City Spotlight: Seattle

In the Summer of 2013 I interned in the Seattle area, so I got to know the city pretty well. The entire suburban area reminded me so much of the Boston South Shore where I'm from, except it's even nicer! I've heard Washington referred to as "New England on steroids" and I couldn't agree more! It has the same feel as New England with the coastal towns but it is so much greener, the trees are about ten times taller, the mountain ranges are bigger, and the people are even friendlier. The entire area has such a laid-back vibe, which I loved. And don't believe all the rumours you hear about Seattle having awful weather! Yes, it does rain a lot in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, but once Summer arrives, it is beautiful and sunny almost every day. The best part about Summer in the Pacific Northwest is that there is hardly any humidity, so the hot weather actually feels nice! And even though it's pretty rainy the rest of the year, it's just a constant drizzle rather than a downpour, and it doesn't get too cold. Amazingly, the annual rainfall in Seattle is actually lower than it is in most major cities in the US! During my Summer in Seattle, I developed a big love for the city, and I could definitely see myself living there one day. If you go to Seattle, these are the highlights of the city that you definitely need to check out:

The Space Needle

First up is the most iconic landmark in Seattle that you have definitely heard of before. The Space Needle was built in 1962 and was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, which is pretty impressive. The Space Needle is located in a central area of Seattle and has amazing views of the city, the Puget Sound, and the several mountain ranges that surround the area. There are elevators to take you up to the top of the Needle and once you are up there, you can spend as long as you like walking outside on the observation deck taking in the view. You can even have a meal or glass of beer or wine on top of the Needle! While I would highly recommend venturing to the top of the Space Needle, tickets are about $20. So if you don't want to spend money, you can get an amazing view of the Space Needle from many parts of the city.

Pike Place Market

The next must-see place in Seattle is the famous Pike Place Market. If you have been to some other markets like Chelsea Market in NYC or Borough Market in London you may have a picture in your mind of what Pike Place Market is like. False! Pike Place Market is so enormous and has way more shops and stands than any other market I've ever been to! Any food you could possibly want, you can find in Pike Place Market: Korean, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, specialty food imported from Europe and Asia, and anything else you could think of. And since Seattle is right on the water, of course there is plenty of fresh fish! Many of the stands offer free samples, and there are lots of benches overlooking the bay so it's a perfect place to get lunch or a snack. And in addition to food, you can buy fresh flowers, spices, and handmade crafts. Walking through Pike Place Market is so fun and could keep you occupied for hours!

The Elliott Bay Waterfront and Great Wheel

During the Summer, I don't think there's anywhere more beautiful than the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle. The waterfront is lined with so many different attractions like Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, restaurants, shops, the original Starbucks, and something new to the Seattle skyline: the Great Wheel. The Great Wheel was opened less than three years ago and is the only wheel of its kind to be built over water in North America! You stand in pods on the wheel, similar to the London Eye, and you get an amazing view of the city and the bay. Whether you decide to ride the Great Wheel or just view it from below, it is very cool to see and the waterfront area is definitely the place to be when it's warm and sunny out.

Fremont

In general, Seattle is a pretty artistic city, but the section that is by far the most artsy is Fremont. Fremont is a neighbourhood in northern Seattle near the University of Washington and Lake Union. Fremont is full of quirky and unusual things, but that's what makes it so interesting! In addition to the many eclectic shops, restaurants, and cafes in the area, there is definitely not a shortage of art. Probably the most famous sculpture is the Fremont Troll. I recognised it from one of my favourite movies 10 Things I Hate About You and was excited to see it in person. There are also sculptures of Vladimir Lenin and a large rocket. The residents of Fremont like to refer to it as the "Center of the Universe" and there's even a sign that says so! And the unofficial motto of the neighbourhood is "Freedom to be peculiar", which I must say is pretty perfect! Fremont is such a cool, unique area and definitely a must-see if you take a trip to Seattle.

Gas Works Park

Located within Fremont, Gas Works Park is right on Lake Union and was one of my favourite places to visit in Seattle. The park was once the home of a gasification plant, and while the company is no longer operating, the equipment from the plant is still standing. It's strange but so interesting at the same time, and the view from Gas Works Park is really amazing! Looking out over Lake Union, you can see the Space Needle and downtown Seattle. In the Summer, there are lots of sailboats in the lake and even sea planes that fly in and land on the water! There's lots of grassy space, so the park is the perfect spot to meet up with friends or go to relax. And if you've seen 10 Things I Hate About You, you will recognise the park from the famous paintballing scene!

