Ah Paris. The city of light. The city of love. There’s just something about Paris! I know I always say I’m not a city girl and prefer to spend time in the smaller places but there’s just something about Paris! Audrey Hepburn Once said, “Paris is always a good idea”, and I’d have to agree. I love it here and could imagine living here for six months… with always something new to discover… some secret passageway… a cool art gallery… or a pretty cafe. it’s hard to articulate what it really is that makes it magical… it is beautiful, colourful and delicious… jam packed full of gorgeous sights, beautiful architecture and views that are too good to miss. It feels like you are surrounded by art and people who live by it… it’s such a strong presence in the city. There is an energy here… it’s indescribable… different to anywhere we have been so far this trip… teeming with life (and tourists). It is fast paced, historic yet modern, and incredibly charming with amazing food and wine. And the people have an effortless style… there’s doesn’t appear to be lash extensions or lip filler here! I love the trees that line the streets literally everywhere…

… and the thousands of apartment buildings with their lace balconies.

The city of light certainly has so much more to offer than the beautiful glow of the Eiffel Tower at night (although that is still pretty cool)… and we have six lovely days and nights here (minus a couple of day trips)… to soak in that magical… romantic… bohemian…artistic… historical… wonderful vibe! So many things to see and do. So many possibilities!

And while the Indian summer has continued with hot weather everyday since we arrived, the coming autumn months have already brought the beginning of the autumn colours that bring out the beauty of Paris and make everything look even more scenic and magical. We visited both Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries and so enjoyed taking a leisurely walk while listening to the rustling of the wind in the trees and the dead leaves crackling under our feet.

Particularly loved Luxembourg gardens with its tree-lined promenades, ponds, fountains, a profusion of flowers in every season, an artificial grotto and a 17th-century palace…

Classical statues from Roman and Greek mythology are everywhere… nymphs, cherubs, satyrs, and one weird tangle of human forms showing Silenus, foster father of the god of wine, naked and drunk, being helped onto his donkey…. and of course, a dash of whimsy- a game of pétanque, a vintage carousel, a dozen tiny boats sailing across a duck pond- doesn’t hurt either.

We wandered several times along the Seine at different times of the day, just taking it in…

… admiring the architecture of the bridges…

… and the surrounding buildings …

… and even managed to (accidentally) see the Eiffel Tower at sunrise and aglow at night.

Visited many of the stunning churches although one of my biggest disappointments was arriving at Saint Chapelle at our booked time to find that the same strike that stopped us going to Mont Saint Michel meant it wasn’t opening at all that day. And tickets for the following day were sold out. I was prepared to be mesmerized and overwhelmed by the beauty before me and it was one of the things I had most looked forward to in our days in Paris as I love stained glass… and the dazzling Sainte-Chapelle’s upper level has over 1,000 exquisite stained-glass windows, which tell the story of the Bible. I was so sad… but sometimes, I guess, that’s travel. Things can be unpredictable. Just like life!

With its carved wooden stairs, stunning facade, and surrounding paved streets the Church of St-Etienne-du-Mont is a beauty inside and out. It’s also much quieter than other more famous churches in Paris but just as beautiful.

The gorgeous old Saint Severin in the Latin Quarter

And there’s the always beautiful heart of Paris- Notre Dame cathedral… still in the process of repairs after the fire.

We spent time leisurely wandering the streets of Paris… finding the bustling little markets and random pretty streets… lined with cafes and restaurants and some beautiful old houses…

… whether in the outlying arrondisements or in the historic heart of Paris.

One little block full of charm and whimsy, with the small houses painted in luscious pastel colors… along an original cobblestone street. One of the most colorful spots in Paris, Rue Cremieux is a beautiful cobblestone street nestled in a residential area.

Visited many of the cities squares like the Place Vendome… one of the city’s most famous and beautiful neoclassical squares and perhaps one of the most luxurious in the world currently housing some of the most famous high-end stores, such as, Dior, Chanel or Cartier… not so much my thing. My favourite square was the beautiful and very elegant Place des Vosges… a very fashionable and expensive square to live in during the 17th and 18th centuries (and I imagine still), and one of the main reasons for the chic nature of Le Marais among the Parisian nobility.

Loved the Marais district particularly and would stay there I think if I was ever back in Paris…filled with hip boutiques, galleries, and bars. Once the city’s Jewish quarter, the area still hosts numerous kosher restaurants. Wandered through the most amazing passageways and alleyways… so grand and dazzling with golden walls and a glass ceiling turn this gallery into a photogenic palace.

