My first trip to Paris was in 2010 through my high school. There were about twenty students I had never met, and this was my first time abroad. I was nervous, exhausted, and unsure if I was going to make any friends. Our flight landed at 8 am, so naturally the tour guide thought it would be best to see all of Paris on that same day.

Notre Dame, The Louvre, and a climb to the top of the Eiffel tower later, I was exhausted and confused. Why was I being put through this “torture.” Who would love Paris under these conditions? I couldn’t wait to leave.

The rest of the trip was incredible throughout both northern and southern France, but I left with a sour taste in my mouth for Paris.

Six years later, after spending nearly three months in southern France, I made my triumphant return to Paris. I had a feeling that I was going to be a fan this time around. I was going to get to live like a normal human with proper sleep, see my family for the first time in a while, and explore the City of Lights.

I met my mom and sister at the airport. Our cab driver, Igor, gave us tips on what we should see and do while visiting Paris.  The Airbnb we rented was adorable and a relatively large apartment for the French. We went out to the Bon Marché for dinner, and I took charge, as I was the only one who could speak French. My mother does not have a grasp of the French language and accidentally ended up buying Horse milk for her morning coffee.  She couldn’t read the label despite the fact there was a picture of a large horse on the front. We all laughed at that and decided that was no doubt the funniest thing that would happen that weekend.

 

We somehow managed to see all the major attractions of Paris in just two days. It was my first time at the Musée d’Orsay, and I was blown away but the large collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pieces. My sister got to see her all time favorite painting by Van Gough, and we enjoyed pretending where we would put them in our home.

We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and struggled to make it all the way to the top with what seemed like an endless winding staircase. The view was beautiful, and getting to see the different roads coming together in the roundabout was very cool. We went to the Eiffel tower later but did not climb it this time. Once was enough for me. Plus, my mother has an incredible fear of heights. But we got some great pictures of all of us and had some much fun playing tourist. After, it was off on the double decker bus to Montmartre for the Sacré Coeur and a food tour of the area.  It was called the Secret Food Tour and there were about ten of us in the group. The most interesting bunch was a group of wild and crazy Canadian women who were on a girls weekend birthday trip.  The guide took us to boulangeries, patisseries, fromageries, and chocolatiers and taught us how to distinguish between the best shops. At the end, we took all the food we purchased back to the guides office and ate in the basement cellar dinning room as he taught us about the significance of everything we consumed.

I was definitely excited to show my family Aix by that point, and quickly filled them with all the bread spots I’ve found in my time here. (I’m going to miss my daily brioche when I get back to the States). We went out to dinner every night and tried new restaurants, and I brought them back to one of my favorite pasta places. I tried Cassoulet for the first time, which is a hearty soup of beans, sausage, duck and chicken, and fell in love. The food in Aix is always a great time, but it was nice to relax (and not pay haha) with family.

We had time to squeeze in a day trip to Avignon, a city nearby Aix that served as a retreat for the Popes back in the day. Its main tourist attraction is the Palace of the Popes, which is an incredible building right in the heart of town. It looks like a medieval fortress from the outside, something that belongs in Game of Thrones. The inside however was stripped of all decoration, but the building itself was still wonderful to look at. The weather in both Avignon and Aix was perfect, sunny nearly every day, and my mom and sister loved the city just as much as I do. Now I’m pushing for my sister to study in Aix so I can come back and visit. She said she’d think about it.

Sadly my family left on Saturday morning from Paris, so we returned Friday night. I suppose it was time to get back to our lives though, and we had the most incredible trip. I decided to be somewhat independent and stay in Paris through Sunday, and explore more of the city on my own. They left early Saturday, so I had the whole two days to have fun. I was a little sad in the beginning of the day. Going from all family fun all the time to solo travel was a weird transition. I went to a café for breakfast and enjoyed reading a book, then walked over to my hotel for the night.

I stayed at the Westin Vendôme, and my experience there was amazing. They had a deal going on so I got a room for a great price and the quality of the hotel was great. The lobby centered on a courtyard with a fountain, and there were several places to lounge and read. I enjoyed a brief nap, then went out and enjoyed the city. I did dinner back at the hotel, had a delicious meal with wine (I’m starting to like it now!), and read my book once again. That was when I was really realizing how cool it is to enjoy time alone. I definitely am someone who enjoys being alone, but that usually means being in my room by myself watching a show. I never hang out in public without a purpose, but I discovered how truly wonderful it can be.

After dinner I met up with my friend who is studying in Paris for the semester. I’ve known her since kindergarten, and her family was in town as well. The natural place to meet was at 11 pm under the twinkling Eiffel Tower. It was so nice to see familiar faces and to be in such a magical place with people I’ve known for almost my whole life.

The next day I had a late flight, so I decided to do something different than just touring the basics of the city. Thanks to the Rick Steves book my mom purchased, I found the perfect itinerary for my last day in Paris. I walked for about forty minutes from my hotel through the city, and walked into the Jardin du Luxembourg. Rick described the park as being a place to “see the French at play.” And that’s exactly what it was. French children were running about playing games and the adults were lounging with friends or reading books. In the center of the park there is a large fountain where you can race little sailboats. The sun was shining with a slight breeze, and I sat in a chair near the fountain and enjoyed the day. It was a wonderful end to my Parisian excursions.

After my first trip to Paris, I thought I didn’t have a need to go back, but after my last two experiences I can imagine myself living there. Paris has such a charm that really is unique, and it has so much to offer in every quarter of the city. While stereotypes may suggest one thing, I had such a pleasant experience with all of the people. I enjoyed getting to practice my French once again, and to get to see the city in a new way. I can’t wait to explore even more of the city on my next trip, which I hope isn’t too far away.  

Now it’s time for my second break. I’ll be headed to Prague, Budapest, and Vienna! I’m very excited to see a new part of Europe and explore what these cities have to offer.