Paris: Shop, Eat, Sleep

Shop

Shopping in Paris is pretty stellar. Way cheaper than Sweden (but most places are) with really interesting pieces and classic clothing. Unfortunately, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect camel cape, but I did manage to snag an awesome leather envelope-ish bag from the flea market (huzzah, bargaining en français) and a sweet moose-adorned wool poncho. I wasn't so sure about the latter but an old, stylish French lady came into the store, saw me debating, and told me I should get it and that it looks good on me! Who am I to debate the Parisian eye for style?

 I could talk for hours about the greatness that is Shakespeare and Company, an English bookstore across from the Notre Dame. Ah-mazing. Quick history: the first iteration of the store is famous because it was where those in the literary world stationed in Paris, writers like Hemingway, Fitzgerald and James Joyce, gathered to discuss writing and life and to share ideas with each other. The current store is now on Paris' Left Bank and it's still awesome. Messy shelves adorned with lots and lots of books - such a dream. The upstairs is a library, and it has a piano and a typewriter station. Coolest part is that one can actually stay the night inside the bookstore - the place is still open for struggling writers and the like to be housed for free in exchange for helping out at the store!! Turns out some of the display cases and sofas double as beds. Trop cool, indeed. By the way, this was a stealth photo, can you tell?

Eat

 Best. meal. ever. It was some sort of baked brie salad with a delicious dressing, topped with potato slices and roasted garlic. drool. I should also note that the Dad sitting beside us was wearing a Voldemort shirt!  Also, "I saw an avocado and thought it was a nacho!" Sometimes my mouth can't keep up with my brain.

One can imagine the endless croissants, pains au chocolats, and tartelettes we devoured. I think the record was 3 patisserie visits in half an hour. It was our last day and we were getting desperate. Also, we had the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted. So rich, and creamy, and slightly bitter. 

This section is full of superlatives - rightly earned. 

Sleep

We stayed in the business district, La Défense. It isn't in the city proper, but it was pretty easy to get to the places we wanted to go with the metro. Plus, we got lucky since it was Bastille Day (stat holiday) when we arrived so we could buy the passe jeune day pass for most of the days we were there. Cheap! 

Did I mention we stayed in a 4-star hotel, paying less than we would have at a hostel? Yeah, baby. One cannot over emphasis the wonders of your own bathroom.

Paris, the big sights: here

Paris: the big sights

I love Paris. 

Yes, I really do.

Of course, like any good tourist we had to hit up the big tourist spots. Most of these didn't end up being my favourite parts of Paris, but they were still pretty sweet to see.

The Louvre

Oh, the Louvre. We were debating on going here but the line wasn't very long (if you go through the underground entrance) and we decided we might as well. When in Paris, and all that jazz. The Mona Lisa was as underwhelming as expected, and Napoleon's Apartments were indeed impressive and overly ornate. I'm not a fan of this style, nor the money involved to create it, but it sure does leave an impression. Also leaving an impression - of a different sort - was the teenaged couple shoving their tongues down each other's throats in between the oil paintings.

The Eiffel Tower

Another Parisian landmark, another line (although no comparison to the summer ones!). The tower is actually a brown/tan colour and not grey, like I had assumed. It's really pretty at night, and there are little blue lights along the structure that make it sparkle just so. One really needs to see the Eiffel Tower from a distance - it is much more impressive. We were pretty fortunate that we stayed for a few days in Paris because the first couple of days were really foggy. We lucked out on choosing the day to go up though - clear, blue skies for as far as the eye can see. The 360° views are magnificent. I should also remark that it's really interesting to people watch in Paris. Of course there are the overly amorous locals, but it seems that tourists also tend to pick up their mannerisms. Love is in the air, it seems.

L'Arc de Triomphe

Actually, not much to say. It's pretty, as is the walk along the Champs Élysées to get here.

The Notre Dame

The Notre Dame is really beautiful inside. I've seen a lot of churches since I've been in Europe, and most of them tend to blend together, but the Notre Dame does leave a mark. Although, I will say that I'm not a fan of the commercialism found in many tourist-friendly churches. I understand the cost of upkeep, and the belief in offering, but I do not appreciate the souvenir selling inside the church. I especially hate those pressing coin machines that feature an image of the church (or other landmark). If you are going to go that route to raise money, do it outside the walls!

The Sacre Coeur and Montmartre

What more could words express that these pictures couldn't? This is one of my favourite memories of Paris: the atmosphere, the picnics, the colours, the view - a sunset over the City of Light. 

Sometimes, it just hits you that life is pretty grand.

Paris, part 2: here