A long weekend in Paris, France

Everyone has that place in the world where they dream of someday visiting.

For me, that place has always been Paris, France.

As a teenager, I was obsessed with all things French – the language, the culture, the cheese and the chocolate. I even applied to be a foreign exchange student in France. I gathered as much information as I could about the opportunity, before sharing all the details with my parents.

Of course, they nixed my plans on the spot.

Over the years, my dreams of visiting France remained, though my determination to get there faded. 

That is until Eugene and I found ourselves living in a small village in Germany, where we could hop on a high-speed train and be transported to Paris, France, within a few hours. 

We took the opportunity in September to meet up with one of my best friends, and spend a long weekend in the city I’d dreamt of visiting for more than 15 years.

My expectations were enormously high, and the city of love did not disappoint.

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We only had one day to spend with my bestie Gina, so after arriving in Paris, we ventured out to find the most quintessential Parisian experiences. 

We people-watched at the Louvre, wandered through the Tuileries Gardens, and sipped wine under a canopy of trees, before picking up sweets from a patisserie and picnicking at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

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Gina, Eugene and I spent hours catching up and chatting about life, while wandering around the streets of Paris.

The friends I grew up with are now living throughout the world, and it’s rare that I get to see them. Reconnecting in person, while exploring a new, beautiful city was so special.

Before bidding adieu to Gina, we ended the night with escargot and another stroll past the Eiffel Tower – this time with lights twinkling and a live band playing Latin music.

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On our second day in Paris, Eugene and I set out to see the sights.

First on our list was the Louvre, and of course the Mona Lisa. We knew it would be a chaotic experience, so we entered the museum early and lined up with the other tourists. We weaved through room after room and waited our turn before arriving at the main attraction.

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When it was finally our turn to view the Mona Lisa up close, a museum employee opened a retractable barrier and let a handful of us in to the open space in front of the painting. After snapping a quick photo, I stood for a moment in front of the infamous portrait before I was elbowed out of the way by tourists eager to snap a selfie.

After that interesting experience, we spent a few more hours wandering around and admiring the impressive art. But by midday, the museum was overflowing with people, and we were ready to escape the crowds. 

Eugene and I vacation at a leisurely pace, and our plan of attack for Paris was perfect. We’d choose one destination and head there by foot, but we’d let ourselves stop anywhere along the way that piqued our interest. 

After leaving the Louvre, we chose to wander toward Montmarte and Sacre-Coeur – a religious and political monument in Paris and also the second highest-point in the city. En route, we stopped for wine and charcuterie, a craft beer, and also empanadas, which we took to-go and enjoyed on the steps of Sacre-Coeur, while taking in commanding views of the Parisian streets below.

On our third day in Paris, we hopped on bikes like the locals do and took part in an epic five-hour food tour. We biked through the hectic streets and explored arrondissements that we would have never reached by foot. We sampled bougie chocolates, the best French toast I’ve ever had, croque monsieurs, macarons and more.

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After the tour, we grabbed a beer at a funky riverside pub and soaked in the last bit of summer next to the Seine River. We sat on the warm concrete, with the hot sun kissing our skin, while we sipped refreshingly cold hefeweizens. It was one of my favorite parts of our trip and a moment in time I want to remember forever.

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I could have sat there until the sun disappeared behind the buildings, but alas, Paris is a massive city and there was still plenty more to explore.

Next, we hopped on electric scooters and cruised around until we came upon something you don’t see often in Paris: a brewery. The beer was tasty and best enjoyed outside, where we could partake in our favorite activity of people-watching.

 This would have been an idyllic way to end our night, but of course, not everything in life can be perfect.

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 After getting our fill of beer, we left the brewery and headed toward a dinner destination we’d picked out earlier in the day. Unfortunately for us, we unknowingly walked in the wrong direction.

After an hour or so, we found ourselves in a less favorable part of the city. Eugene double-checked his directions and realized he’d been leading us the wrong way the entire time. By this point, it was late, we were hungry, and we really just wanted to get off that street, so we chose to dine at a nearby Indian restaurant. (Yes, I know that’s an unlikely place to eat while in Paris, but we love Indian food, and are always looking for good curry.)

Sadly, this place did not have good curry.

The food wasn’t anything special, the service was bad, and the overall vibe inside the restaurant didn’t feel right. So we rushed through dinner and quickly left, determined to end our time in Paris on a positive note.

On our way back to the 13th arrondissement, where we were staying, we found a welcoming patio, where we enjoyed one final, fancy cocktail.

Our weekend in Paris was everything I imagined it would be and more. The historic sights and beautiful buildings were amazing, but so were the quiet neighborhoods and hidden parks. The Parisians were incredibly nice and welcoming – something we weren’t expecting. And the city was full of endless opportunities to explore.

I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self that someday I’d get the opportunity to visit France. She’d freak when she found out I was living so close to Paris.


If you go…

When you visit Paris, be sure to add these spots and experiences to your itinerary.

  • No Diet Club Food Tour - Not only was this one of the best parts of our trip, but it was also an easy way to explore Paris and sample new foods.

  • La Porteña - These empanadas were inexpensive and delicious. The restaurant is located near Sacre-Coeur and the empanadas are the perfect snack to nosh on while taking in the beautiful views of the city.

  • We Are Brewers - A cool, bright brewery tucked in to the 11th arrondissement. The beer is tasty, and of course there’s charcuterie on the menu.

  • Edwardt Chocolatier - This spot looks like a jewelry store from the outside. The chocolates are some of the best I’ve ever had, and they have pretty unique varieties, too.

TravelKelsey NotstadComment