Let's Explore: PARIS

My 21st birthday weekend in Paris--never would have imagined celebrating in such a beautiful city!

We started the trip with an early morning flight which connect at the Barcelona airport, we only had a 40 minute layover so we were prepared to be sprinting through trying to find our gate, but luckily it was super close and we made our flight in plenty of time!

Upon arriving to Paris I quickly learned that it will be a challenge not knowing the language. This is the first time I have felt like a truly foreign tourist! Thankfully, we went to the info desk and the man spoke English, gave us a map, and helped us understand the metro system! He also told us that this weekend the metro and all public transportation is FREE because Paris is trying to cut down the pollution! This was such great news because we used the metro soooo much!

There is definitely a stereotype that the French are rude, especially to Americans, but everyone that we encountered was super nice and helpful! (Except this one lady who screamed at me asking where I got my map from...she was very unpleasant.) We hoped on a bus that took us to the nearest metro station. We were on the hunt for a famous crepe place that my friend had recommended. We were a bit lost getting off the metro but some locals were nice enough to help us find our way! They even google mapped it on their phones for us!

We found the restaurant and after walking in they told us that it was full --like full for the day, you had to make reservations. They then told us that next door they have a little store and you can eat there if there's room and that it's the same cook. So, we hoped on over next door and it was such a cute little shop with one big table in the center! We made it JUST in time because there were 2 stools left! We got to meet a couple from London, a man from Israel, a family from Bermuda and a lady from Italy that moved to Paris with her husband! She gave us a bunch of great tips and advice for the weekend! It was such a cool environment to be sitting at the same table as people from all over the world. The atmosphere was incredible--but SO WAS THE FOOOOD. I got a crepe with goat cheese, honey, and caramelized onions with some greens on top! Fabulous! Then Becca and I each got a dessert crepe and split them! We got one with chocolate, bananas and whip cream and another with sugar and vanilla butter. Seriously to die for! After a little more chatting, we headed out to make our way towards the hostel!

We had a little trouble finding our hostel and had to go into a few shops to try to ask for directions. Luckily some of the workers spoke SPANISH! Not knowing French made me feel helpless in some situations and It wasn't until this trip where I realized how cool and beneficial it is to speak another language! I felt to accomplished when I was able to communicate with people in Spanish and get my questions answered.

We made it to our hostel and Rachael was there! We checked in and got right to sight seeing! As we were walking down to the metro stop we ran into Paige and had her come with us for sightseeing! We went to the Luxenberg Gardens, which were absolutely beautiful! So many people were out and about! We then went to Montparnese for an awesome view of Paris. We went up to the 56th floor and then to the roof where you could see the entire city! Unfortunately, it was a bit hazy from all of the pollution! but still so gorgeous!

We then made our way to the Eiffel Tower where we saw it all lit up and we saw the lights show! The tower was so huge and beautiful and any picture you see of it does no justice in comparison to standing right in front of it and looking up. After taking many pictures we were on a mission for food. We wanted to go to a fondue place that was recommended to us! We found it relatively easily and we sooo lucky again because they only had one table left! We got 2 different types of cheese fondue and a big salad to share. It was fantastic!

We went back to the hostel where we ran into Lauren and Maaren! We also met our extra roomie-Fernanda from Cancun! She was so nice! We went down to the lobby and met some other people staying in our hostel, like two guys from Germany! We then started the 21st birthday festivities and I am proud to say I survived the night.

I woke up the next morning ready to go and see everything that Paris had to offer. We got free croissants from our hostel and then hit the road (metro)! Our first stop was Notre Dame, such a gorgeous church, much different than the catedral in Sevilla. The stained glass was so beautiful.

We then went to get some famous Ice Cream! Yup, it was 10:45 AM. And boy did that hit the spot. We then made our way over to the Love Lock Bridge. It's a bridge and the sides are filled with locks that mainly couples hook on and then throw the key in the river to seal their fate and be in love forever. Well, I didn't have anyone to lock up my love away with but still wanted to partake in the love lock bridge experience. On my lock I decided to write, "Love Yourself" as I felt this is something that many people forget and then for the rest of the single people who cross that bridge and possibly see my lock, hopefully it will inspire them to be happy with who they are! We also got one big lock and wrote all of our initials on it!

We then stopped at a sandwich shop and picked up some french baguette sandwiches for our picnic at the Eiffel Tower. We hoped on the metro and encountered our first trouble with the metro system. We were one stop away from our transfer stop and the metro just stopped.. A voice from the metro speaker was saying something...but only in French. Some people got off and some stayed out. We waited it out for about 15 minutes and then decided to walk to the nearest metro stop to try to figure it out from there.

