During the month of
May, we were lucky enough to spend 10 days in France with Mom Sterdis. Over the
10 days, we got to see so many different areas of the country. What an
experience! We started the trip off in Paris on a Friday. Since we have been to
Paris before, and mom had already spent a few days there prior to our arrival,
we didn’t feel obligated to see all of the notable sights. Instead, we focused
on just enjoying the city. We wandered around the city all day and enjoyed a
lunch outside. Since we were exhausted from all of the walking, we rested a bit
at our hotel before heading out for a late dinner that was very…interesting. It
was very different from the restaurants we usually choose, but the food was
good, especially the mashed potatoes. We finished off the night with yummy
“American-style” cupcakes that Matt had ordered beforehand, in celebration of
our birthdays. It was a nice treat since Germany doesn’t have American birthday
cake.
On Saturday, we
enjoyed croissants from a bakery before walking to the Eiffel Tower. It was
another beautiful day. Next, we explored the St. Germain neighborhood and the
Latin Quarter. Both areas have tons of cool cafes, restaurants, and shops. The
Latin Quarter is probably one of the most touristy places in the city, but it
definitely has a lot of character. We had a quick pizza lunch before touring
the Musée
D’Orsay, which is home to many works of French art dating from 1848 to 1915. In
fact, it is home to the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist pieces in the world! We
admired many masterpieces by Degas, Cézanne, Monet, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, just to
name a few. The museum building itself is also very interesting, as it used to
be a train station. In the evening, we headed to Montmartre, another area in
the city. Montmartre is located on a hill and is home to the famous Sacré Coeur (Sacred Heart)
church, which boasts fantastic views of Paris. The area itself is also very cool,
with quaint alleys and many, many steep stairways.
We enjoyed dinner at a
really cute restaurant on the hill. Matt had a “torte” of sorts, with filling
made of rabbit meat. He was a big fan! I also really enjoyed my pork dish. But
the highlight of the meal was dessert—which was homemade salted caramel ice
cream. So rich, but so delicious! On our walk back to the hotel, we spotted the
Eiffel Tower, lit up for the evening. It was stunning. And then, to our
surprise, it started “twinkling” – so breathtaking! Apparently, strobe lights
make the tower twinkle for five minutes on the hour at night. The photos
couldn’t really capture it, so you’ll have to take our word for it, but wow,
what a sight on our last night in Paris!
On Sunday, we explored
a new-to-us neighborhood: Le Marais. This area, which used to be the center of
the city’s Jewish community, has a very unique and almost Medieval feel. There
were so many beautiful buildings! There also are many unique shops and cafes
that line the narrow, cobblestone streets. Since we were there early on a
Sunday, it was pretty quiet and relaxed, which was a nice retreat from the
usual hustle and bustle of Paris. It is easily one of my favorite parts of the
city. So glad we had the chance to explore it this time around!
Before leaving the
city, we grabbed lunch at Chipotle. I know what you are thinking—how could we
eat at an American chain while in Paris?! But alas, the life of an expat is
complicated and sometimes, you just can’t pass up an opportunity to have a taste
of home. Since Munich doesn’t have a lot of American chains, we often find
ourselves indulging when in other European cities. Plus, we still had 8 more
days of French cuisine ahead of us. Anyway, Paris Chipotle did not disappoint
(seriously, the nicest employees EVER, and, oh my gosh guacamole!), and after
lunch, we picked up the rental car and headed out of the city to our next
destination: the Loire Valley.
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