Hi everyone! ♥
Sorry for the lack of updates and getting around to posting all of my photos from Paris. I really have no excuse other than I've been, erm, really lazy -___- Lauren needs to get her behind in gear though and start being a better blogger! I give ya'll permission to be on my case, ha.
So! Here is a first set of photos from my first day in Paris. I'm going to combine the other days into a part II since I didn't take near as many photos all of those days. Besides seeing the Eiffel tower this first, day, it was fun to just get lost around Paris and explore the streets. Paris is charming, that's for sure. It was cloudy the first day I was there and the gray sky blended in perfectly with all of the gray shaded buildings. We had a boat tour on the river to see the city, and then later on I went up close to the Arc, the Eiffel, and Notre Dame.
Although Paris is charming, I....kind of have to say I like Florence more? Don't get me wrong, Paris is a dream! It's very romantic, just as everyone says. But in some ways it did not live up to my expectations. It's kind of dirty and just feels like the same repeated cafes and buildings over and over again...whereas Florence is always full of vivacious life of street performers, musicians, beautiful Renaissance architecture/color, and varying restaurants, cafes, and bakeries...Maybe I'm biased because I live in Florence, but I'd have to say I find it more charming than Paris.
I did quite enjoy the metro stations of Paris though! The constant walking in Florence gets quite old, and I had never rode the metro before so it was my first experience in Paris. I greatly underestimated how large Paris was and how you really can't get place to place without the help of the metro. It's fast, fun, and intricately exciting. The first few days I always rode with a group of my classmates so I made sure of where I was going, but in the final few days of my stay in Paris I found it fun to hop on myself. People watching on the metro is just the best, really, and I always met some kind of memorable character along the way.
Also, besides site seeing the first day, we went to the high end shopping districts of Paris to do some studying and looking at (no buying for me of course, ha). Now, the stores of Paris were surely impressive and did not disappoint. Seeing store front after store front of famous designer houses and the impeccable creations in the windows was mouth watering. We did go inside some of them when feeling bold, and the insides were even more immaculate than I could have ever imagined. I LOVED the inside of Dolce and Gabbana, styled like the inside of a wardrobe with beautiful baroque details and a huge chandelier in the middle. Chanel was surprisingly a little underwhelming, but the head quarters and founding store of Dior was spectacular with all of the opulent surfaces and reflecting fixtures. I also went in LV, YSL, Balmain, and Celine and all of them were beautiful of course... I was kind of shocked at how nice all the sales people were in these places because I thought the designer stores of PARIS of all places would be so snobby you could hardly stand it...but I thought they were even 10 times nicer than the ones here in Italy and even back in Ohio when I've gone in some. I'd have to say Paris in general had very nice, helpful, friendly people which I found surprising because I had heard French dislike Americans even more than Italians.
I'm not an adventurous eater and usually just had quiche every day while in France, ha. But on the first day I did get that muffin and coffee pictured above at a cool cafe and it was very good! I also had Starbucks one day which was awesome because they have any here in Italy and I've been craving, ha. Don't even care how lame it is. It was probably the best cafe mocha I've ever had at a Starbucks! Oh, I also had my first crepe, with nutella inside, at a little stand where they make it right in front of you (the process was fascinating). Have to say though, was kind of meh. At lot of people hyped it up for me so maybe I set my hopes too high. Or maybe Italian gelato just reigns over all (yeah, I think that's it).
Whew, have I bored you all with details enough already of my trip? My apologies! Just so much to document and want to document it all on this little blog of mine :)
Part II coming soon!
With much love, Lauren.
11 comments
I kind of know what you mean about Paris. I much preferred Florence, just easier to find things and the statues are super! My favourite though was Bruges though. DO go if you can, the chocolates are Amazing! So small and clean and cute.
By the way, I know you get a zillion emails and you find it overwhelming replying to anything but I wondered if you had received it as I'm trying to make my holiday plans? Spent maybe 2 weeks ago or so. Wasn't sure if is sent it to the right email.
Ahh Paris! It's a beautiful place for sure but I do understand what you mean about it being a bit dirty! I think sometimes we hype places up so much and expect them to be this perfect fairytale-like city, and then when it's not it can be a little disappointing. (Not too disappointing of course - it's still Paris!!) :)
It looks like you've been having such a great time on your exchange and you've been capturing some beautiful photos! It will be so lovely having them all here together on your blog to look back on when you go home!
Lauren xx
Ahh Paris! It's a beautiful place for sure but I do understand what you mean about it being a bit dirty! I think sometimes we hype places up so much and expect them to be this perfect fairytale-like city, and then when it's not it can be a little disappointing. (Not too disappointing of course - it's still Paris!!) :)
It looks like you've been having such a great time on your exchange and you've been capturing some beautiful photos! It will be so lovely having them all here together on your blog to look back on when you go home!
Lauren xx
Ahh Paris! It's a beautiful place for sure but I do understand what you mean about it being a bit dirty! I think sometimes we hype places up so much and expect them to be this perfect fairytale-like city, and then when it's not it can be a little disappointing. (Not too disappointing of course - it's still Paris!!) :)
It looks like you've been having such a great time on your exchange and you've been capturing some beautiful photos! It will be so lovely having them all here together on your blog to look back on when you go home!
Lauren xx
When I went to Paris we stayed outside of Paris near the Port De La Chapelle metro station and my favorite part was taking the trains/buses into the city each day! Such a fun experience! LOVE hearing your Paris (and Italy!) adventures.
Love the honesty, the reality, of your Parisian experiences, dear Lauren!
Wonderful post! I've never been to Paris or Italy or anywhere on the other side of the States, but reading your postings and viewing your photos is a great way to learn about places I've never been before. Btw, you look very pretty in all your photos....
xx,
Jacqueline
I remember thinking Parisians were so polite and kind also when I was in Paris! Definitely not what I was led to believe before going!
You're not the first person to describe Paris as dirty - LOL!
Not that I've ever been there, of course. Yay for being brave enough to go into the high end shops - sounds amazing!
-Rebecca
Idealism never goes out of fashion
There was a whole thing that hit the news a while back about the amount of smog in Paris that meant some people were wearing gas masks. So yeah, guess it's not all shiny. I only went once and visit the Dali museum and was all about the art rather than the fashion. Glad that the designer shops were nice and friendly. I'd never have gone in, expecting snobbishness so it's really cool you had fun.
It looks like you're having such a wonderful time. I love that patterned dress on you.
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