When Paris Calls You By Name, Pt. 2

In a previous post, my nostalgia for Paris had me sharing some pictures from my short trip when I was studying abroad in London. Though my Parisian adventure was short, so many memories were made and so many pictures were taken that I still wanted to share. So, here we are, part deux!

We took the train from London to Paris and once we arrived, we hopped on a bus and we're given the grand ol' tour. There were snaps and shutters from everyone's camera, but I wanted off! I wanted to see Paris, in the flesh and with my own eyes. I have seen Paris in movies and in books, and at that moment, it was just a pane of glass keeping me from my Parisian affair.

Finally, the bus pulled over and we were set free! Some beelined it for the food cart while others snapped away upon eyeing the Eiffel Tower. Me? I took a deep breath in, so this is Paris! 

With Kristen, Colleen and Adam, jumping for joy in the fact that we're no longer on a train or bus. | February 2010

After dropping off our bags and settling in to our hotel which was located in the Bastille District, we headed off to our next adventure. The GCs (graduate counselors, similar to RAs) told us they were going to the Louvre and we were welcomed to join. Being in a new city and still unfamiliar with how to navigate the Paris metro, we welcomed the guidance and followed like little ducklings.

The Louvre, beautiful! It comes at no surprise considering the number of paintings, sculptures and artifacts that call that place home. There were many, many, many, many, many paintings, tapestries, pots, sculptures, etc... You're picking up what I'm putting down, there was a lot to see, but you can't go to the Louvre not see Her Majesty, and I'm not talking about the Queen. 

After a bit of searching, we finally found Her. We found the Mona Lisa...and so did a number of other people. She was getting so much love and attention, it almost seemed everything else was being forgotten so Colleen decided to spread the love. I mean, we were in the city of love after all. 

Mona from a distance. | February 2010

Colleen spreading the love. | February 2010

You can see what I mean with the crowd. Everyone loves Mona! Thankfully, that just meant everything else wasn't as crowded or as noisy.

Snap! Snap! Mona Lisa's many admirers and an idea of how far you really are from her. | February 2010

Louvre Museum from the inside out. | February 2010

A little blurry, but again, the Louvre, from the inside out. | February 2010

After touring the Louvre (it's HUGE by the way, and I'm sure we didn't even get to half of it) we took the party outside. The Louvre outside at night glitters like fool's gold. The way the lights bounce off the water it makes the architecture glow, and after a few moments in awe, I thought I'd just plop right down where I was standing and admire it all as if it were a fireworks show on the 4th of July!

A blurry Louvre. | February 2010

One of my favorite personal photos. | February 2010

A little tired & very dazzled. | February 2010

My friends and I then took to the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed its grandeur at night. It was just as magnificent as the Louvre and it sparkled unlike it did when we first saw it that day. With that in mind, I knew we had to return to the Louvre to enjoy it in the morning light, and so we did!

Eiffel Tower by night. | February 2010

Eiffel Tower by day. | February 2010

Eiffel Tower from under and up. | February 2010

Just in case you were wondering, the Louvre is beautiful during the day too. It's a great place for pictures of you, of your friends and of the architecture. So when you're there, definitely grab a coffee, sit back and relax. It's also a great place to people watch.

Outside the Louvre. | February 2010

Another one of my favorite personal photos of the Louvre. | February 2010

Early one evening, my friends and I grabbed our museum passes (definitely recommended) and took to to the Musée d'Orsay. Can you guess it was once a train station? A beautiful one at that, too. The Musée d'Orsay also had work from one of my favorite artists, Edgar Degas. I was a fan of his since I was little and my favorite spot on the barre in my old dance studio was always under a print of one of his many ballerinas.

The beautiful Musée d' Orsay. | February 

Musée d'Orsay. | February 2010

Little Dancer of Fourteen Years. | February 2010

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris and perhaps the trek upstairs to enjoy the view. Since it's been a few years, I don't remember if my friends and I trekked to the top before enjoying the beauty of the cathedral or the other way around, but if (and maybe when) I have to do it again, I think I'll trek and then enjoy the grandeur inside, as if it were a bit of a reward. Then again, the view from the top is a reward of its own.

Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris by sunset. | February 2010

Looking up. | February 2010

Say a little prayer for me. | February 2010

Can you hear the angels sing? | February 2010

We shared a view. | February 2010

Sacre Coeur from a distance. | February 2010

Adam, Kristen, Colleen, Katie and I, enjoying the view once we made it to the top. | February 2010

Paris really was an amazing trip and there's a reason why it's a European hot spot. Of course there's the culture, the history, the architecture and the museums filled with classics, but there's also something else. Something indescribable. Something intangible. Something you need to experience on your own so you can define it for yourself. I don't say that to be selfish by keeping the magic I found in Paris all to myself, but more so in the fact that what it is, whatever it is, I can't really put to words. It's different to different people, but I definitely think it's something worth defining on your own or with those that live in your heart.

With Kristen and Colleen | February 2010

We were having so much fun taking jumping pictures, some wanted to join. Versailles Palace | February 2010

I hope y'all enjoying the picture heavy posts and I hope you feel inspired to travel to Paris or just to travel! Traveling really is an amazing thing and I think Anthony Bourdain says it nicely, "Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life -- and travel -- leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks -- on your body or on your heart -- are beautiful."

Where are you planning to travel? What's your destination and your adventure?

Sincerely,

Cybill

P.S.
To all the trick-or-treaters and those with a heart in Halloween, Happy Halloween!