Kerry Park

Probably the only place in Seattle that could rival the views from Gas Works Park is Kerry Park. Seattle is a city of hills, and on one of the tallest hills is the Queen Anne section of Seattle. Located in Queen Anne is Kerry Park, which is on the small side, but has views that are brreathtaking. Whether you visit Kerry Park during the day or night, you will have amazing views of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, and Mount Rainier. Kerry Park is a must-see if you are in Seattle!

The Monorail

The monorail in Seattle has been around for as long as the Space Needle and has become a pretty iconic part of the city. There are only two monorail stops, but it's a fun way to travel between downtown and the Space Needle. Tickets to ride the monorail are super cheap and you get a nice view of the city while you ride, so it's something cool to add to your Seattle to-do list!

Chihuly Garden

Located right next to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden is an amazing collection of glass sculptures. The exhibit is made of three parts: the Garden, the Glasshouse, and the Interior Exhibits, and is basically a botanical garden made completely out of colourful glass. They offer tours of the Chihuly Garden and even a morning yoga class! And if you are visiting the Space Needle as well, you can get a joint ticket for the two attractions to save some money!

Mount Rainier

Driving around the Seattle area on a sunny day, you are almost always guaranteed a cool view of Mount Rainier, the active volcano that is located about 50 miles from Seattle. Mount Rainier is the biggest mountain in the continental US and is such an impressive sight. Mount Rainier National Park has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and if you are truly adventurous you can even make the three-day journey up the glaciers of the volcano to its summit. I can't say I tried this, and you definitely shouldn't attempt to make the trek up Mount Rainier unless you are an experienced rock climber!


I loved Seattle and could definitely see myself living there someday. It's a really cool city and much smaller and more laid-back than NYC where I'm currently living, but is still full of exciting things to do. Seattle's a very modern city but also on the quirky side, which I find really interesting! If you have the opportunity to visit Seattle, you would be crazy to pass it up! If you've been to Seattle, leave a comment telling me what your favourite part of the city is, and if you haven't been to Seattle let me know what part of the city you would most like to see!

Mother/Daughter Weekend in NYC

Last weekend, my mom came to NYC for a few days to spend time with me, see a Broadway show, and do lots of other fun things! I don't plan on living in the Northeast long-term, but at this point in my life, it's so great living close enough to home that my family can visit me for a weekend, or I can head home to Boston for a few days!

The weekend started off on Thursday when I met my mom at Port Authority Bus Station. After meeting up with her, we went to a nearby Thai restaurant where I got delicious pad thai! When we finished our late lunch, we headed back to my apartment to relax and watch some tv. We found Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist on tv which I was so happy about! I had been wanting to re-watch that movie for so long, especially after we saw Michael Cera in a Broadway show back in November (and met him)!

The next day was full of fun things! First we took the subway to Soho and went into a bunch of different shops. There were some second-hand stores that were full of nice things and a shabby chic furniture store that was completely my style. I used to get so bored by interior design, but as I've gotten older I've developed a love for it!

Once we shopped enough to work up an appetite, we walked over to Chelsea Market. My mom had never been there, so I had fun showing her all the cool shops, restaurants, and food stands. For lunch, we decided to get a chicken pesto crêpe to split. We watched our crêpe being made (and lots of other people's crêpes that looked amazing), and it reminded me of being in France. It was so delicious, and I think I'll have to visit that place again to try a dessert crêpe sometime! After walking around and checking out a bunch of the shops (Italian cooking supplies, a wine shop, and an artsy flea market), we went to a bakery called Eleni's for cookies. We got chocolate with white chocolate chips, and they were so good!

getting ready to eat our delicious crêpe!

Next we headed up to Midtown to check out the Museum of Modern Art. I haven't been to many museums since I've lived in New York, so we decided to take advantage. And the best part was that the MoMA is free on Friday nights! We walked around and saw all the exhibits. I think my favourite artists we saw were Van Gogh and Andy Warhol. I recognised a bunch of the art and had a great time walking through and taking it all in. I know there are a bunch of free museums in NYC, so I defintiely want to try and visit some more while I'm living here.

posing with a pair of underwear...I mean, "art" ;)

After the MoMA, we went to a Brazilian restaurant for drinks and some food. We got margaritas and a dish with chicken, beef, sausage, and pineapple. The food was really good but the drinks were just average and really overpriced, so I don't think we'll be going back to that restaurant!

