We decided to spend almost three weeks here because we thought we would be very tired by the time we actually made it to Paris. I did quite a bit of research to find a flat to rent; which arrondissement was the best and which monument did we want to be closest to. I would just like to say, I chose very well :) Our flat is on a main road near the metro and plenty of shops. It is a cute studio with a great bathroom and an odd piece of art on the wall above our bed. It was exactly like what I saw online, which is very relieving because you really can never be sure what you are getting into. There is a market outside our window twice a week which I go to every time; in fact this morning we got some quiche to eat for brunch. Everything I need is in walking distance, including the Eiffel Tower. While we can't see the actual tower from our windows, we can see the spotlights that twirl around the sky every night. I find it almost more satisfying to walk around the corner and spot the amazing landmark. In Seattle we have the Space Needle which is nice and big, but I am not sure anything can quite compare to the Eiffel. It is lit up at night and sparkles at 8:00 every evening and in almost any part of the city, you can look over and see the tower. I'll wager that Luke will have taken about 1,000 pictures of just the Eiffel by the time we leave here. As Paris is fairly well known for the tower, I am glad that it didn't disappoint.
Since coming to Paris our travel pace has slowed down quite a bit. We went from filling every day with massive amounts of activities in an attempt to maximize our time. But here in Paris, having our own space and being able to make our own meals, has made us feel more relaxed. Some days we do almost nothing which really makes us feel like we are on vacation. Though obviously this whole trip is a vacation, being able to be stationary has made it more so. Our first week here we tried to familiarize ourselves with the city and orient to the different neighborhoods. We found it wasn't very confusing and that the Metro is our friend, connecting us within minutes to almost every sight we hoped to see. Our neighborhood is technically in the 15th district but is also very close to the Montparnasse neighborhood and the Latin Quarter. Both have cute shops, cafes and feel very urban. We went to church in this area to Hillsong Paris, a sister church of the ministry in Australia. The worship was in French and the sermon was in English. It was a great service and it was fun to experience worship music in French.
We of course went to the famous Musee du Louvre in the 1st district. Now we spent 6 hours there and I think there was still more to see. In Italy we went to a plethora of museums and so we didn't really feel the need to make the Louvre experience more than a day, though it would probably be better as a two-day sight. There were quite a few interesting paintings and I had to literally fight my way to the front of the crowd to see the Mona Lisa, though Luke felt ok with seeing her smile from a distance. I also ran into a doctor from Bethel, AK while we were in the museum which is pretty crazy. The area that the Louvre is located is very pretty as is the museum itself. Nearby, there is a huge garden and quite a few other museums worth seeing, including the Orangerie which has Picasso's and Monet's. It also is right next to the Seine River which is lined with stands filled with books. Further down the Seine on the Ile de la Cite, is the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chappelle, a not as well-known gothic church. The Marais neighborhood is also within walking distance and is filled with trendy shops and also houses a large Jewish scene. There were quite a few vintage shops I went to in this neighborhood, though to be honest, the stores felt like the Goodwill and I didn't find any treasures. This neighborhood is also suppossed to have the best falafel which I am hoping to try before we leave.
The Arc de Triomphe had a great view of the city and is also where Paris' grand boulevard, Champs-Elysees begins. This street is very long, filled with shops and hundreds of people! It was a bit overwhelming though, especially since we were there mid-day on a weekend which probably wasn't the best time to go. We also were able to go to royal palace at Versailles. This was one of my favorite experiences and really added to our interest in French history. The grounds are astounding, the inside of the palace is full of original pieces and Marie-Antoinette's personal village is beautiful! We walked around the palace and grounds for about seven hours. It was completely worth my aching feet!
I don't feel that I can adequately describe how beautiful Paris is or how much fun we are having. There is always something to see here or do and the city landscape is riddled with historical landmarks. I love walking around and seeing history and knowing that I have stood where historical figures have been. Drinking coffee is more fun here and there is a cafe on every corner. We love people watching and find the scam artist crowd the most amusing to observe. People are constantly out and about and the city doesn't really seem to sleep, something we can attest to since we get to hear it at night.
We are sad that we have to leave in five days and are hoping to squeeze in a few more sights including the Orsay Museum and Luxembourg Gardens. Our favorite pictures will follow in the next couple of days. We are so excited that so many people seem to like reading our blog. It is fun to share our experiences and makes us feel closer to home, friends and our families.
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