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Paris: Cruising, Climbing, & Contemplating

Posted on November 26, 2013

Need I even mention that my sixth morning in Paris during my 2007 summer in Europe started with yummy French pastries? Probably not. I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I have a serious addiction. Which again, is a good reason why I should probably never live in France. But moving on. 🙂 I was very excited on this day because my travel buddy, Teresa, and I were going to take a lunch cruise along the Seine. We had made our reservations the day before at the Bateaux Parisiens ticket desk near the Eiffel Tower. We arrived, checked in, were given boarding passes, menus, and a cruise map, and waited until the boarding started. We had paid a bit extra to sit at a…

Paris: Palace, Gardens, & Stained Glass

Posted on November 22, 2013

It’s a rainy day here in Orlando as I write this blog post. It looks like a perfect winter day outside, which just makes me want to curl up in some warm, cozy clothes with a book, a fire in the fireplace, and some Christmas music playing. Unfortunately, it’s 75 degrees outside. So no warm, cozy clothes and no fire. But I am listening to Christmas music (don’t judge) and it’s making me want to experience Paris during the holidays. I feel like Paris must be one of those perfectly magical places to be at Christmastime! Maybe someday… Anyway, 🙂 my fifth day in Paris was as jam-packed as the first few days. At this point, I couldn’t stop my morning pastry habit if…

Paris: An Arch, A Ferris Wheel, & A Masterpiece

Posted on November 18, 2013

I love the French! What other country takes eating so seriously? On my fourth day in Paris during my 2007 summer in Europe, my friend Teresa and I were strolling down the sidewalk from our apartment to the metro, eating our daily breakfast of pastries (heavenly!), when a runner passed us and wished us both “Bon appetit!” I think I was destined to live in this country. We took the metro to the Jardin des Tuileries and walked through the beautiful and peaceful gardens. I wish I had had more time in Paris because I would have loved to spend a morning or afternoon sitting in one of the city’s gardens, by a pond or under a tree, reading or writing or chatting or…

Paris: Modern Art, Shopping, & A French Rat

Posted on November 14, 2013

My days in Paris during my 2007 summer in Europe always ended late and started…well, not so early. 🙂 But my travel partner, Teresa, and I still managed to see and do a lot while we were there! Our third day in the City of Lights began with French pastries, of course. Yum, yum, yum!! It’s a good thing I don’t live in France because if I did, pastries would be my main food group. We hopped on the Metro and headed toward the Pompidou Centre which houses the Museum of Modern Art – the largest modern art museum in Europe. Quite a contrast from the art we saw the day before at the Louvre! We had about a thirty minute wait before the museum opened…

Paris: Cathedrals, Museums, & Two Islands

Posted on November 11, 2013

You know I’m excited about something when I wake up naturally before my alarm goes off in the morning, and leap out of bed ready to greet the new day! Well, on this day of my 2007 summer in Europe, I was excited about the fact that I WAS IN PARIS! The city I had dreamed of visiting for so long. I couldn’t stay in bed any longer, even after a late night out the evening before. I quickly got myself ready then headed out to find some breakfast while my travel buddy, Teresa, continued to get ready. I walked down the street to a boulangerie (might have been a pâtisserie – don’t they both sell pastries?) and bought us each a croissant and…

Paris: The City of Lights…At Last

Posted on November 4, 2013

“What an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!” -Charles Dickens The day I arrived in Paris, France was a day a dream came true for me. For years I had had a burning desire to visit this city. I became obsessed with all things French. I attempted (and failed) to learn the language. I knew my life would not be complete if I did not visit the City of Lights at least once. Well my dream was realized when I visited this magnificent city during my 2007 summer in Europe with my friend, Teresa. We travelled by train from Toulouse, France, and as we neared the city, I casually…