The next day, we took the subway up to Lexington on the Upper East Side. We did some shopping and got lunch at a little cafe. I haven't been up to that area too much but I really liked it! There were so many cute restaurants and cafes and it almost felt like we were in Paris. After spending some time on Lexington, we went down to Times Square to get some Broadway tickets. We got tickets to see If/Then starring Idina Menzel. We had tried seeing it once before but Idina wasn't in that day, so we didn't end up going. But it's about to end its run so we knew we had to see it while we still could! Before the show, we got some Italian dinner from Tony's near Times Square and then got a piece of red velvet cake, hot chocolate, and coffee from Junior's. Both were delicious, and then it was time for the show! If/Then was so amazing, and if you want to read about it in more detail, I wrote another post all about the show recently :)

On Sunday, we headed into Chelsea again. We went to a restaurant called Westville for brunch that was really cool, and the food was awesome! My mom got a Greek salad with chicken, I got a kale salad with poached eggs, bacon, and avocado, and we got sweet potato fries to share. I haven't been out for brunch quite enough since living in New York, but I definitely want to experience more restaurants like that one. After brunch, we walked all around Chelsea some more and then headed south through the West Village, Soho, and Little Italy. I really liked the areas we walked through because they were way less crowded and overwhelming than the Midtown area where I work. For dinner, we went to a little Italian restaurant for pasta and then walked around a little more before heading home.

a cool pop-up store in Chelsea

The next day, I had to work but was able to meet up with my mom for one more lunch before she went home. It was such a great weekend, and I can't wait for her to come visit again. She just booked her bus to come again in April for a few days, and before that I'm going home for Easter weekend which I am so excited about! It was a great weekend and I was glad we were able to check out some different parts of NYC that we haven't experienced before!

My Favourite NYC Neighbourhood: Chelsea

I have been living in New York City for exactly five months now, so I have had lots of time to explore the different parts of the city. While there are a lot of sections of New York that I really like, in my opinion nothing can compare to Chelsea. Chelsea is an artsy neighbourhood in western Manhattan near the West Village, Midtown, and the Hudson River, so it's in a really perfect location. Every neighbourhood in New York seems to have its own energy and personality, and these are the reasons why Chelsea is a neighbourhood that I keep returning to:

1. Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is HUGE and full of every type of food you can imagine. There are sit-down restaurants, food stands, noodle bars, a crêpe bar, bakeries...pretty much anything you could want! I have eaten at a few places in Chelsea Market and been into a bunch of the shops, and I have loved every single one. There's a wine shop that does wine tastings, and you can even buy a bottle of wine and drink it at one of the many tables in the market. Something else that Chelsea Market offers (that I haven't experienced yet, but definitely want to) is live music on the first Friday of every month. They feature small local artists, and it seems like a great time. In the colder months, Chelsea Market is full of people, but the Summer is when it really comes alive!

2. the High Line

You've probably heard of the High Line in NYC. It has become really popular over the past few years and for good reason. It is a mile-long park on top of an old abandoned railroad in Chelsea. The historical aspect of the High Line is so cool, and the views from it are really amazing. You can get a good feel for the Chelsea area, and there are really nice views of the Hudson River. There are beautiful plants and flowers all along the park, and it's the perfect place to relax with some friends. And since Chelsea is so artsy, there's lots of artwork along the way for you to look at! Of course the best times to walk the High Line are in the warmer months, and if you want to beat the crowds, it's worth it to go early in the morning.

3. the huge variety of restaurants

New York City is probably one of the most diverse cities in the world when it comes to food, and Chelsea is no exception to that. Any type of food you could possibly crave, you can find in Chelsea. I've been to so many great hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Chelsea that have really impressed me. If you are hoping for a true New York experience, I would recommend getting brunch at one of the small, quaint restaurants in the neighbourhood. My mom and I got brunch at a restaurant called Westville last time she visited, and the food was so amazing!

4. the cool, eclectic shops

Almost any street you walk down in Chelsea, you are bound to come across a bunch of little shops. There are some chain stores of course, but there are so many independently-owned shops too. One shop that I recently discovered in Chelsea is Story. It's a pop-up store that changes its theme a couple times a year. Right now, their theme is "Your Story" where everything is really interactive and there are different sections of the store with products tailored to people with different interests. It's such a cool idea for a store, and I'm definitely planning to check it out some more to see what their future themes will be!