The covered passages came into existence in the mid-1800s and were so popular by 1850 there were 150 of them! Each covered shopping arcade is unique and some of them are even historical monuments, that have trendy restaurants, fashion, ornate mosaic floors, and art galleries.

Found a beautiful and romantic passageway lined with trees, where each little shop is painted a different colour. Under a blue sky, the place glows, and there are potted plants dotted around everywhere.

And so many cute cafes! Paris is actually artificial flower crazy and there are soooo many shops and cafes decorated in a pretty OTT way…. even McDonalds!

Some just look a bit cheap and tacky and some are really pretty. When in Japan in April I had thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the Haute Couture cafe which had obviously taken its inspiration from Paris.

It’s hard to believe one of Paris’ most serene, picturesque and dignified restaurants is also located within one of its busiest train stations…

… but The Train Bleu restaurant is a Paris icon. It’s visually phenomenal, and beautifully, authentically French. It was built for a World’s Fair in 1900, features murals depicting different regions of France, as well as works from more than 40 prominent artists from that time. Every inch of this place drips with Parisian opulence in the best possible way.

France is obviously famous for its pastries… the croissant is the most famous example but visit any pastry shop in Paris and you’ll find a wealth of delectable confections to swoon over… and while I was at least attempting to be somewhat restrained, the hope is that the thousands of steps we are doing each day go somewhere towards combatting the inevitable weight gain that go with this deliciousness. Almond croissants have really been my go to… but there’s been many more… including Odette’s famous light and airy cream puffs with creams of different flavours like pistachio, lemon or praline … the best in Paris! They are light and airy and filled with flavourful creams of different flavours for you to choose from.

Or Anne’s favourite- the chocolate eclair from the Stohrer pastry shop which has delighted Parisians since 1730.

Citron tarts… macaroons… and while we’re on sweets, it’s not pastry but my favourite dessert is creme brûlée which I have indulged in more times than can be counted on one hand!

We spent a day wandering Montmarte… old-world Paris… a former artists’ village once inhabited by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh and Dalí… where cafes have now taken over the main square with a few artists scattered… mostly rather cheesy caricaturist-artists painting right before your eyes. Certainly a bit of a tourist trap in some ways but with its stunning city views and winding cobble stone streets filled deliciousness and magic crammed with over 200 cafes, restaurants, groceries, chocolatiers, fromageries, bars and boutiques it is still one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

Visited the extremely impressive pristine white domed Sacré-Cœur basilica which is one of the most iconic attractions in Paris and sits atop Montmartre Hill, the highest point in Paris, overlooking the city.

The interior is nothing special. But the panoramic city views from the dome are sublime… so of course I had to climb it… via hundreds of steps like these…

… up and down… as there is no lift. Gotta work off those cream puffs!

One of the best views of the Sacre Coeur is actually by the beautiful Carousel in the Square Louise Michel. It’s one of the best hidden gems in Paris and I love the pretty old world carousels…

… so we walked down the hundreds of steps before realizing there were still things to see at the top… and so had to walk all the way up again. As Montmartre is the highest point of Paris, we encountered plenty of staircases… in total, 38 surround the hill, just adding to the picturesque quality and charm of the neighborhood.

We slowly ambled our way up and wandered the pretty tree-lined streets… many the epitome of what a Parisian streets should look like… a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, featuring cobbled streets, little squares and quaint houses and buildings… like this stunning little art deco street with real old English vibes… vines crawling up coloured buildings, cobbled streets, beautiful classic doors, and classic lantern streetlamps… reputably among the most expensive properties in Paris.

The pretty cobbled Rue de l’Abreuvoir running from the iconic and insta-famous pink La Maison Rose which is apparently the most photographed house in a Paris 🤷🏼‍♀️, once frequented by artists and now a hipsterized vegan-friendly cafe in a nostalgic setting.

The little road is lined with ivy clad houses which mostly date back to the 1930s…

… and at one end lies the lovely small square Place Dalida, with gorgeous views up the street and to the Sacre Coeur…

… named for the famous late singer-songwriter whose final resting place is in Montmartre Cemetery. Dalida was an Egyptian born singer who gained fame in the 1950s Montmartre. But her life was troubled and she died of a drug overdose in 1987. Despite her tragic life, her sculpture is the stuff of legends. The story goes that, if you rub her breasts, you’ll be lucky in love. As you can see, many visitors give it a whirl 😂.

The city drips magic and romance from every corner of its streets to the highest steeples of its many churches. So much to see and so many beautiful places to explore… and never enough time!