From Paris With Love

"Paris is always a good idea"-Audrey Hepburn

"If you would've told me that I could go to Paris for free but I had to do everything in two days, walk in the cold, in heels, with very little sleep.. I don't think I would've done it"-Tina the night before we left Paris. We physically are so broken. Christine thinks she broke her toe, I couldn't move my left knee, and if Tina would've had to walk in her shoes for one more step, I think she would've just slept on the ground. Our trip to Paris may have been the craziest thing we've ever been through, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that it was one of the BEST experiences of our lives.

Monday afternoon, we headed to the train station, where we ran frantically looking for the other girls. Not having our phones to contact each other is almost killing us. After we finally got to meet up with everyone, we took our hour long bus to the Milan airport, and boarded our flight to Paris. The flight was beautiful, right around sunset and with all of our excitement to be in France, we could barely even relax. After our touchdown in France, we took another hour long bus ride to the metro to get to our apartment. The trip just to get settled in was definitely complicated and a little rough, but it was so worth it. Our apartment was the perfect size for all 7 of us. (HUGE shout out to Natalie and Meghan for organizing everything for us). We immediately dropped our bags and turned right back around to eat dinner.

We found the perfect little diner with American food and it was absolutely incredible (that's not just because we were starving either). Surprisingly, 100% better than anything we've had so far in Italy (had to order FRENCH fries, duh). It was the perfect start to our Parisian adventures.

*first night

Our first full day in Paris was JAM PACKED.. we did it ALL. It started off with some breakfast and some really foreign Starbucks. Italy is against all Starbucks so having that for the first time in a few weeks was such a treat. Also, the Starbucks in Paris puts every other Starbucks to shame. It was so beautiful, I really didn't think I was in Starbucks, haha. After getting our coffee, we took a two hour walking tour that started at the Paris Opera House and ended with a far away view of the Eiffel Tour. We were numb by the end of it, but it was a great way to see the city. We were also on that tour with some people for Atlanta. I heard them talk and immediately knew they were from the south somewhere, so I had to ask them. It was definitely nice to interact with someone from the USA.

*walking tour

As soon as our walking tour ended, Christine and Tina and I made our way to Disneyland Paris! Tina and I knew that was one thing that we wanted to while we were in Paris and the more we talked about it, the more Christine became interested. And I think it was the best decision she ever made. It was her first ever Disney experience, which made it even more fun for Tina and I. Watching her see everything for the first time ever was so exciting. We had just enough time to walk around and see everything, shop and see the light show when the park was closing. My favorite parts were the inside of the castle which was all Sleeping Beauty, and they had a walk-through story of Aladdin. It had 3-D versions of every scene with the music playing in the background (RIP Robin WIlliams). Literally the happiest place on Earth even in Paris.

*Disneyland Paris

This first day in Paris had already been incredible and it still wasn't over. We were not going to sleep that night without seeing the Eiffel Tower. So as soon as we got back from Disney, we all went back out the door to find the Eiffel Tower. We got off a stop on the metro too early so we had to search to find it, Then, all of a sudden through two buildings, we saw it for the first time, twinkling. All 7 of us immediately started screaming and running toward it. None of us will ever forget that moment. Truly one of the absolute best days of my life.

For our last day in Paris, we went to the Palace of Versailles. Before we went, we had to get Starbucks again, obviously. And, Tina and I tried macaroons for the first time. We had to since we were in France, right? Versailles, Kentucky may have the same name but it is not even a close second. Hey Dad, maybe you should move to the real Versailles ;) The palace was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in person..second to the Eiffel Tower, of course. I wish Memaw and Big John could've been there to see all of the history. I know they could've spent hours in there and still not gotten through all of it. I wish Kiki could've seen the gardens even though all of her greenery is prettier. As beautiful as it was, we all wish we could go back and see it in the Spring when all of the fountains are on. I can't imagine what it would look like then.

*Palace of Versailles

  

After the Palace, we headed back to the Eiffel Tower to see it for the first time during the day. It had been cloudy all day, and just when we got there, some blue sky came through. We took all of our necessary pictures and then had dinner around the corner. Every meal in France seriously knocked it out of the park. The food there was just incredible.

*Eiffel Tower

We had done all we needed to do and were incredibly exhausted. Doing everything in two days, in a place that we weren't familiar with at all was so rough, but I would not have traded one second of it. I love all of these girls and bonding with them over our first trip trip to one of the best and most beautiful cities in the world was something we will never forget. I am truly thankful for God keeping us safe and giving me these girls to take amazing adventures with.

These pictures are just a glimpse of how done we were by the end of it all.

Paris, I will DEFINITELY be back. Until next time, my love.