Thursday, March 11, 2010

Travel Thursday - Paris, Bien Sure!

I absolutely LOVE traveling – everything about it. I love dreaming about where I want to go, planning every detail, packing, meeting new people, staying in new places, seeing new things, being exposed to different ways of doing things, missing home, & appreciating everything I have even more when I get back! I have been fortunate to travel all around the east coast & California, but my favorite place to go is Europe. And I had to start with Paris, of course!

I’ve always been obsessed with everything French - so go figure that I'm in love with a Frenchman! I began learning the language in 8th grade, and after my freshman year of high school I got to go to Paris for the first time! Since then, I’ve been 3 more times, & I just can’t get enough! My mom & I went together for a girly adventure, I went for a wedding, & then I went back to study comparative law & criminal law in the civil system.

During my most recent visit (to study), I stayed for an entire month! I wanted to share some pictures in case you have never been or in case you want to remember when you were there!!

Here is where we stayed: Cite Universitaire




It was so neat, although the dorms were TRES petites (really small)!! We met some really nice people, & even bought some pots & pans from our neighbor who was from Greece :) 

Some of my favorite places in Paris:

Le Sacre Coeur (The Sacred Heart)





This is a church up on a hill in Northern Paris, & the view is absolutely beautiful! Also, the best hot chocolate I've EVER had was from a little cafe right behind this church - magnifique!

Le Moulin Rouge is a fantastic show!!



The costumes really are wonderful, the overall show production value is awesome, & even though the dancers are topless it is very classy. My favorite quotes about the show though are from two of my favorite boys:

Mom: "Their head dresses were really neat!"
Dad: "They had heads??"

and my boyfriend, Sebastien: "The costumes were my favorite part!" Always trying to be sweet :)

Le Catacombs



This is a cemetery of sorts that is located underground in Paris. The first few times I went to Paris I was scared to go down there, but it turns out it's really interesting, & they even try to dress it up a little bit; see here the skulls are arranged in a heart!

Shakespeare and Company



Since we were in Europe for 3 months, I wanted to get a big book that would keep me occupied & interested on all the long train rides, so we went to look for an English bookstore. This one was really cool, & I discovered a new (to me) author - Salman Rushdie. Also we heard later that day that Owen Wilson was there but I missed him! (I will have to explain my borderline-unhealthy love of celebrity sitings!)

Les Soldes!!!!!

During the summer, Paris has its annual sale, so of course Sebastien & I took part!
Here is the mall at La Defense & a picture of the craziness inside!


I actually didn't buy as much as I had been hoping, & even though Sebastien claimed that I MADE him come, those are ALL his shirts!

And last but not least, 2 places that everyone must go

Le Louvre (even though the Mona Lisa is a little disappointing in person)


et Haagen Dazs on Le Champs Elysees - yum!




A few pictures of why I was actually there...to learn about their legal system:

The first two are of one of their courthouses, and the third is of a court room. Everything in France is so elegant!

Sorry this was so long, but this was only a part of one of my trips to Paris. There is just too much to share!! Hope you enjoyed :) A Bientot!

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