Paris is Always a Good Idea by Natalia of Ma Nouvelle Mode
Paris is Always a Good Idea
~::by Natalia of Ma Nouvelle Mode::~
Paris. Oh lovely, beautiful, magical Paris. Like the movie Sabrina says, “Paris is always a good idea.”
And it is. It really is.
Now I know it’s expensive or intimidating to travel half-way around the world to a place like France. So I thought I’d take you on a mini tour today to this beautiful city of light.
Eiffel Tower
First stop, the ever popular and a definite must see: The Eiffel Tower. We are going to hop on the subway and head on over to subway stop Bir-Hakeim. Little walk past a few street vendors and you are at probably the most popular attraction in Paris! And there is a reason. It is beautiful. And the view from the top is incredible. If you only have one chance to visit this wonderful city, pay to go to the top. It is worth it! Since you are touring with me, enjoy the view!
Champs Elysées
Let’s take a little walk, shall we? I have only done this once, but I was so glad I did. You can easily take the subway, but if the weather is right and you have the time, walking is amazing. You will quite possibly (maybe with a little help) end up on George V, one of the richest areas of Paris. While walking down George V, take time to marvel at the beautiful houses and apartments that probably cost more than I am worth. (I know, I know mom, I am priceless.) This will bring us to the Arc de Triomphe. It is at the end of Champs Elysées and is in the middle of the biggest roundabout in Paris. Maybe in France. It’s huge. And if you are driving in Paris, which I wouldn’t suggest, do not get stuck in the middle. Just a little word of advice!
From the Arc de Triomphe we are going to turn around and walk down the Champs Elysées. The Champs Elysées is the richest district in Paris. Home to chains like Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Even the McDonald’s on the Champs Elysées is high end. This picture gives you a view looking each direction.
Here’s a recent picture I took of the Champs Elysées in the rain on my most recent trip there. Beautiful isn’t it? Another Parisian movie reference “Paris is always so beautiful in the rain.” {Midnight in Paris – a must see in my opinion!}
The Louvre (La Joconde)
A little more walking down this grand rue and we will come to The Louvre. Obviously, the Mona Lisa is housed here (La Joconde in French), but you should see it for many other reasons. Actually, when I saw the Mona Lisa I thought, “it just looks like every other picture you have ever seen of the Mona Lisa.” The museum itself is amazing. Beautiful outside and in and if you are a museum buff, you could literally spend your whole vacation here…and, of course, there is the lure of the DaVinci Code!
Notre Dame Cathedral
Just down the street from The Louvre, walking distance again, across Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, on a little island in the Seine, is the Notre Dame Cathedral. Always surrounded by tons of tourists, watch your wallets! Inside the Cathedral it has a small replica of how the cathedral was built. It is incredible to see what they did with what they had.
Shakespeare and Company
Now we are going to cross another bridge over to the Left Bank to one of my favorite places in the city, Shakespeare and Company. I have a little story here.
When my mom was traveling through Europe just after high school, she stopped at this little English book store in Paris. The gentlemen who owned the store allowed her and her friend to stay overnight if they would write in his travelers log.
Well, 25 years or so later, I was traveling through Paris with a friend. My mom had told me to find this store, but didn’t tell me the story. I called her that night to tell her I had found it and to tell her that there was this little bed in the midst of all these books, floor to ceiling! She then told me, she slept there! That very bed! How bizarre that so many years later I would be seeing it. I, however, did not sleep there. Awesome little book store, definitely a must see. Oh, and it is in the movie Julie and Julia!
On my most recent trip to Paris, I discovered another book store, similar to Shakespeare and Company and I will most certainly return on my next visit! Literally ceiling to floor books!
Versailles
Well, I am going to let you take a breather because we have been walking a lot! After we have taken a little rest, I suggest a night’s rest, we can start on a different section of Paris, Versailles. Actually, Versailles is about a 30 minute train ride outside of Paris, but if you have at least two days, go. It is where French royalty lived and where Marie Antoinette had her house and garden. If you are a history buff like me, it is such a treat to see. And before you go, watch the movie, Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst. Not really a great movie at all, but it was filmed on location at Versailles and it makes it so neat that you will be able to see the places that were in the movie.
Subways
Where to Stay
*pin photo credit: Anirudh Koul via photopin cc
ABOUT NATALIA: Natalia is a wife & a mom of two crazy boys. As an intercultural family they’re always on the move. She loves the challenge of staying girly in a house full of men.
Natalia is the founder and co-author of Ma Nouvelle Mode. She writes with Christie about encouraging woman in any stage of life or financial situation to look & feel beautiful while managing their world. Whether you’ve hit a rut, need a few ideas, or never have felt pretty, our easy tips & tutorials can help you find your own personal fabulousness.
You can find us connecting with readers on Facebook, Twitter, & a little peak into our personal lives on Instagram!
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This post was written by Natalia of Ma Nouvelle Mode exclusively for Bonbon Break Media, LLC
