When my parents and I were in the booking process for England, I begged them to relinquish some time away from London. When they asked if I meant something like heading to Blackpool for a day, I giggled and told them, quite simply, no. In response to their muddled faces, I told them that I wanted to go somewhere world-renowned, somewhere magical and beautiful, somewhere fascinating and somewhere sophisticated with a great general sense of style and a groundbreaking arts & culture scene. Basically, somewhere we wouldn’t want to leave. After a very confusing and somewhat hilarious 10 minute conversation about where else I could want to go, I finally told them that I wanted to go to the one, the only, Paris. They laughed and I honestly didn’t think they took me seriously, until my dad texted me from work telling me that I needed to cough up $57 CAD for the train ticket and that we’d leave at 7:06 AM on our first Wednesday there. Was I excited? No. I was ecstatic.
Seeing as we were already paying for board in London, and we had a to-do list longer than my whole body while we were in England, we could only do a day in France. Well, technically, it was about 11 1/2 hours. Less than a day. Could we do it? We were actually told countless times that we couldn’t do it in a day, and somewhat I agree. We didn’t get to really walk around that much, go inside many of the most fascinating places we saw, or truly experience life in Paris. However, on the other hand, we have physically set eyes on most of the historical venues and/or tourist attractions (with some notable exceptions, including Disneyland, haha), we ate a meal, and we got to do some of the things we I had always dreamed of (like, for example, visitng the world famous Laduree bakery (:O :O 😀 😀 :D)!!!!!!!!!!!). And in just 11 1/2 hours, do you know what I discovered? Paris is breath.taking. Really, though. Let me tell you, ladies and gents, that city is everything you’ve ever heard it is, and so, so, sooo much more. I honestly didn’t want to leave. Some of my friends have asked me to describe Paris in one word, and that word is…impossible. It is literally impossible to describe that beautiful city in that lovely country in one mere word. Heck no.
However, to compensate, I thought I could show you some lots of photos of our day there! It was super rainy and cold the day we visited (go figure), but it was still a day I will never, ever forget. Here are some of my favourite moments from our day trip, in no particular order.
*photo heavy post warning!!! Just sayin’*
St. Pancrus station, where we caught the Eurostar train from. Looks like Harry Potter? That’s because most of the train stations in London look like this, but they DID film the exterior shots in the “train to Hogwarts” scene from Harry Potter here! Pretty cool!!!
Intricate, ornate details are everywhere in Paris.
Pont Alexandre III
Stunning.
The Grand Palais ♥
Grand Palais
La Petit Palais
La Petit Palais, redux
Even the street lamps are ornate! Wow.
In Paris, they love, love, LOVE topping buildings with gold. Beautiful ♥
The National Academy of Music. Our tour guide said that some of the greatest played here as early as the 15th century!
My two favourite classical composers, to both listen to their works and play their compositions, immortalized forever at the National Academy of Music. Me likey.
The very first part of Paris I saw with my own eyes, outside the train station!!
Outside the train station, redux. I remember thinking that it looks just like the movies, only better!! 🙂
The inside of the Gare du Nord train terminal, where we arrived and left for London from.
Does the inside of Gare Du Nord look familiar to you? It does to me, it’s where the PERFECT Blair & Chuck scene in Episode 2 of Season 4 of Gossip Girl, Double Identity, was filmed! SO. FREAKIN’. COOL.
Okay, so this lavish gold gate on the Champs-Élysées is beautiful, no!? I thought it was some famous, designer shop…
…but, no, it was…Abercrombie. *blinks*
Okay.
The coolest car I saw whilst in Europe! So tiny!
My parents trying to be super cute and in love over dinner in Paris. Oh wait, they succeeded!? Oh, okay.
Ahhh! The main event!!!! Laduree!
Outside Laduree <3
Judging on the near thousands of photos I took of just the outside, do you think I was excited to be there!? (Having said that, photography isn’t allowed inside… BOO!!!!)
Laduree ♥
Cute little bicycles outside Laduree <3333
Even the freakin’ displays at Laduree are GORG.
Shop signs down the Champs-Élysées
Hello, gorgeous view!!!!
Cobblestone streets + gold, lavish bulidings = Paris at its finest <3333
I’m in love with apartments in Paris. Holy sheesh, so beautiful and old-worldy, yet totally modern!
Moulin Rouge!!! 😀
More intricate details on buildings, quelle surprise!
Inside the court of the Louvre Museum
Pont de l’Archevêché bridge aka the bridge that is PACKED with locks! Yes, the entire bridge is covered in locks that hopeful couples put there (even look in the back, far right corner!!!). In fact, it’s so bad, that earlier this year, part of the bridge fell and had to be restored because of the weight of thousands and thousands of locks! Crazy, huh!?!?!
ps – having a tour guide to tell you these little tidbits is freakin’ awesome!!! #worthit
Pont de l’Archevêché bridge redux.
The Famous Street Art Vendors!!! They really do exist!
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
Notre-Dame redux
Notre-Dame redux, redux!? 😉
The National Assembly
Details of L’Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile ♥
I actually video recorded when our tour guide drove us around the huge roundabout that surrounds L’Arc de Triomphe, but I did take this photo from the backseat when we were driving away!
I’m jealous, they have escalators to go to and from the underground in Paris. We have to schlep up 1-3 flights of stairs in Canada. -.-
The Eiffel Tower. I was a little obsessed with it, so I took a LOT of photos of it. You’ve been warned.
Did you know that the colour of the Eiffel Tower changes every seven years!?
Or, that in the summer, it’s SIX INCHES taller!? Oh, heat and your magical powers!
No caption needed, haha.
I never thought I’d feel so small and insignificant. But, when I’m around this beauty, that’s completely fine. <3333
It’s in the details. ♥
<3333
It’s just SO beautiful, even on a cloudy day!
Underneath my love, L’Eiffel Tower. ♥
So, there you have it, my day in Paris. I obviously have so many more photos that I love, but these photos capture the highlights of the trip perfectly. Remember how I told you I was asked describe Paris in one word and I couldn’t do it? Well, having written this post and relived the most magical moments of the day, I think I can do it…in two words: c’est magnifique!
Thank you to my parents for allowing me to see this phenomenal city with my own eyes, thank you to our brilliant tour guide, Jessica, for showing us around your lovely city and most of all, thank you to Paris, for being beyond beautiful, wonderful and legendary. I’ve told everyone already, and I’ll say it again, I will be back. That’s right, it’s not an “if”, it’s a “when.” ♥
Thanks for reading and have yourself a wonderful day!
Much love,
S♥
