Wow! I can't believe that this will be my last post written in Paris! These past 5 months have been more amazing than I could even imagine! But now is not the time to reflect on Paris, I'm still here!!!!!
After arriving back from a wonderful weekend in the South of France I had a lot of things in Paris to mark off my "to-do" list! Trying to make the most of our days, Harry and I did a lot of picnicing combined with sight seeing.
#1 Chateau Fountainebleau
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| Entrance to Fountainebleau |
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Perfect Picnic
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Visiting Fountainebleau was the first destination of the week. After a long train ride we made it to the chateau. Unfortunate the inside was closed for the day, but we made the best of it and looked for a picnic spot. Lucky us we found the best spot in all of France! The spot was on a little peninsula with a small creek, weeping willow tree, and lots of wild flowers! 2 hours of picnic later we explored the beautiful grounds and it's many fountains.
#2 Bois de Boulogne
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| Hereon |
This park has intrigued me before I came to Paris so I had to check it out before I went home! It's by far the largest park in Paris, but is also known for being used by ladies of the night. Unfortunately due to poor signing and the mass of the park, Harry and I walked through the "bad" part of the park. Coming out unscratched we found the lake we were looking for! Hungry we settled for a less amazing picnic spot, but recovered by going on a lovely boat ride. The highlight being rowing right next to a hereon, after coming out of a weeping willow tree! So cool!!!!! Soaking up as much of the outdoors as possible we headed back to Paris to check out the past. This was my third time going to the Louvre and this time I got to see Napoleon III Louvre apartments. It still amazes me how well everything is preserved and the wealth that these kings had!!!!
#3 No Picnics, but amazing food
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| Backside |
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| Night at Notre Dame |
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| Loved this sculpture |
Although there were no picnics this day I still had a lot of fun. Harry had a family friend, Paul, visiting for the day so we showed him around the best parts of Paris. Asides seeing Sacre Coeur, Salvador Dali museum, and Notre Dame at night, the best part of the day was dining at Mon Vieil Ami. Brodie works here and serves up some excellent french dishes! I had chilled peas and coriander to start, cod and Paris mushrooms for the main, and the most amazing chocolate tart and chocolate sorbet for dessert! I could eat more like King Napoleon more often! (Sorry felt too touristy to snap any photos)
#4 Stomping Grounds
Living near Jardin des Plantes all semester but never having seen it in full bloom was driving me crazy! So Harry and I had our 3rd official picnic here. After being escorted off of our garden picnic spot to the "picnic" area we made the best of it and enjoyed the green house view. The park was full of kids, picnicers and lots of different flowers! Then we headed to the first place I stepped foot into in Paris, bar Red Balloon. During my first hour lost in Paris I found myself here asking for directions, so I saw it fit to stop by for a goodbye Paris drink. After we headed to the looming single sky scraper in Paris, Tour Montparnsse. 56 floors later we had the most amazing view right during sun set. To end my day with things that I felt I must do, we checked out Cafe Indiana. These are found all over Paris, but I had to stop in to see if they had anything to do with Indiana, nope not really!!!
#5 Best Views in Paris
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| Our lookout |
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| Before our climb |
Yesterday I found myself in three different amazing places in Paris. The first was back to a spot that Harry and I had discovered before at Parc Butte des Chaumont. It's a little ledge at the top on a hill that looks out onto the back of Sacre Coeur . After a picnic of peanut-butter and banana sandwiches we enjoyed the view. Then we were off to Cafe du Commerce, built in 1921, in a 3 level rectangular shape with an open roof. This restaurant felt so French! To conclude yet another perfect day in Paris, Harry and I checked in out mega tourist tickets and went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Becoming notorious for being late, we had to race up the stairs to the second level to try and get tickets to the top! Lucky us we have long legs and made it!!!! The view was amazing. My favorite was the Seine which was lined by lights on boats, bridges, and the streets. Such a great way to end my 3rd to last day in Paris!
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| Midnight!!! |
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| River Seine from the Eiffel Tower |
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| Hi Mom! |
Tonight will mark picnic number six, as my friends Jordi and Sally are back in Paris today!!!!!! I'm excited to have one last picnic at the Eiffel Tower and soak up my last 2 days in Paris! See you in Indiana!!!!!
This park has intrigued me before I came to Paris so I had to check it out before I went home! It's by far the largest park in Paris, but is also known for being used by ladies of the night. Unfortunately due to poor signing and the mass of the park, Harry and I walked through the "bad" part of the park. Coming out unscratched we found the lake we were looking for! Hungry we settled for a less amazing picnic spot, but recovered by going on a lovely boat ride. The highlight being rowing right next to a hereon, after coming out of a weeping willow tree! So cool!!!!! Soaking up as much of the outdoors as possible we headed back to Paris to check out the past. This was my third time going to the Louvre and this time I got to see Napoleon III Louvre apartments. It still amazes me how well everything is preserved and the wealth that these kings had!!!!
Living near Jardin des Plantes all semester but never having seen it in full bloom was driving me crazy! So Harry and I had our 3rd official picnic here. After being escorted off of our garden picnic spot to the "picnic" area we made the best of it and enjoyed the green house view. The park was full of kids, picnicers and lots of different flowers! Then we headed to the first place I stepped foot into in Paris, bar Red Balloon. During my first hour lost in Paris I found myself here asking for directions, so I saw it fit to stop by for a goodbye Paris drink. After we headed to the looming single sky scraper in Paris, Tour Montparnsse. 56 floors later we had the most amazing view right during sun set. To end my day with things that I felt I must do, we checked out Cafe Indiana. These are found all over Paris, but I had to stop in to see if they had anything to do with Indiana, nope not really!!!
