I’ve spent the past 12 years dreaming of my return to Paris. Imagining long strolls through the winding cobblestone streets, sitting at cafés while sipping an espresso or simply people watching as they walk along the Seine. And even after all of these years, each and every one of my romanticized notions of Paris were true. I was 100% that tourist walking around with a giddy grin from ear to ear.
Our trip started with a redeye Aer Lingus flight from JFK. Personally, I love redeye flights when traveling a long distance. In preparation for a redeye flight, be sure to drink lots of water and pack the following items in your carry-on {you will thank me later}: silk eye mask, ear plugs, neck pillow, toothbrush/toothpaste, blanket scarf, towelette or face spray, fresh socks and moisturizer. I had never flown Aer Lingus before and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the airline. They even played Christmas music before takeoff!
We arrived in Paris around 9 AM, checked into our HomeAway apartment in the Marais {built in 1670!} and quickly hit the ground running. I was like a little kid in a candy shop. And I may or may not have teared up when I saw the Eiffel Tower again. It was surreal to be standing hand-in-hand with my husband and walking around my favorite city in the world.
My only goal for our first day was to make it to the Arc de Triomphe, so once we left our apartment we grabbed two crepes to go and began our adventure. We walked down the Rue de Rivoli and took some time to walk around the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries and the Place de la Concorde. If you follow my insta-story, you probably know I have a thing with pretty architecture- so simply meandering around these places made my heart skip a beat. I highly recommend this exact walk. It was gorgeous!
We then continued on to the Champs Elysées toward the Arc de Triomphe and shopped the Christmas market. The smell of cheese, vin chaud {hot wine} & fresh bread lined the street. Every sense was overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. It was perfect. We then climbed the steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and soaked in the views.
We spent the remainder of the day getting lost in the streets and exploring the city. We later found a delicious little restaurant where we spent hours enjoying the food, wine, ambiance and general beauty of Paris. It was the perfect first day.
What is on your “must do” list when in Paris?
top Nordstrom {on sale for $23!!} :: leggings Loft :: jacket custom from Vietnam, similar here
shoes Dune London {I wear these boots almost every day- they are so comfortable}
