An American Tourist in Paris

The bakery was nice enough to give me a few days off at the end of my time in Paris to actually be able to explore the city I called home for three weeks.  Though we did not get to see everything...is that even possible...here are some of the highlights that you shouldn't pass up if you find yourself in France's largest city.

1 - Notre Dame Cathedral

This towering Roman Catholic Cathedral has been standing in France since 1345.  If possible, the inside is even more breathtaking than the outside.  There was actually a service going on during our visit which made the whole experience seem even more Godly.  It never ceases to amaze me that architecture like this has been in existence for as long as it has.  If it's a nice out, pay the extra fee to go up to the cathedral towers where you can look out over the city.  It was extremely cold that day, so we skipped this one, but I've heard the views are just as amazing as the church itself.

 

2- Pont de l'Archeveche 

Built in 1828, this is the narrowest road bridge in Paris, but that's not why people visit here.  This bridge is known as the "love lock" bridge.  Pairs visit here and secure a padlock with their names on it to the bridge.  The key to the lock is then thrown into the river below to signify the couple's love to be everlasting and unbreakable.  Today there are thousands of locks connected to the bridge.  Although many people think it is an eye sore, I thought it was cheesy fun.  I convinced the hubs to play along and we paced our lock close the the bottom edge of the bridge so we could find it again...if we ever come back.

3 - The Eiffel Tower

Is any trip to Paris really complete without taking in this beauty?  I got to see it every day on my way to and from work, but standing at the bottom of the tower was completely different.  The tower was built in 1889 to serve as the entrance to the World's Fair.  It is the tallest structure in Paris and has been visited by over 300 million people.  The lil one and I enjoyed an afternoon of exploring the tower and a nearby Christmas festival together.  She took some pretty good pictures!

4 - Christmas Markets

If you happen to be in Paris during the holiday season, make sure to check out a few of the Christmas markets around the city.  The largest can be found along Avenue des Champs-Elysees.  My advice to you?  Come hungry!  There are some tidbits to buy as far as presents go...but the thing to come for is the food!  Lots of traditional French treats both for the savory and sweet tooth.  And don't forget to wash it down with a nice warm Vin Chaud!

A few things we wanted to see bu didn't get to?  The first were the Catacombs.  The Catacombs hold the remains of about six million people, all of which dies hundreds of years ago.  In fact, the catacombs was Paris's answer to "overflowing" cemeteries and has been open for visitors since the late 1800s. We actually lived just down the street from the entrance to the Caracombs, but every time we tried to visit, the line was wrapped around the block.  Pictures online were creepy enough...wonder if the lil one would have been frightened?

The second was the Louvre.  I don't think this museum needs any introduction or history as it holds the Mona Lisa among many other masterpieces.  We had plans to visit here our last day in Paris, but the lil one got sick and we had to cancel.  Hopefully we will get back one day to see this legendary museum.

So ended our time in Paris.  Here's a pick of the apartment we called home...fifth one from the bottom, right above the apartment with the light on.

Now were headed to our green home away from home...Ireland...