Day 2 in Paris

Day 2 in Paris

After eating a breakfast of the most amazing croissants we have ever had (super cheap too!) we took the metro to the Trocadero exit which has the most amazing view of the Eiffel tower. I made Ryan close his eyes til we saw it. We walked past our engagement spot and then made our way to the south end of the tower to find out bike tour group. The group was only about 25 people and we all had cruiser bikes. The tour guide was fantastic and told us all about King Louise the 14 th, Napoleon, and the French Revolution. It's so amazing that this city is built on so much history.

One of the bridges we were standing on was made from the bricks from the Bastille prison that the revolutioners tore down. I just think it's so unreal that anywhere you walk in Paris contributed to history and the present. We got some great pictures, had crepes in the Jardin Des Tuileries which is the giant garden outside of the louvre. After the tour was over, we wandered into the Latin quarter by Notre Dame and even got to go inside while a service was going. That church is like Sacred Heart on steroids! It's actually having it's 850th birthday next year.

After we strolled past the Luxembourg gardens and bought some pastries at Dallyou which was on my list of places to try. And this point we're so tired we can not even figure out where our hotel is. Totally frustrating and after our outrageous cab ride, we were back and drugged ourselves with Tylenol pm haha. 12 hours later here we are about to go to the Louvre! More tomorrow!

WE LEAVE TOMORROW

I don't think it's actually set in only because I'm so focused on work I haven't let myself get excited! Everything is packed and ready to go including "Horrible bosses" on my ipad. In just a short amount of time, Ryan will see the Eiffel Tower for the first time! I'm so excited for him, the first time in Paris is just magical!

The first night we plan on going to a cafe for creme brulee, stroll down the Champs Elysees, and set on our mission to find the best cheese in the world!

Well, until tomorrow when I post from the plane!

THE TWO WEEK MARK! - The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay

When I was in Paris the first time with my Contiki tour, we barley had time to do much besides walk the beautiful streets and gaze at the Eiffel Tower.

This is right around where my Forever 21 sandals broke leaving me to buy a 20 euro pair of leather ones from a market. Arg.

Pont Alexandre III bridge, my favorite. I love the detail.

We mostly spent our afternoon doing this, so sleepy and our feet were killing us!

The first time I saw it, I'm pretty sure I screamed like a little kid.

After we reached the top!

Today is dedicated to two places I didn't get to experience. I did see it from the outside, but I didn't get a chance to go in and wander around. I think this was one of the purchases I made when we started planning, I bought two tickets to the Louvre and have tried to figure out how to do this whole thing in a reasonable amount of time. Here is a list I have of things I must see (minus the obvious - the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo). There are three wings: the Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. Both the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo are located in the Denon.

The Dying Gladiator by Pierre Julian
Christ on the Cross by El Greco
The Raft of Medusa and The Woman with Gambling Mania by Géricault
Art from Iran
The Egyptain wing (Sully wing)
The Winged Victory of Samothrace (Denon wing)
the Salle des Caryatides
The Galerie d'Apollon - also check out the collection of crown jewels

The Musee d'Orsay, some say, is better than the Louvre. Less hype and more beautiful works of impressionism.

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre - Renoir
La Gare St-Lazare - Monet
Church at Auvers-sur-Oise - Van Gogh
Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe
 Félix Nadar's portrait of Charles Baudelaire

Obviously there is a lot more to see than what I have but unless I plan on moving there (OH! good idea!) I will have to just see the highlights.

Day 17, Jardin du Luxembourg

Located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris you will find Paris' second largest park, Luxembourg gardens. Luxembourg palace was built in 1611 for Marie de Medicis the widow to Henry the 4th. The gardens itself have terraces, orchards, statues of former queens and saints, fountains and is a perfect romantic place for a picnic.

After running around and site seeing all day, it's a nice place to relax in the calm of the trees and fountains. A place to really just be in Paris. With plently of places to stop and eat nearby, it's the perfect place to people watch. Just be sure to leave at sunset, there is a closing time!

I haven't told Ryan much about this place, mostly because I want him to be surprised when we get there at the amazing things Paris has to offer. All he's asked for months now, is for a place to picnic. I can't think of a better place!

If you find yourself around the area, here are some great places to stop by to eat or pick up a meal to eat there:

Les Papilles which is on Rue Gay Lussac - No menu! They serve what the special is of the day.

Dalloyau - across from the entrance.

If you're going more the market route, here are some options:

KAYSER boulangerie at 10 r de l'Ancienne Comédie

PAUL'S boulangerie at 77 r de Seine....

CHAMPION supermarché at 79 r de Seine

La FROMAGERIE 31 at 64 r de Seine (all near r de Buci).

Le DERNIÉRE GOUTTE, round the corner at 6 r de Bourbon-Le-Château & r de l' Echaude.

What I'm reading today

I woke up a few hours before my boyfriend, brewed coffee, made some eggs, and nestled into the couch. The spot on the couch I like the most allows just enough light from the kitchen to peak in, not fully being able to brighten the room due to the hallway wall, completely the prefect amount of light to not let me full wake up. Secretly this is my favorite part of the week, I love having the feeling of being completely alone but also knowing that Ryan is not too far away. It's comforting and freeing all at the same time.

The book I'm currently swallowed up by is "The Sweet Life in Paris" by David Lebovitz.

This book on the outside promises to tell a story about David who struggles to find a good job at a restaurant in Northern California, he wants to shadow some of the chefs he's come to admire. After a tragic loss of his partner, he quits everything and packs up to move to the city of lights, measuring cups in tow. I am only 3 chapters in but I am hazy with the romance of this book. Not romance between two people, but between a man and his hunger for culture. Each sentence is dripping with intoxicating descriptions from the way his lazy French painter takes his sweet time finishing his living room, his desire to find the perfect baguette, and the major difference between Americans and Parisians...Americans want everything when they want it instead of taking our time through life enjoying all of the little pieces that surprise you.

This book is lovely. If you want a little Paris you can have on your couch, I highly recommend it!

What to wear, what to bring

From Oct 18th-Nov 5th I will be embarking on my second European vacation. I plan on traveling through France, Italy, Spain, England and Ireland. This trip will be a first for me for Spain and Ireland and a second for the rest. Since I am an extreme over planner, I've been coming up with day by day itineraries and places to see and eat for a couple of months now. I think I mostly do it as motivation to make more money at work in order to afford all of these things. Along with planning things to do, I also want to plan what to wear. My frist time in Europe I was thirty five pounds heavier and without the help of a curling iron. I'd like to get some nice pictures this time, ones I can actually display and hopefully blow up to frame.

My favorite pictures I took the last time:

Now looking back my favorite one has to be the mime in Rome. There's something about his expression and the fact that I caught him and he looked right at me. This picture was actually taken very far away while standing by the Pantheon. I love it.

Back to planning my outfits, I'll let you know how it goes...