Postcards From Paris

These are some of my favorite images/moments from my time in the City of Light – Paris, France. By far, the most amazing part of this visit was being a flâneur. Wandering the city on foot or by bus gave us a beautiful Parisian perspective. We were never lost, but there was something new to discover on every street. Leisurely wine or coffee breaks at sidewalk cafés, exploring beautiful markets and boutiques, and strolling through budding parks at dusk – these strolls truly captured the romance of the city for me.

One of our first days in Paris brought us to the 9th arrondissement where we visited the Paris Opera House and Galeries Lafayette. The French department store is unlike anything; we gawked at the iconic dome, merchandise and then…the rooftop view. As we browsed each floor we came upon GL’s remarkable terrace. With postcard views of Paris, this was one of the most exquisite moments of our visit.

In truth, there is little differentiating Paris attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur or Musée du Louvre, and the rest of the city. The entirety of Paris is this romantic, renaissance style architecture, flooding with charm and unmatched splendor. Having stayed near the Marais neighborhood, we had superior views of Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Construction of the gothic-style cathedral began in the 1100s and took nearly 200 years to complete. Knowing how much this church has seen weighed heavily on me every time I looked at it…almost like divine sorrow, wisdom, and resilience wrapped into one majestic structure. It’s truly breathtaking – especially at sunrise.

There is no mentioning Paris without also mentioning it’s food culture. Every pâtisserie display made breakfast the most difficult decision of the day. We truly enjoyed the impromptu stops most; a casual cheese plate, salad or light snack with a glass of wine and we were off! We didn’t experience haute cuisine, though we certainly felt fine everywhere we dined!

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