Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: Like a Postcard from Paris.

Like a Postcard from Paris.



Paris is such a beautiful city to visit during the summer. There's so much life and no shortage of things to do. Well...during the day anyway. The nightlife in Paris wasn't as hoppin' as it was in London, but there were still so many things to do and so many new experiences to have. 

Before we went into the Eiffel Tower the first day, we took a cruise on the Seine River. It sprinkled a bit, but it was an amazing way to experience Paris.



Our bus tour wasn't as exciting as London, mainly because our tour guide was a bit difficult to understand. Her accent was super thick. I loved the parts where we got to walk around and explore. Paris is seriously such a beautiful city. 








And it's super important to see the Eiffel Tower as many times as possible. During the day. At night. Sunrise. Sunset. Just see it as much as you can, because it's so so beautiful.


Harder than it looks...


One of the optional excursions from the suggestions that our tour director, Adam, put together was a bistro meal in the Parisian Latin Quarter. It's impossible for me to describe just how amazing everything about this night was. 

It started with a detour to Luxembourg Gardens. It was straight out of Passport to Paris (you know that part where the girls change the itinerary so they can get their grandpa's assistant to meet the model they met at lunch. Just a typical day). It was so beautiful.



We also saw this statue and had to stop to take some classy pictures.




The dinner was at Au Bistrot de la Montagne. I wish I could describe the full experience, but it's impossible to understand the true amazingness of the night without having actually experienced it yourself. But I'll still try.



We and another EF group had the restaurant to ourselves. It was great because we were all around the same age and there was unlimited wine at our tables. I can't say that the wine was amazing, but after the first glass, it started to taste pretty good. When we got there, there was actually a blush French wine on the table, and that was so delicious. Unfortunately, it wasn't an option for the unlimited wine. 



After we all took our orders, there were two men who started playing music, one played the accordion and the other, guitar. This was the first time I really felt like I was a having a genuine French meal. The music sounded like the guy singing to the dogs in Lady and the Tramp (thinking about it now, does anyone else not think it's super weird for a guy to be singing to two dogs??). At first, the songs were unrecognizable, but then they started doing covers of songs that were popular in the states. We're talking "I Got a Feelin'" by the Black-Eyed Peas and "Wonderwall" by Oasis. For some reason, we were really pumped when they started playing "Feliz Navidad." There really is no explanation. Probably all of the wine.




The overall feel and vibe of the room was electric. I wanted to stay there forever. Not only that, but the food was so good! I had escargot. Yeah, snails. I had had it before, but for some reason, I assumed they would be better in Paris, and they were! Oh my goodness. So delicious. For dinner, I had salmon and rice, and for dessert, an apple tart. All very good. My sister had French onion soup for her appetizer, and that was indescribably good. I could eat that soup every day of my life, and every sip of it would always be good. I wish I could relive that night for real. It was just unforgettable.






We also visited the Louvre. That's after we walked through Champ Elysees and took a tour of a perfume factory. We got lost finding the Mona Lisa, and rested our feet on a bench in this little tranquil area with gorgeous artwork.




After the Louvre, we went to the Love Lock Bridge, and sister and I put our locks on the bridge and threw in the key! It was all very romantic. Sister and I made a sister lock. #sistersforever I also made a lock for Jon and me. 






After guaranteeing Jon and my eternal love, we got caught in the rain. It felt like Midnight in Paris (how many movie references can I make in one post?). 

"Can you picture how drop dead gorgeous this city is in the rain?" 

I didn't have to picture it. I lived it. It was actually quite exciting to be stuck under a bridge in the middle of Paris, aside from the fact that it smelled like pee, and I wore shorts that day.



While we didn't get to go into the Notre Dame (sorry, Quasimodo. Movie reference count: 4), we did get to see the outside, so that counts. Dripping with rain, a small group of us did some shopping in the outdoor markets and grabbed a late lunch/early dinner at Cafe le Petit Pont.






During our last day in Paris, almost our entire group went to visit the Catacombs. While it wasn't worth the three hours we stood in line for it, it was still a really cool experience. The way that all of the bones were artfully laid out was incredible. It was also pretty creepy down there. No escape. 





