un'americana

paris, paris, paris - where can i even begin? the entire city was a dream! i’ve wanted to go to paris since before i can remember, and the city lived up to every expectation i have ever had. paris, je t’aime, toujours!

okay, so i had a very limited amount of time to spend in the city of lights - three days, a little less - and gabrielle and i switched into ultimate tourist mode ASAP. well, not quite as soon as possible… we grabbed some delicious lunch first! ham and cheese on a baguette, with butter = best. lunch. ever. throw in the luxembourg gardens on a particularly sunny day, and you’ve got one amazing afternoon. am i cheesy yet? 

after we took what will never seem like enough time in the gardens, we headed over to notre dame to see the stained glass in the afternoon light - and we literally happened upon the presentation of the crown of thorns. notre dame keeps the crown, believed by many to be at least the original rushes that sat on Christ’s head before and during the Crucifixion, as a relic, and presents it every friday during lent. it was quite possibly the most moving thing i have ever been a part of, and i was simply a spectator. the line to touch, kiss, or even just to see the crown was massive, and all for a few seconds of contact - but everyone seemed to intent, so passionate about what they were waiting for, it was amazing to see. the cathedral was lit up, with a choir singing, and the space came alive. it was the first real religious experience, i think, i’ve had as a ‘tourist’ here in europe, even though i’ve seen so many gorgeous buildings built for worship. it was powerful, and i’ll never forget it.

fast forward to nightfall, where paris really did begin to sparkle - every girl’s dream! - and gab and i headed for the champs du mars with a bottle of delicious wine, after a delectable crepe dinner, bien-sur. the air was cool but comfortable, the night was young and inviting… and then we got hit on by not one group of creepy ass men, but two. because two young women can’t simply enjoy a night together in europe. all we wanted to do was watch the eiffel tower twinkle! 

after we were (nicely?) kicked off the champs du mars, we were able to catch the sparkle after all, and to say it took my breath away was an understatement. it came alive! where else in the world has the eiffel tower? nowhere, only paris. the night positively glimmered. or maybe it was all that wine…?

no, it was definitely just paris. what an amazing night! quel soir!

versailles was amazing. to be blunt. a pair of marie-antoinette fan girls retracing her glamorously well-heeled footsteps? in rooms with padded walls? super chouette.

so french, so chic! it really was an unforgettable day; the sun was shining as we sat and had lunch in the gardens, and we were lucky enough to have time to stop for some ice cream, :). unforgettable is an understatement; do you ever have moments where you sit and think to yourself, remember this, this is important, when it’s close to being all done this is one of the times that’ll make you warm inside, because you were so happy and so alive. maybe? nobody else? well, i do. and that was definitely one of them.

triton’s fountain in the sunshine! can i go back yet?

sunday, my last day in the city of lights, we took to the louvre like a pair of moths to a flame. morbid? oh well. three hours was not enough — guess i’ll just have to come back! gab, you in?

we played ‘how many creepy baby jesus can you find?’ and then we lost count. oh, art!

a beautiful painting of a beautiful lady. i don’t know, do you know her?

venus looking a little… unsteady?

what a beautiful sculpture. canova, another genius! (psst… we saw his tomb!)

after croissants, cheese, and too many tea breaks (that’s not possible), my weekend in paris had come to an end. what heartbreak! paris was electric, brimming with both old and new, the drive of today with the inspiration of yesterday. VIVE LA FRANCE!