The first full day was spent seeing the characteristic landmarks of Paris, and I marveled in how different they looked than the last time I had visited them with my mom. It made me so happy to know that these were things I would see for the next year, my appreciation for them growing with time, as the subtle nuances of each charm of the city would accumulate into a deep love. We walked past the Pont de l'Archevêché bridge, known for the Love Locks that adorned it, tragically being cut off to stop the bridge from sinking further into the Seine.
Beyond this, we walked around the outside of the Louvre (I am looking forward to devoting days to the inside of this when I live here), and treated ourselves to my favorite - a nutella and banana crêpe - at the foot of a ferris wheel beyond the Louvre. From here, we walked down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triumphe.
Beyond this, we walked around the outside of the Louvre (I am looking forward to devoting days to the inside of this when I live here), and treated ourselves to my favorite - a nutella and banana crêpe - at the foot of a ferris wheel beyond the Louvre. From here, we walked down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triumphe.
Most of the Champs-Élysées was under construction, as crews built stadiums in secrecy (no photos allowed) to prepare the famous street for the Tour de France. Luckily, most of our trip through London and Paris was the day before the Tour de France came to town, so we were able to avoid most of the traffic and roadblocks. From here, we marveled at the Eiffel Tower, took tons of pictures, and went home to put up our feet before dinner.
Our dinner was conveniently right below our apartment - we were so happy after a long day of walking to find that the best reviewed restaurant for us in Le Marais was so close. Loving Parisian food, we took the advice of some friendly Norwegians next to us and ordered the duck - delicious! Two of the girls were trying duck for the first time and everyone had to write home to their families that night telling them of their culinary adventures and how amazing everything was here. Blissfully full, we went to bed, eager to go to Versailles the next day.