30 Hours in Paris

This weekend, three friends and I visited Paris. We arrived by Eurostar at Gare du Nord at 10:30 AM on Saturday, and left at 4:15 PM on Sunday. In those 30 hours, we did as much as four excited American kids could probably accomplish in Paris.

First, we dropped off our bags at our hotel.



Then we walked to the Seine, with a little stop at the outside of the Louvre. We didn't go inside at this point because lines for tickets are pretty out of control by noon, the time we arrived there.



After looking around the outside of the Lourve, we had lunch at a bistro along the Seine and walked along the River.



We made our way across the River towards the Notre Dame and the Sainte Chapelle.

The Notre Dame





Sainte Chapelle





After looking at these two churches, we headed back to the Monmartre district to our hotel. Monmartre is home to many, many sex shops, burlesque shows (like the Moulin Rouge), and night clubs. However, it's also home to an incredible church on the Monmartre hill, the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. After an extra, super delicious dinner, we took some wine and baguettes to the steps of the Basilique. The steps provide one of the most incredible view of Paris.





After hanging out on the steps of the Basilique for a half an hour, we took the Paris subway, called the Metro, to the Eiffel Tower. We walked to the middle of the Tower (around 700 steps) and then took the elevator to the top. Going to the Tower at night instead of during the day was an excellent choice. The pictures speak for themselves as to why.







The Tower lights up after dark, but it does this incredible sparkly EXTRA light show for about ten minutes at the beginning of every hour.





The next morning, we set off for breakfast at around 8:30 AM. We ate crepes with Nutella and bananas for 4 euro, which was ones of the most glorious situations of my life. We also walked past one of Monmartre's night clubs, and its patrons were still partying inside from the night before.



Then we headed off the Louvre. We got in for free as students in the European Union. It's possible we were supposed to be actual citizens of the EU, but the ticket guy didn't really seem to care.

Winged Victory



Oh hey, Mona



The ceilings of the Louvre are pretty neat. Thanks, King Louis XIV, for abandoning your massive castle and letting it become a museum!



Venus de Milo



After looking around the Louvre a little more, we headed up the Champs-Elysees towards the Arc du Triomphe. There are some beautiful gardens in between the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees.









Overall, Paris was beautiful and I would love to go back soon and spend a longer time there. I saw all the major tourist sites, but I've learned in London that the best way to get to know a city is to just pick an area and meander around there until all curiosities are satisfied. Almost everyone I encountered spoke English, and most were friendlier than the stereotypes would have you believe. They also have really, really good food. Plus, going with three boys meant absolutely no clothes shopping in one of the shopping capitals of the world. This must be remedied soon.

Still, there are things I didn't like about the city. The Paris metro would've felt unsafe had I not been with the guys, and the city as a whole is quite dirty. And ultimately, I like London, and the Northwest United States for that matter, much better. The spirit of both of these places is a bit more earnest, a bit less concerned with looking good and a bit more concerned with getting things done. I'm glad to be back in my neighborhood in the LDN, and I'm excited for my final year at Whitman.

This doesn't happen in London