A Day in Paris

While I love experiencing seasons {for the first time thanks to the SoCal 70}, all I want to do {and usually do} these days is curl up in bed with a steaming cappuccino! I've re-emerged though to share the second half of my incredible Fall Break ...

After a night back in Florence in our {eerily quiet} apartment, Kait and I jetted off again...this time to Paris! Being the cynical tourist I am, I expected to find a packed and dirty city with an over-hyped tower, unwelcoming locals, and overpriced meals. 

Of course, Paris instead charmed me. I found a city full of trendy people, incredible public transport, and delectable food! Kait intentionally booked only two nights here to avoid what we expected {and what she had experienced four years before} but after the visit, both of us would return!

We arrived in the evening and Kait's high school best friend, Katie, met us at the metro. We got there just in time for a mediocre late night crepe and grocery run before settling in at the Perfect Hostel and preparing for our marathon tour of Paris. After an early, complimentary Parisian breakfast {coffee, pastries, & jam}, our trio set out to conquer the city in a day. 

We walked up the steps of Sacre-Coeur...

 ...took a quick Metro ride and hopped off at Hotel DeVille, taking photos at a nondescript bridge to recreate Kait & Katie's shot from four years before! I created a memory or two...

Then onto Notre Dame {no gargoyles in sight}...

...and into Sainte Chapelle, which stole my breath away {great tip from my Art Professor}! 

A quick lunch & Starbucks run for Kait before walking through the Louvre {mall & courtyard, no time or interest to stand in the entrance line}...

...and wandering through the stores along the way to Arc de Triomphe

We saved the best for last! Nothing like a Nutella  & Bananas Crepe...

& making it all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower...

...making it down just in time for the first sparkle of the night! 

In line for the tower we met another "K", an incredibly sweet South African girl enjoying her gap year working in England! "K" was touring Paris all by herself {bravo for bravery} so she joined us for dinner! We wandered from the tower and finally into Le Petit Cler for the most incredible {and affordable} flank steaks!

 A mouth-watering and a Parisian must!

What a day, what a day! 

Thanks Kait for as always being the best navigator and Katie for always knowing which metro direction to take! Can't wait for the trio to take Budapest by storm...