Obsessed with Paris

Dear Internet,

I have 6 words for you. I NEED TO MOVE TO PARIS. 6 words for 6 days spent in one of the most beautiful and historical cities in the world.

My adorable parents

My cute sister and I

Day One was spent at the Musee de Louvre, which I could write pages upon pages about it was so fantastic but I’ll try to keep it short. If I had it my way, I’d live at the fortress-turned-palace-turned-museum forever, spending whole days just staring at the ceilings. I saw the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, which of course are the main attractions, but what caught my eye the most were the Greek statues. I wish I had the ability to create objects so human-like out of rock. I felt like the statues would start walking around the room if I stared at them long enough.

Louvre

Louvre

My favorite piece ever. Winged Victory

Versailles, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triumph, and Montmarte were also visited with the same reception as the Louvre. Some of these places have been around for centuries and people walk by them like it’s no big deal. Notre Dame is celebrating its 850^th year next year! That’s insane to think that something has been around so long and been through so much. One of my favorites was Montmarte. We arrived at Sans Coeur (the big white cathedral) right as the sun was rising over Paris. My heart melted. This was also where I bought my very first beret! It is sort of a must-do for tourists. 

Sans Coeur

Paris from Montmarte

Gates of Versailles

Versailles

Getting a little silly on a boat cruise

The Eiffel Tower

I was not happy about the lines at the Eiffel Tower

CHRISTMAS MARKET!

Lastly, we went to the Opera National de Paris. This is the most famous opera house in all of Paris, focusing mainly on ballets. Part of the reason I was so taken with the opera house has to do with the fact that this is where the legend of the Phantom of the Opera was born. Considering that is my favorite musical of all time EVER, I was pretty excited by it, especially when they showed us the Phantom’s reserved box in which he “apparently” sat to watch performances. The opera house itself was also very detailed and beautiful. Gold seemed to drip off of the ceilings. It was very reminiscent of Versailles in the sense of grandeur. The best part of the whole tour was a brand new ballet was opening the day we toured, so the whole grand staircase was overflowing with flowers that seemed to be braided into the marble.

Part of the ceiling at the Opera Garnier

I never wanted to leave Paris. I fell in love with it. But sadly, we had to leave my beloved town for my new home in London. While I’m definitely excited to get started on my new life in London, a little part of me will always long for Paris. I’ve even been inspired to take French my next semester at school I’m that devoted to this amazing place. London holds a lot of the unknown, which can be a little scary. But Paris used to be the unknown, so I look at it as something great coming with this New Year. So start your engines London, I’m coming for you! 

Love,

Courtney