Tempe, AZ (Home Base)
USA
Paris, France
A trip to Europe without visiting Paris, France is incomplete. This incredibly beautiful and culture-rich destination has something to offer every traveler, from backpackers on a budget to chic tourists looking for couture fashions…and everywhere in between. For my trip, I fell into the first category.
I am lucky enough to have a relative who lives in Paris, my grandfather, so I got the local’s guide to this fabulous city, that I can now share with you! I stayed for 2 weeks, and let me tell you, I still didn’t get to see everything. I’ll get right into it…
Arriving in Paris can be filled with mixed emotions for the first time traveler, or even for the seasoned veteran. A culture shock can be expected because of the language, the customs (how many times do we kiss hello and goodbye?), the road rules, the hordes of tourists, and the amount of sites to check off your itinerary. Don’t be overwhelmed, just take them one at a time and be sure to enjoy each once you get to them. Don’t be thinking of how much time you can spend at one site before you have to leave to go to another. If you don’t get to everything, be happy you have something to come back and experience next time, don’t jam everything in and realize you really didn’t get to enjoy any of them when you’re finished. Like I said, 2 weeks wasn’t enough for me!
While on the plane to Paris, (direct from Phoenix on AirFrance), I made a list of the must see sites, that I absolutely had to get to. This included, of course:
(Blogs Coming Soon!)
- The Eiffel Tower
- The Arc de Triomphe
- The Louvre
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Champs Elysees
- Chateau de Versailles
- Notre Dame
- The Opera House
- Montmartre and Moulin Rouge
I felt that if I got to see these sites, I would be satisfied with my Paris experience. I was right, to a certain extent. These sites are the backbone of Parisian culture and give you a fantastic idea of how Paris was in the past, and how it has progressed into the future. You feel as if you are in a fairytale as you walk around the vast halls of Versailles, or climb the steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or float down the Seine River on a boat tour where you’ll glance Notre Dame. While gazing at the Mona Lisa in The Louvre, you can’t help but feel lucky that you had this opportunity. All of these are unmissable, and unforgettable experiences in Paris, but…there is another side to this romantic city. That side consists of the more local culture and lesser-known tourist stops. The less busy, and more day-to-day life of Paris, that really lets you feel like you know what it
would be like to live there. For these experiences, you need to visit:
(Blogs Coming Soon!)
- A Food/Produce Market and Shops
- Cafes like Café de Flore
- Isle de la Jatte, and other Seine River islands
- Giverny & Monet’s House
- A picnic in the park…any park!
- Berthillon Ice Cream
- Sainte-Chapelle
- St-Germain-en-Laye
- Mosque Tea Room
- La Defence
Seeing all of Paris would take a lifetime, but highlighting your Parisian adventure with famous and lesser-known sites will give you a well-rounded picture of this magical destination. There’s always more to be seen, so plan on returning to Paris someday!
Now, click any of the above destinations for individual blogs on each. (Coming Soon!)
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