Paris, je t'aime!

Taking a trip to Paris is essential in life, at least that's my opinion. My trip to Paris was one of the best experiences of my life. It had always been a dream of mine and it is beyond any dream.

When we first arrived in Paris we took a taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to our hotel. We stayed close to the Eiffel Tower and we were already anxious to look around.

I fell in love with the city instantly, especially with its unique architecture. On our first day, we visited the Eiffel Tower. We grabbed a sandwich (baguette) on the way and walked in the sun towards the tower.

While there, we walked around the area, admiring the view above. We even went up the tower in a small elevator and open staircases. The view from the top is so beautiful, you can see the whole city and all the gardens on the rooftops. Later that day we walked around the Seine river and enjoyed the sunshine.

On our trip we also visited Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was so beautiful. The Gothic architecture is so rich and full of character, especially the gargoyles. Around the area we visited the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musee de L'Armée and the Dôme des Invalides, where Napoleon is buried. A little further away we visited the Palais Garnier, Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Montparnasse.

All those areas are a little far from the Eiffel tower but luckily there is no need for a car in Paris. There are so many other ways of transportation like walking, metro, bikes and even the train for longer destinations, like the day we visited Versailles.

We always tried to have dinner close to the Eiffel Tower and stay there until late at night if the weather permits. It is so gorgeous at night, people from all over the world coming together to watch the Eiffel Tower light up.

The tower usually lights up as the sun goes down, in the summer it lit up around 10 pm. We love to sit down somewhere in the area and watch the tower and listen to the live music playing in the background.

Another site worth visiting is the Arc de Triomphe, on the day we visited we stopped at the famous Angelina restaurant for another delicious sandwich. They have the best sandwiches on earth! We arrived at the Arc and I was pleased to learn that we didn't have to cross that huge roundabout to get there. There is a tunnel that connects to the Arc.

After, we walked to the Louvre which is one of the most famous art museums in the world located in the first arrondissement. The museum is huge and would take days to get through it all. So, since we didn't have all day we only saw part of it, the Mona Lisa and some other famous paintings.

Later that evening, we walked down the famous Champs-Élysées avenue and had dinner at Ladurée. The restaurant is most known for its macarons and we tried those for sure. They also have a whole table full of tasty and gorgeous desserts. It was a great ending to a great day.

I have been lucky to visit Paris at different times, during the summer and the winter. Both seasons in Paris have a special place in my heart. During my visit at the end of November, Paris was decorated for Christmas. There was a Christmas Fair along the Champs-Élysées that was so beautiful and festive. I enjoyed walking through the fair at night watching the locals and enjoying the different booths. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip in the winter.

In the summer, Paris is equally amazing and fun. Every summer, the Fête des Tuileries takes place on the Jardin of Tuileries, next to the Louvre. The fair is full of roller coasters and food for kids, it's a carnival and attended by locals and tourists alike. We walked around, watched the locals, had a delicious ice cream and rode in one of the water roller coasters. We had a blast!

Paris is always an unforgettable trip, independently of how many times you go. I hope every one gets to experience the magical city of Paris.

written by Isabella