Never thought in a million years that my Anniversary gift would be a trip to one of the top places on my bucket list. When my Husband was planning a trip for us to take during our kid’s spring break, his first choice was not Paris. We initially looked and agreed on going to Cairo. But after conversations with family that have been to Cairo, we decided we would need more than 5 days to enjoy a visit there. While we were trying to figure out where we could go for a few days, I spoke up and said, “let’s go to Paris”. My Husband had already been there two times for work, but that is the one place I have always wanted to visit and never had the opportunity. He finally said yes, and we were off to booking our flights to celebrate our 19th Anniversary!
Time to break my silence about our Paris experience. I keep getting asked about our trip and if we will be sharing pictures (which I did a little on Facebook, but all of my friends and family do not have Facebook). I am thrilled to share our trip to Paris with you all! In my opinion, it was the best trip of my life, and I so badly want to go back. It was truly special to me and dear to my heart for many reasons. Paris is one of my favorite cities! I am so in love with its museums, French cuisine and the city’s vibe.
Day One – Night Flight to Paris
Friday, I woke up really early to rearrange what I packed the night before. I was nervous and excited about our trip to Paris. Excited because it was my first trip to Paris and nervous because of the Ukraine and Russia war that could impact Paris a great deal. Our flight was booked for 8:15pm. We flew out of Atlanta’s International Airport (Terminal F). Check in was very easy. All we needed were our passports, our covid cards (must have booster shot), Passenger Locator Form (PLF), and a sworn statement that you will comply with rules for entry into Metropolitan French Territory. After we received our boarding passes, we went to our terminal and ate dinner at Friday’s. We later boarded the flight, ready for the next several hours to pass and for the flight attendant to say, “Welcome to Paris”. During our flight, we were given a blanket, pillow and headphones (to listen to music or watch movies). I watched the movie Scream. It was decent in comparison to the original Scream movies. They served us dinner and breakfast on the flight. I’m not big on eating plane food, so I ate a croissant and had a cup of sprite.
Day Two – Adventures of Paris
We arrived at Paris at 10am Saturday morning at the CDG Airport. After departing the plane, we had to go through customs before claiming our bags. In all it took us almost 45 minutes. After picking up our luggage, our driver met us at the Airport and drove us to our hotel. The ride to the Hotel was about 45 minutes as well. We had the whole day to explore. On our way to the Hotel, the city reminded me of New York with all the smog. It was rainy and foggy and a bit cold.
We arrived at our hotel around 11:30am. The hotel we stayed at was called Hotel Relais de Louvre (within walking distance to the Louvre Museum). The hotel room number we stayed in was room number 35. It was a small room, but very clean and cozy. The elevator was very small as well, maximum 3 people. Anytime we left the hotel, we had to leave our key with the hotel manager. After checking in and getting cleaned up, we headed to the nearest pharmacy to get our health pass. We had to pay 35 Euros a piece and all we had to show was our covid card and our passports. Your health pass was printed, and it had a QR code you can scan to load your information into the AntiCovid app. We decided to just carry the paper with us everywhere because the app asked too many questions just to load our covid shot information. After Monday, March 14th, we didn’t need the health pass anymore. It was no longer a requirement. The health passport was required to get into museums, restaurants, etc.
The Louvre Museum
We took a walk from the pharmacy to the Louvre Museum. The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s largest museums and home to incredible artworks. At the Louvre, you will encounter the best and electric art collection. From the world-famous Mona Lisa, Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People. Venus de Milo, to the Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss, there is something for art lovers in the Louvre. The Louvre is more than a museum, but a journey through history via art. The Louvre Museum is so huge and so vast, you should research and know what you want to see before you visit there. Admission can cost you anywhere between 15 to 17 Euros. If you are big on seeing the Mona Lisa, be prepared to stay in a very long line to get up close for a picture or a selfie with the most famous painting in the world. The Louvre Museum collections are displayed on 5 levels in 3 wings, and it is impossible to finish the visit in one day. It has over 35,000+ works of art and 670,000 square feet of gallery space over multiple levels. If you want a guided tour, you can request to use the Nintendo 3DS system and it will give you all the history behind the artwork and let you know where everything is located. Once you are finished with your tour, don’t forget to admire the glass pyramids located outside of the Louvre Museum. The Glass Pyramid (which is also the entrance) was built by I.M. Pei and it is great compliment to the original architecture of the Louvre.
