It’s probably just me, but most of what I know about Paris, and France in general, I have learned from the movie Ratatouille, one of my family’s favorite films. Don’t get me wrong, it painted a picture of the food and culture that I was dying to try. On the other side of things, I’ve definitely been influenced by the numerous myths and opinions that Paris is dirty and that Parisians are rude and hate Americans.
I definitely wanted to see for myself, but what really compelled me to buy the ticket to go was the fact that a.) my good pal is studying abroad there and I missed her and b.) the ticket was fairly cheap. Kind of a last minute trip (very typical of me) but soon enough I was crawling out of bed in the middle of the night to catch my 6am flight.
As soon as I got off of that Ryanair flight and stepped onto the tarmac, I immediately felt like I was in a dream. IT WAS SNOWING. Yes, I despise the cold, but of all places for it to be snowing, I am so beyond glad that it was in Paris. I have never felt so much like I was in a fairytale. It was a real life snow globe.
Snow dusted all of the most picturesque places: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph, the Louvre, EVERYTHING. When snow looks that gorgeous, I can’t even be bothered by the temperature. We decided it was as good a time as any to head inside the Louvre, and the best part was that it’s free if you have student ID from a school in the EU (or if you have your passport and you show them your student visa). Because it was free and we wouldn’t feel guilty for wasting any money we really just popped in, walked around, saw the Mona Lisa (which is very small and rather disappointing but still almost surreal to see in person) and left again.
It’s such a massive museum it really could take you days to go through the whole thing, but if you really want to at least see inside to say you saw it, it’s definitely worth the 15 Euros.
We left the museum and strolled to the Eiffel Tower while drinking cups of hot chocolate from Angelina’s, a very famous hot chocolate shop and bakery. The hot chocolate in Paris is not at all like the powder crap we drink here in the winter; French hot chocolate is so decadently thick and rich it’s seriously equivalent to drinking a cup of melted chocolate. A MUST.
We got to the Eiffel Tower and if you walk up the little hill to the building opposite the tower, there are ledges and a balcony overlooking the tower, which is the perfect place for those iconic photos that we all know you need to take to prove you went to Paris.
And what’s a trip to Paris without trying some of the fine dining that is so famous??? After 3 weeks of mostly just eating pasta and pizza and carbs on carbs on carbs, I was absolutely craving some sort of protein dish. Chez Fernand did not disappoint at all with a melt-in-your-mouth boeuf bourguignon that satisfied every single craving I could’ve possibly had. I don’t know how those French chefs manage to do it but every single bite of that dish was perfectly seasoned, from the tangy hints of the red wine to the balance of soft carrots and potatoes. I apologize if your mouth is watering while reading this.
I also decided that while in France I had to try some traditional French onion soup and that also did not disappoint, even considering I have never had French onion soup before. The soft pieces of cheese-covered bread were the highlight of that glorious bowl of warm deliciousness. And of course, after dinner I bought a banana and Nutella crepe from a street vendor that pleased my sweet tooth (and left me wanting ALL OF THE CREPES POSSIBLE). Every cent I spent on the meal that night was so so so worth it just to taste the food I’ve always heard so much about (thanks to Remy and Chef Gusteau).
A bright and early wake up the next day and we were on our way to see more sights. Unfortunately the Arc de Triumph rooftop was closed because of the snow from the day before, but the arch is so massive and breathtaking to look at. I mean when you really inspect the size of it and the intricacy of the carvings it blows your mind to think about how they even made that back when they did. If you’re able to though, definitely go to the rooftop of the arch because apparently the views are amazing.
From there, it’s super easy to stroll down the Champs-Elysees and window shop or grab some
macaroons (like we did), and then I even faced my fear of heights and went up in the giant Ferris-wheel to get a bird’s-eye view of the snow-covered city. Even though I was shaking nearly the whole time, it was still a gorgeous sight from up there.
Near the ferris-wheel is the Musee d’Orsay, which is once again free for students and is a much more manageable collection of art that includes very recognizable artists such as Van Gogh and Monet, as well as a giant clock from when the building used to be a train station that offers a really cool photo.
Another fantastic spot to visit on a clear day is the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, which is a HIKE to get to because it’s on the top of a huge hill/mountain/cliff and there are about a billion stairs to get up there, however the views are worth it and the metro goes straight to that area from the center of Paris. The church itself is gorgeous and massive and very beautiful to be able to experience, plus the view outside of it is expansive and once again great for some pictures.
As much as I hate to admit it, we had our hearts set on eating Chipotle for dinner that night and it ended up being great for a couple of college students on a budget, plus Rome isn’t as Americanized as Paris so we don’t get as many of the restaurants we’re used to. (It felt really nice to be able to have Chipotle for the first time in over a month let me tell you.)
On our final day, we ate breakfast at a small café near the Eiffel Tower (and of course we had some more of that thick hot chocolate) before going to see Notre Dame. Even if you’ve seen a bunch of beautiful churches in your life, there aren’t many that compare to Notre Dame. It’s so massive and intricately constructed with such attention to detail and clear passion for what was being created. The stained glass windows alone are absolute works of art, and I’m always baffled by how a building can be so stunning. Being a Miami Hurricane, I obviously had to poke fun at the fact that we beat Notre Dame in a huge game this past season.
Overall, Paris can be a seriously magical city if you plan it right. It would definitely be nice in the summer months, but seeing it as a winter wonderland was something that felt so special. The buildings that line the streets are just as picturesque as the movies make you believe and the touristy monuments are all worth the hassle of crowds. The city has one of the absolute best public transportation systems I’ve ever used and metro passes aren’t too expensive either so I would not do Paris without utilizing this. Don’t focus on all of those old stereotypes that people spread about this beautiful city and you, too can fall in love with the city of love.
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