Postcard #1
Bonjour! This summer, I decided to try and rectify my past memories and visit Paris once again! I hadn't been since I was 13, and in the middle of winter, Paris seemed a bit too gloomy and cold to fully enjoy. But that feeling has definitely changed after this week!
As usual, before I arrived I had set up my 'things to do/see' list, and after checking into my Airbnb, I was off! I was very fortunate that I had found a place that was only a 15 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower, so obviously that was my first stop. It's such an odd but wonderful feeling to look at a landmark you've seen so many times in movies, tourism shops etc, and all of a sudden you're facing it... you can't deny that it is impressive to look at!
After getting my photo fix from the Eiffel Tower, it was time to get on the metro to another iconic landmark, Notre-Dame. Since the fire in 2019, the cathedral had been heavily under re-construction, but thankfully it seems that the work is been completed and Notre-Dame has officially reopened! I didn't manage to get tickets to see inside this time (lesson learned-always book ahead!), but I'm determined to go in on my next visit.
Next up was the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden, where the Olympic Cauldron was still lit from the summer games the year before. It's always hard to really judge the size of things when you're watching it on a TV screen, but it's certainly a grandiose landmark that is worth a visit if you're ever in Paris for the summer. By this point, my feet were telling me to sit down for a minute, so after a small rest in one of the mini gardens, I walked along the seine and headed back to my Airbnb.
One of my main goals for this trip was to catch the Eiffel tower at sunset, or as it starts to sparkle. Thanks to TikTok and my trusty weather app, I headed out at around 9pm, and made my way up to the Jardins du Trocadero, where I could have a perfect view of the sunset... luckily there weren't too many people round yet, so I could get prime positioning for the rest of the night! After about an hour, the sun had set, the lights on the tower began to sparkle, and by the end of my first day, I had already got a new and improved outlook on Paris.
Postcard #2
Day 2! As an artsy/creative person, I had one place that was an un-skippable destination on this trip... Montmartre. Now I'm sure you've noticed by now, but on every solo trip I take, I like to book myself a few experiences to make the adventure more memorable. As I was visiting the artist precinct today, I felt it was appropriate to try out a Watercolour workshop! I arrived a little early so I could explore the square and grab some lunch (Carette might have a long queue, but the quiche and crepes are worth it), before heading to the designated meeting spot. We headed down to a little park next to the Sacre Coeur, where we spent an hour just painting and learning a little about Parisian everyday life from our guide.
Once our class had finished, I had another quick wander around the Sacre Coeur, and of course I had to stop and watch these 2 men performing outside a local bistro, before walking down to my next iconic destination; The Moulin Rouge. However, as wonderful as it capture on film, I felt that this was definitely the most tourist-filled spot I'd visit so far, possibly because there's only one small spot where you can really capture the entirety of it. It was also heading towards dinner time, so after taking as many photos as I could get without being pushed and shoved, I headed over to an Italian restaurant that had been on my 'aesthetic dining' list when researching Paris, 'Pink Mamma.' The restaurant itself is GORGEOUS, and it's absolutely worth a visit for the scenery as well as the food (the truffle pasta was unbelievable!)
Before turning in for the night, I caught the metro back down to Trocadero and walked to a more 'hidden' location of the Eiffel Tower... by 'hidden' I mean there may have been around 20 people there as opposed to the thousands up the road! I caught a few more snaps of the Parisian view before heading back to the Airbnb. I'll tell you what, my step count the past few days has certainly increased, but it's hard to notice when there's so much to take in!
Postcard #3
Just my luck that the one day I'd booked a panoramic view of the city from Montparnasse Tower, it was overcast! Still, it was such an interesting experience to be able to see how Paris has evolved over time, thanks to some VR headsets that helped you get an understanding of what the city was like back in the 1600's! As much as the weather wasn't what I'd hoped it would be, it was still a nice way to start the day.
By the time my slot was up, the weather had started to clear up a little bit, so I decided to take the metro towards the Jardin du Luxembourg as I had never had chance to visit before. In a way, the clouds really helped bring the vibrant flowers stand out, and walking round the various gardens was rather refreshing. Did you know, there is a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty in one of the gardens, to honour the French-American friendship? That was certainly an odd surprise to walk past!
I spent the rest of the day without any real plans, and just seeing where my feet and photos would take me. I happened to come across the famous 'Shakespeare and Company' bookshop on the way to the Seine, so of course I had to go inside and marvel at the labyrinth interior and the vast collection of both historic and modern novels. It's definitely a prominent tourist spot, although there are no photos allowed inside the shop, but whether you're a bookworm or not, it's certainly worth a peek!