Travel Tips for the Louvre Museum
- Pre-purchase your tickets online to avoid the big lines
- Always have your health passport ready (well now your covid card)
- Get an audio guide and interactive map
- Go to the cafe on the upper floor on the Denon wing where you have a good view of the Palais de Louvre and pyramid at the Terrance
- The Mona Lisa does have long lines. Try to get there very early or later in the day
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Bring water to drink and some snacks and give yourself a chance to sit down and have a rest in a quiet area
- The gift shop has some great souvenirs, and all were reasonably priced
- Stop to get you some macaroons….you will not regret it!
Whether you are an art lover (like me) or not, you will be mesmerized by this beautiful museum with innumerable valuable masterpieces.
Chez Alexandre
After our tour of the Louvre Museum, we had lunch at the Chez Alexandre. Check out the food we ate. It was very delicious. But nothing we ate in Paris was gross. Everything we ate was decent or very delicious. A couple of places did not use much seasoning, like the fast-food restaurants. Check out the pictures at the Chez Alexandre.
A Dazzling Night at the Moulin Rouge
Our show was booked for 11:00pm. You had an option to book a show with dinner, but that was all booked up. We took an Uber over to Moulin Rouge and waited in line for about 30 minutes. The show was packed, and it was a spectacular show. They also sold their program books for 10 Euros. After a short wait in line, we were shown to our seats in the elegant ballroom, and to our great delight, we were seated in the front row! The Moulin Rouge blew me away. It was so much more than I ever thought it would be. The dancing was incredible. The costumes were absolutely sensational, especially one set of 1920s inspired costumes complete with giant Derby-style hats. After a few dances, the front stage disappeared, and a giant water tank rose up in its place. The tank was filled with live snakes! Big boa constrictor snakes! And then a woman wearing nothing, but a flesh-colored thong dove in the middle of the water and swam with the snakes, wrapping them around her body and hoisting them up in the air. There wasn’t a single person in the ballroom who didn’t have his or her jaw hanging open. The other incredible show was a man and a woman doing skate tricks on a tiny round floor. Our Moulin Rouge experience lasted about 2 hours, but it felt like it went by in a flash. I really can’t emphasize how much I enjoyed the show and what a special experience it was. And of course, there was the fact that I got to share it with my favorite guy.
Day Three – Tour of the City
Although some would say riding the Big Bus Paris tour is touristy, it is a great idea if you want to save on catching an uber or save your feet from all of the walking. With the Big Bus Paris Tours, which is a double decker bus, you get to see the main attractions of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre-museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Champs-Elysees and other famous places of the capital of France. If you are a romantic at heart, then a night bus tour is for you. Paris at night will bring you to the world of delight and the city will appear alluring and mysterious. When you purchase your tickets, they are kept on your mobile device, or you can print them if you like. Also, the big bus Paris offers tour guides with commentary in several languages. The bus stops at 11 different stops around Paris. Each stop is conveniently located close to a famous attraction or a landmark. You can hop off the tour at any stop and visit a few of your favorite spots at the heart of Paris or stay on board to discover the city from the open-top double-decker. When you come back to the bus stop, you won’t have to wait for longer than 20-30 minutes for the next Big Bus. The tour guests are provided complimentary headphones that can be connected to audio guides built into the bus seats. The buses run daily. The Red Route starts at 9:30am and the last bus is at 5:40pm. The Montmartre route starts at 10:00 am and the last bus is at 5:30 pm. Every Big Bus Paris ticket includes free brochures, headphones, and even a free poncho in case it rains. Here are a few pictures we took.