After seeing all of the carefully laid human bones, we ate some lunch at Paul's. I had a sandwich with unknown meat on it, and some sort of fruit-filled pastry for dessert. So good. 




Have you ever been to Paris? 

32 comments :

  1. No, I haven't, but I really, really want to go! Looks like you had so much fun!!

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  2. I really wish that I could get behind Paris more. I went there once, and I was just kind of eh. For me, I think it was the Parisians. A lot of attitude while we were there. How were the locals on your visit?

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  3. Ok, the wall of bones reminds me of that part in 300 where they make a human wall while they're fighting the Greeks or whatever. And the Eiffel Tower pictures: gorgeous, of course. And then there's the naked statue: I totally have a picture of me desecrating a naked statue in London, but alas I cannot put it anywhere on social media because my family members, friends, pastor, boyfriend would not appreciate it.

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  4. I love hearing about you trip. I had escargot in Paris too. We want to go to the Catacombs but they were closed.

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  5. I loved the Catacombs but yes, the wait in line is ridiculously long! All these posts have me feeling like Im in Paris all over again, except I totally forgot to visit the Love Lock Bridge

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  6. So jealous! My sister has lived in France (Paris once and further south second) but I wasn't able to visit her either time. Maybe someday. Even on the rainy days it looks wonderful!

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  7. So fun! And I love all of your movie references! Easy to do while in Paris.

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  8. Ah love this! I really need to start saving for a trip to Europe. I recently have lost my passion to go and now being reminded of all the amazing places I want to go again.

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  9. This looks so lovely!! I've never been to Paris so I will live vicariously through you ;p

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  10. This looks like such a fun trip! I'd absolutely love to go to Paris in the summer with friends!

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  11. I enjoyed all your movie references! I've never been to Paris, I enjoyed your photos and recap of your trip as if I was there.


    p.s. I see why Paris would be your happy place.

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  12. I want to go to Paris SO BAD! It looks so amazing!! Looks like you are having an amazing time!!

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  13. It looks like you had so much fun! I love that you went to Love Lock Bridge! I really wanted to go but we ended up staying in the Netherlands only. AH I can't believe you ate snails! lol

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  14. The lock bridge was really awesome! I'm so glad we were able to go. Lots of lovers at the lock bridge. The snails were so delicious!!

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  15. You should definitely plan a trip! It's worth it. It was such an unforgettable experience.

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  16. I'm glad you enjoyed my references! I make so many, and most people don't even know what I'm talking about because I reference the weirdest parts. You'll definitely have to make it up to Paris to do some writing in a coffee shop! :)

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  17. Yes! It was absolutely incredible. I hope to go back one day.

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  18. Haha it was so so wonderful! I would love to go back. I feel so lucky that I was able to go!

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  19. Yes! Start saving! I went with a travel group called EF College Break, which was great because they took care of all of the things I didn't want to waste time thinking about, like travel and hotel rooms and stuff. It was awesome traveling with them!

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  20. Thank you! It was so so wonderful.

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  21. You should try to plan a visit one day. It is worth the money. It was definitely an unforgettable experience.

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  22. Yessss! That line was not fun at all, but I guess it wasn't too bad since I was in good company. I definitely want to take a trip to Paris again one day.

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  23. Did you like the escargot? I loved it! Hopefully one day, you'll get to go to the Catacombs. It was really neat.

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  24. I have never seen 300! I'm a failure of a girlfriend. I'm sure he'll make me watch it one day though. I loved the Eiffel Tower! It was my favorite part of Paris. Ahhhh! That's too funny that you have a picture with a naked statue. I can't imagine what you must be doing in it.

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  25. We met a few rude French people, but for the most part, they didn't really bother us. They weren't as friendly as the people in London and Rome, but I wouldn't not go back because of them. I hear they're nicer when it's not tourist season though.

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  26. I hope you get to make it there one day! It was definitely a lot of fun!

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  27. How awesome! Love your photos, it makes me want to get to Paris even more! =)

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  28. I hope you make it there one day! It was an incredible experience.

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  29. Me too! I think more people would like it if they were brave enough to try.

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  30. When I was staying in Italy for school, the Italians seemed like a very boisterous and loving bunch.

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  31. I completely agree! They were very welcoming and seemed like they just wanted to have fun and be happy.

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