streets, and meandering into courtyards and squares is how you really get to know a city. When you need to go longer distances or your feet just can’t take any more, take the bus or the metro! Paris now has a great mobile app where you can buy single bus and metro tickets or a daily pass for €12 and the system is easy to understand.
We’d love to come back to Paris for a month in the spring or summer. Strolling the banks of the Seine, sipping a Chenin blanc in a café in Le Marais, and sneaking peaks of the Eiffel Tower through the rooftops makes my heart happy. Paris, je t’aime. ❤️