We eventually made it to the Eiffel Tower where we had a wonderful picnic lunch! My veggie sandwich was fabulous and I also split a merengue with Rachael. The food is SO good.

After our picnic lunch we headed over to the Louvre. We took many pictures in the plaza of the Lourve with the big glass triangular structure. Before going to the Louvre, I was so confused at where the art museum actually was... welp, it's actually underground! and it is HUGE! As uninformed tourists, we didn't really understand most of the paintings and didn't spend too much time there. The one thing that we did want to see was the Mona Lisa. Why? Because it's famous and that's what everyone goes to the Louvre to look at. I know-- terrible answer. Leonardo Da Vinci would be disappointed. So, I googled why it's famous and this is what I got-- http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1750/why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous.

After the Lourve we hit up the famous hot chocolate at Angelina's Cafe. And now I understand why it's famous. People recommended to split a hot chocolate with a least two people (because it's so heavy)--but I downed an entire cup and it was all fabulous.

We then stopped by the Tuliers Gardens and then headed down the Champs Elysses to window shop and get some macaroons at the famous Laudree. This was my second time ever having macaroons (the first time was a few weeks ago at McDonalds.. I needed to use their wifi so I bought the cheapest thing on the menu). Anyways, the parisian macaroons were much better! There are just so colorful and delicious! Loved them!

Then we made our way to the end of the Champs Elysses where the Arc De Triumph is in the middle of the rotunda. We climbed up many flights of stairs to the top of the Arc for a beautiful view of the city. Unfortunately, part of the arc was under construction so we couldn't walk all the way around it.. but it was still a gorgeous view!

Back to the hostel and then Rach and I went to the Sacre Cour, a basilica on top of a hill. Another gorgeous view of Paris and everyone sits on the steps and drinks as a man plays the guitar and sings. It was a cool thing to see. And we went into the church as well, which was absolutely beautiful!

Then back to the hostel and out for a late dinner at a recommended restaurant in the Bastille area. It was delicious! We made it back to the hostel and then Rachael and I went out to a bar with some hostel friends!

We got up early on Sunday for a day trip to Versailles. We unfortunately hoped on the wrong train which took us a little out of the way but we eventually made it. Another bummer was that the line to get in the palace was an hour.. we did not have that kind of time to wait around so we decided to skip the palace and walk through the gardens instead. The palace and gardens were all a part of Marie Antoinette's estate. and oh my goodness was it HUGE, literally the biggest palace and gardens I have seen in my entire life. They were even having a rowing competition in one of the fountain pools--that's how big it was!

We walked around and lounged around for a little and then hoped back on the train back to our hostel to check out and grab our things! Right before heading to the train station I got a french baguette, pain au chocolate and pistachio macaroon for my last parisian meal.

Made the plane just in time! After going through security and them having to check through my bag.. I have a TSA regulated reusable bag for my liquids but they said they needed to be in a plastic baggy. Never had trouble with it before but of course when I'm running late for my flight this would happen! Oh well, we made it on time and had a smooth flight back to the wonderful and 80 DEGREE Sevilla!

Where Virginia had a piece of homemade chocolate tart cookie cake waiting for me :)

What a wonderful 21st birthday weekend!

Other notes from the weekend: I realized I'm bilingual. Paris is expensive...400 Euro dress... Eiffel tower was originally built for the world's fair. Everyone sells these cheap little Eiffel Tower statues everywhere you go. All of the buildings, apartments, everything is white or neutral colors--but it's so pretty with the architecture! Many shops sell flowers in the streets and it's so adorable. I learned how to say piggy back ride (hookah pak), butterfly (schmegdelen) and my darling (mine shotz) in German. In parentheses are the pronunciations--no clue on the spelling. The french metro system is so easy to use-- even easier than Chicago. French people are actually really nice. We saw Heidi Klum at the louve... I don't know who she is but all of my friends were really excited. Paris is beautiful. It wasn't one of the places on the top of my list that I wanted to visit--but I'm so glad that I went!

Lastly, since this post is delayed (sorry mom). Yesterday, I had a workout, class and prepared for my finance presentation, which was today. That went pretty well and then my friend Kelly (my room mate from Madison studying abroad in Rome) arrived in Sevilla, so I picked her up and brought her back to the apartment where Virginia prepared an excellent dinner! We caught up and it was so nice to reunite with her! Can't wait to show her around Sevilla!

Sending Smiles From Sevilla,

Rebecca

Greeted by this lovely shop upon arriving into the city!