The Breathtaking Notre-Dame Cathedral
Closed until April 15, 2024, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is a medieval era Catholic cathedral. Its name can be signified as “Our Lady of Paris.” It is located in the 4th arrondissement of the city, on the Ile de la Cite. It is one of the most popular of all Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages in Paris. The construction of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris began in the year 1163 when King Louis was on the throne, and it took around 182 years to complete its construction. During the French Revolution, the Catehdral was damaged and was used for food storage. It is now home to the cathedral of the Archbishop of Paris.
Latin Quarter
Lying on the western banks of the Seine, the Latin Quarter District makes up parts of the 5th and 6th arrondissements of the French capital. Once known for its Medieval Universities, the district retains much of its educational reputation alongside its modern artistic Bohemian flare. Paris’ Latin Quarter is one of the oldest parts of the city and has long held a place in European thought. The University of Paris, commonly known as the Sorbbonne, named after its main building, was founded in the 12th century and quickly gained traction as being one of the top sites of learning in Europe. The educated classes who attended the University’s and their teachers would speak in Latin, giving the district its name.
Sainte-Chapelle
The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is the most elegant royal chapel built, and it features a truly outstanding collection of stained-glass windows. It is made in the Gothic Rayonnant style and located in the center of Paris. Today, it is a popular venue for classical music events showcasing the works of giants like Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart. You can easily book tickets online to see Sainte-Chapelle, like we did.
Pantheon
The Pantheon became a mausoleum for famous French citizens like Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, and Voltaire. Over 70 souls are buried here. Even if you do not want to splurge on a ticket to go inside, touring the exterior of the Pantheon is certainly a good photo op. The neoclassical architecture is imposing and pleasingly symmetrical. It is built on the highest point in the 5th arrondissement, but not quite as tall as Montmartre. The artwork includes marble sculptures and paintings. One of the paintings shows Saint Genevieve herself, the patron saint of Paris. Audio guides are available in several languages, including English, so you can learn about what you are seeing as you explore. The price for a ticket is anywhere between 9 and 11.50 Euros.
Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg)
The Luxembourg is one of the most popular gardens in Paris.
Arc de Triomphe
There are so many things to see in ‘the city of lights’ and a visit to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe is definitely one of them. Located in the 8th arrondissement and on the western side of the Champs-Élysées; you can spend as little or as much time as you like and not be bored.
Napoleon Bonaparte was on a mission to make Paris the most beautiful city in the world. At that point in time, the French Army (aka the Grande Armee) was seen as indestructible and had taken over most of Europe. So, in 1806, he decided he wanted to have an arc constructed in the Army’s honor. He told the soldiers “You will return home through arcs of triumph.” and thus the name!
The arc completed construction in 1836, more than a decade after Napoleon’s death, and had a price tag of about 9 million Francs at that point in time.
B and I rode the metro (Line 1) to the very beginning of the Champs-Élysées. There are a few more metro stops along the Champs-Élysées (Franklin D. Roosevelt & George V) and one right in front of the Arc de Triomphe (Charles de Gaulle Etoile).
You will see the Arc de Triomphe from a distance but believe me it gets even better. The Arc de Triomphe is located smack dab in the middle of a huge traffic circle- what my nightmares are made of -and is super dangerous to cross. Just don’t even try.
But no worries, there is an underground tunnel that will take you under the street and right to the Arc.
Once you come back up to street level, you will be near the back right column of the Arc. Walk around the back to the back left column (inner side of column) and you should see the entrance.
Breakfast – Cafe La Colonnade / L’annexe Cafe
Have to Dine / Pay to use the Restrooms
While touring the city of Paris, if you urgently have to use the bathroom, you will have to pay or dine in their restaurants to use the restrooms. Otherwise, there are local potties outside for free that you can use.
Touring City at Night
Day 4 – Modernist Paris
Day started off seeing the Bouquet of Tulips and walking through the Louvre-Tuileries. For Brunch we stopped at two cafes. Ate a chicken and cheese panini at Invalides and a sugar crepe at La Source. We later went to the Eiffel Tower to do our tour at 12:30pm. The weather was beautiful. Sunny and no rain all day!
