Paris, France, is known to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and, let me tell you it 100% is! From the beautiful buildings lined with flower boxes and flags, to the boats lined along the bustling Seine with the Eiffel Tower glimmering in the background, to the breathtaking view from the steps of the Sacre Cour, I have never experienced a city quite like Paris and I do not think I ever will. Before this trip, I had never been to Europe, so for me, out of all of the cities, I was the most excited about Paris. I also had a lot of expectations, but I think my time there definitely lived up to them!
Every day I experienced something new, which was one of my main goals for the entirety of the trip. I spoke my first sentence in French, and by the end, I was fully able to order a meal like a Parisian—even though my accent was a dead giveaway that I am entirely not Parisian, at all. I also can say that I had a croissant along the streets of Paris! Not to mention, I also explored the Palace of Versailles and had the most amazing time taking in all of the history and beauty. The fact that I was able to see Marie-Antoinette’s bed and the famous Hall of Mirrors in real life was one of the highlights of my time in Paris. Though, out of all of the days in Paris, my favorite would have to be the first full day. When I walked through the halls of the Palais Garnier and sat in the orchestra seats to look around at the theater, I got goosebumps because I could not believe that I was really in Paris! I loved getting to tour the theater and learn about the history of the building—especially finding out that there are over 30 fish that live in the underground lake below the theater. I may have also seen the Phantom of the Opera, but who knows! That day I also took a river cruise along the Seine, and I was able to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time in person, which was such an unforgettable experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! I passed by Notre Dame—which is still getting rebuilt after the fire—and went underneath the oldest bridge in Paris at 450 years old! After the river cruise, I hiked up to the Sacré-Cœur—a famous church in the Montmartre neighborhood—and looked out at the best view of Paris. I ended the most perfect day by sitting down with everyone and eating an authentic French dinner! Although each day was full of learning and new experiences, I have to say that I was not able to see every single thing in Paris. Therefore, I just have to go back!!
