Four Days in Paris: Part II
It would take years to truly explore Paris. There are so many incredible things to experience, to taste, to fall in love with. I think I was french in another life. I felt so at home in Paris. It was my second time there. The first time I was only 13. I fell in love with it then. The culture, the food, the sights – AND I have dreaming of returning ever since. This visit did not disappoint. This was my first time discovering the city after dark. There is a reason they call it La Ville Lumiere ( the City of Lights). Just when you didn’t think Paris couldn’t be any more magical – nighttime proves you wrong.
In Front of the Eiffel Tower at Night.
Day 3
Exhausted from all the walking and adventures on Day 1 and 2 in Paris, we got a late start on Day 3. We enjoyed the morning in our apartment and headed out for a late breakfast before another day of exploring. After breakfast, we took an Uber to the Arc de Triomphe.
We initially intended to go just for a photo-op but we ended up going to the top. I highly recommend doing this!
Stairs you have to climb to get to the top of the Arc de Triomphe
The views of the Eiffel Tower at the top were my favorite! You could also see Notre-Dame, Sacre-Coeur, the Champs Elysees, and much more.
Sacre-Coeur from Arc de Triomphe
We were even able to FaceTime with Lukas and my mom at the top. I was so excited to show Lukas the city – however he was more interested in the banana he was eating at the time – haha.
After the Arc de Triomphe, we walked down the Champs Elysees which is one of the most recognizable avenues in Paris with luxury shops and famous cafes. It was nice to walk this area, but do not stop and eat or shop here. You will pay high dollar for everything and the food is not nearly as good. As we were walking along the Camps Elysees, we took a side road in hopes of finding a less touristy restaurant. We ended up getting lost – which wasn’t a bad thing. We ended up walking by the residence of the French president and the Foreign Embassies in Paris. This was an impressive area. We eventually ended up getting an Uber to take us to Saint-Germain-des-Pres, a neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement that I wanted to explore.
A street in Paris
The 6th arrondissement is definitely worth exploring. It is home to Jardin du Luxembourg which is beautiful! It’s known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, and picturesque fountains.
Jardin de Luxembourg
This is a lesser-known but equally beautiful stop in Paris. After walking around the gardens, we found a nearby café to enjoy a glass a wine. We sat for a while, drinking our wine, and enjoying the street views. I loved just sitting at cafes in Paris. It made me a happy girl.
Jardin de Luxembourg
Enjoying wine in a cafe
After our beverage we headed back to the apartment to once again enjoy another glass of wine, cheese, and baguette before heading out to dinner. This dinner was light as we were still full from the bread and cheese. We split an amazingly good salad at a great restaurant near our apartment. I love the salads in Paris! They’re so simple, yet so flavorful. I think it’s the olive oil – or the wine – haha.
After dinner, we headed out to see Paris at night. We took an Uber to the Louvre which is definitely something to see at night. Most evenings the Louvre closes at 6 pm, however, you can still walk around and marvel at the buildings.
Sitting in front of the Louvre
After taking some pictures, we started walking along Le Seine toward the Eiffel Tower. We stopped at a park along the Le Seine to marvel at the Eiffel Tower which is so magnificent at night. You must see it sparkle in the moonlight.
The Eiffel Tower peaking out as we walked along the Seine
It’s magical! We brought a bottle of wine with us and simply enjoyed the sparkling lights of the Tower. The Tower lights up every hour, on the hour at night. You MUST see it at night in your lifetime.
The Eiffel Tower at Night
In front of the Eiffel Tower at night
Slightly tipsy, we headed back via Uber to our apartment. Only one more day left in this amazing city.
Day 4
On the final full day in Paris I was slightly sad. We had done so much already but there was so much more I wanted to do. However, we didn’t do much on the final day. We kept it simple and enjoyed things we loved most so far on the trip. We started the day with breakfast at our favorite café near our apartment.
Egg and Ham Crepe
Espresso at a cafe in Paris
Then we walked back through Marais and to the open market in the 12th arrondissement. We sat at a café near the market and had a double espresso. We returned to a specialty food shop that I loved! We stocked up on goodies like truffle salt, olive oil, foie gras, and more to take home for our parents. We took the long walk home and stopped in shops along the way.
Marche d’Aligre, an open market in Paris
When we returned to the apartment we had one final evening of enjoying wine and cheese wile looking out onto the streets below before heading out for dinner.
Walking to dinner on our last evening in Paris
We tried one more restaurant in our neighborhood and it was by far the best restaurant experience! The wine list was great and I had the most amazing menu. I’m so happy we found this restaurant.
Vino & Cucina, a restaurant in Paris’s 2nd Arrondissement
Vino & Cucina, a restaurant in Paris’s 2nd Arrondissement
A mini pizza at Vino & Cucina
It was the perfect ending to our amazing Four Days in Paris. The next morning we enjoyed one more breakfast in Paris before boarding the train for London. I can’t wait to share our London itinerary with you. Stay tuned!
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