Bouquet of Tulips
Bouquet of Tulips is a metal sculpture by American artist Jeff Koons, which is located outside the Petit Palais in Paris, France. It is one of Koon’s largest sculptures and his first commemorative work. The sculpture was announced in 2016 and unveiled in October 2019.
You do not see a lot of people over here taking pictures. But I am a fan of art, and it was an absolute must see for me.
Louvre-Tuileries
The Tuileries Garden is a public garden located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. Created by Catherine de’Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was eventually opened to the public in 1667 and became a public park after the French Revolution.
Sacre-Coeur
Kept hearing everyone say beware of the Africans at the top of the hill because they will con you or pick pocket you. But they were not aggressive at all. They were just trying to sell their bracelets…make a profit. One guy said to me bonjour and I said bonjour. He showed me his bracelet, I said no. He gently placed his hand on my arm and I said no no and kept walking. They will touch or grab your arm or wrist but not in a disrespectful way. The area reminds me of Naples. Not very clean….shops everywhere selling cheap products. But no danger there…always felt safe tho. This is a huge tourist spot. You can climb over 270 steps to get to the top of the church, but we chose not to. We had already done too many steps at that point. To get there, we took the metro which was about 9 stops from where our hotel was located. Metro was very easy to use. They do announce on there watch out for pick pocketers….but again no issues.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often simply Sacré-Cœur (French: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, pronounced [sakʁe kœʁ]), is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica in Paris, France, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Dinner at Bistrot Richelieu
Rented a scooter to ride to dinner.
The Louvre Museum at Night
After dinner, walked back through the Louvre area where the glass pyramids are located to take pictures.
Day 5 – Anniversary Photoshoot
The rain started around 2am that morning. At 6:30pm, was talking with the photographer via email to discuss what time we wanted to start our photo session. Originally, we had planned for 7:15am, but then moved it back to 10:30am due to the weather. It was not raining hard but enough to ruin my hair in between the photo session. After getting dressed, B and I caught an uber to the Ponte Bir Hakeim bridge where we met Flora for our pictures. She did a wonderful job and was so patient with us. We took a few shots there and walked over to another area to take a few more shots. Check out the pictures below. And yes, he proposed to me again. We will celebrate our 20th Anniversary in 2023 at one of the next top places I want to see with the love of my life.
Lunch at Le Cafe Marly
Reservations are required. Located in the Louvre Museum. Food was delicious.
Musee d’Orsay
After our photo session, we’ve continued to the Musee d’Orsay. That is the museum to go to if you want to see some of the most famous modern paintings. And it is home to one of the best Impressionists’ collections in Paris. The museum was built as a train station at the end of the 19th Century and later on converted to the museum it is today. It has that fantastic combination of industrial architecture and a modern art collection.
Dessert
Every dessert I had in Paris was delicious!!! The croissant framboise (raspberry croissant) was to die for!!!
Dinner at Pere & Fish
Day 6 – Goodbye to Paris
Took Mercedes Van back to the airport. We checked out of the hotel around 6:00am. Our flight was at 10:20am. Many complaints from Americans about the CDG airport, but I will take their minor instruction issues over Atlanta airport any day!
Everything in Paris was Amazing! Even their pastries, not overly sweet! My favorite place we ate at was the Pere & Fish for me. OMG, the food was amazing!! In Paris, you really can’t overeat, because everything is perfectly sized. I loved listening to everyone’s French there and they are some of the nicest people I ever met. Some of my other favorite sounds of Paris were the cars honking, lots of police and ambulance sirens. They do not sound like the ones in America. I loved all the arches, doorways, the worn-down steps. I noticed that everything in Paris is in a circle (even the staircases) and they have a ton of roundabouts in the city. The roundabouts are hilarious too, because there are no lanes, and it becomes pure chaos. I wouldn’t dare to drive there, but it is hilarious to watch how they drive. Oh, and they love their dogs there. They are very well behaved, well trained. I am so blessed to have a Hubby who took me to the one place I wanted to see more than anything. The experience with him has topped every trip experience we had together. I could see myself living there but for now, I will just dream about it.
Unapologetically Mani 