As I continued my walk along the Seine, I happened to come across a few communal dance groups; one for salsa dancing, one for hip hop, and another just for anyone who felt like dancing! It was so admirable to see couples walking past just join in on the fun, and was certainly a stand out moment of my trip so far! I had a quick browse to see if there was any other photogenic spots nearby, and something that kept coming up was this Parisian 'Instagrammable street': Rue Cremieux. It wasn't too far from where I had stopped to watch the dancers, so I decided to make it my last stop for the day before the rain started! Now, whether it was because the sky was still overcast so it wasn't too busy, or if the professional editors are just doing a damn good job, but personally I found it a little underwhelming. Sure, the street was well kept and colourful, but perhaps because I had seen similar streets on my previous European travels it didn't stand out to me as a 'must see' location. At this point the rain started to make it's way over Paris, so I got the Metro back to my flat and had a little power nap until the rain stopped.
My last 'experience' I booked was a cruise along the Seine, and of course as a photographer, I picked the sunset time slot! The tour was about an hour and a half, and we had a speaker to point out historical landmarks, both common and uncommon. It was mesmerising watching the reflections change in the water, as the city started to light up in the dark. As luck would have it, on the way back to the dock I managed to see the Eiffel tower sparkle yet again, and it was one of my favourite experiences of the whole trip.
Postcard #4
So, what's the plan for today? Well, photography of course! Got to make sure the Instagram is aesthetically pleasing, right? Coincidentally, I had picked the perfect day to do this, as there was a small pop-up artisan market on the way to my first location. I couldn't resist buying a few macarons for my day ahead, especially when they looked as good as these! I then made my way to the #1 recommended spot by photographers; Pont de Bir Hakeim. This double decker bridge is a fairly modern architectural gem, as it was only built in the 20th Century, and built to provide access to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on both levels. Every angle you captured something aesthetically pleasing, with either the Eiffel Tower on the right, the symmetrical pillars creating the perfect central view, or the seine on your right. It's the perfect spot for portrait photography, and next time I'll have to bring someone along to try it myself!
Next on the list, was Paris' most iconic department store: Galeries Lafayette Haussmann- I'm sure you've either heard of it, or seen photos of it. It is the most beautiful shopping experience you could ever have, with a breath-taking glass dome, elaborate window displays, and high-end fashion. I believe it's IMPOSSIBLE to get a bad photo inside that building. If you're not afraid of heights, there is also a free rooftop terrace with fantastic views of the city, and it was the perfect spot for me to enjoy my macarons from earlier!
From one scenic shopping experience to the next, I caught the bus to the next mall which had been deemed a 'hidden gem of Paris.' Hidden away in the 2nd Arrondissement, Galerie Vivienne is a little arcade shopping mall, built in 1823. The mosaic flooring and 'gaslit' ambiance feels like you're taking a step back in time, as you explore a mixture of high-end boutiques, art studios and cafes. Now, there's obviously no comparison to the Galeries Lafayette, but it was definitely a charming and 'aesthetically pleasing' place to visit...perfect for those looking to get that Parisian look for their Instagram feed.
The last hidden gem that quite frankly, I didn't believe wasn't AI, was in the gardens of Domaine National du Palais-Royale. I had a bit of trouble finding it, which only led me to further believe people were making it up, but eventually I found them; the striped columns in the courtyard. Apparently, this is was an art installation created in the 1980's by Daniel Buren, designed to mask the large ventilation shafts surrounding the palace. It has become a popular spot for tourists and families with children to come and play, and as unusual as they look next to a 17th century palace, they definitely spark curiosity and attention!
By the end of the day, my camera roll was looking rather full, so I decided to head back to my Airbnb and call in an early night of editing and processing photos from my trip so far. Tomorrow is my last day in Paris, and I wanted to have everything organised so I could have one last trip before my train home.
Postcard #5
I can't believe my trip is already coming to an end! I have loved my time in Paris so much, and it has definitely changed my perspective from my Winter visit all those years ago. I didn't schedule my train back till 4pm, so I could spend my last morning going back to the one place I enjoyed the most, wherever that would be. After checking out of my Airbnb, I dropped my luggage off at a locker near the station and headed back to the one place that I felt I couldn't leave without saying a proper goodbye; Montmartre. I made may way up the stairs to the Sacre Coeur, taking in the last blue sky of the holiday, and completely forgot that there was a photography spot I had completely forgotten about! To the right of the Sacre Coeur, there is a building famous for it's illusion of a sinking house- if you tilt your camera the right way!
By the time I got to the top of Montmartre and had explored the square again, I only had a few minutes before I had to head back to the station. I grabbed one last crepe from La Carette, before climbing back down the stairs, grabbing my luggage, and walking to Gare Du Nord to catch my train home. I hadn't done a solo trip in a while, and it was definitely a perfect little summer trip to help me get back in touch with my photography and creative side.
P.S. A fun fact I still stand by to this day: I did not have a single bad meal the whole time I was in Paris!