5. It's modern and historical at the same time.

You can be walking through Chelsea and be surrounded by modern skyscrapers. Then you can turn the corner and be on a side street with old-looking buildings and cobblestone streets. It's so cool and always keeps things interesting.

6. It's a bustling area of the city but way less overwhelming than Midtown and downtown!

Some parts of Chelsea, like Chelsea Market and the High Line, are full of people. But if you're looking to escape the crowds, Chelsea is the perfect area to wander down side streets where you can find some nice quaint and quiet sections of the neighbourhood. I doubt it comes as a surprise, but living in New York with almost 9 million other people can get really overwhelming at times, so it's nice to escape to more peaceful areas of the city from time to time!

City Spotlight: Lyon, France

When you think of travelling to France, I'm sure you picture Paris, or maybe the French Riviera. But a city that is often overlooked is also my favourite city in France—Lyon. I spent a semester abroad in Lyon a couple of years ago, so I got to know the city really well, and it felt like a second home to me. Even though Lyon is the second biggest city in France, compared to Paris it feels small. It doesn't have as many famous landmarks, but there are a lot of things that make Lyon such a special place.

First of all, the people are all so friendly. French people tend to get a reputation as being rude, and to be fair, that is pretty true when it comes to Parisians. But in Lyon, it couldn't be further from the truth! Lyon's location in France is also pretty perfect. It is in the Rhône-Alpes region, a short train ride away from Paris, Geneva, Marseille, Milan, the Alps, the Mediterranean, and lots of vineyards. Both the Rhône River and Saône River run through Lyon, which makes for really pretty views from many different parts of the city. And you know how France is known to have some of the best food in the world? That's all thanks to Lyon, which is home to some of the finest French chefs and is often considered to be the gastronomical capital of the world! Here is my list of the top places to visit while you're in Lyon, and hopefully I can convince you of why you need to add Lyon to your travel bucket list!

Vieux Lyon

In case you don't speak French, Vieux Lyon means "Old Lyon" and makes up the historical (and in my opinion, the most beautiful) section of the city. All of the streets are narrow and most of the roads are cobble stone. The architecture in Vieux Lyon is very historical and classic-looking, but also so colourful and unique. Lyon's history was influenced by the Romans, and that is pretty evident in Vieux Lyon. Of course the main example of this is the Roman ruins that are on top of a big hill! The ruins are so pretty and reminded me a lot of the ancient ruins in Rome and Pompeii, Italy. I've always been fascinated by ancient history, so I found it so cool walking through the ruins and seeing what the city was like thousands of years ago! Next to the ruins is another Lyon highlight, La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. Fourvière is a beautiful basilica that looks a lot like a palace, so my friends and I always referred to it as "the castle." And probably the best part of venturing up to the Roman ruins and Fourvière... the amazing view of the city! Another reason to explore Vieux Lyon: it has the best restaurants in the entire city! The most popular restaurants are traditional French "bouchons" that often have prix-fixe menus and have delicious traditional French food! When I studied in Lyon, I lived right next to Vieux Lyon, so I got to explore it a lot, and it became my favourite section of the city!

Place Bellecour and Rue Victor Hugo

Next up is the biggest square in Lyon and the biggest pedestrian square in all of Europe, Place Bellecour. Place Bellecour is right in the center of Lyon and is a common meeting place for people.  The square is a huge open area and features a statue of Louis XIV right in the middle. Also in Place Bellecour is a ferris wheel, and the views from the top are really stunning. I rode the ferris wheel during Fête des Lumières (which I will tell you about later in the post), so the views I got were especially incredible! Bellecour is perfectly situated between the rivers Rhône and Saône, is walking distance to Vieux Lyon, and is surrounded by some of the best shopping streets in the city. My favourite of those streets is Rue Victor Hugo. Rue Victor Hugo is a long street lined with shops and restaurants that was right between my university and Place Bellecour, so I became very familiar with the street over the course of the semester! There are lots of amazing shops, both chain stores and small boutiques, and some great little restaurants. Rue Victor Hugo and Place Bellecour are always so lively, so they are great spots to people watch and soak up the atmosphere of Lyon!

Parc de la Tête d'Or

Like all major cities, the people of Lyon need a quiet place to relax and enjoy nature. In Lyon, that place is Parc de la Tête d'Or, which literally translates to "Park of the Gold Head." While there aren't actually any golden heads there, the huge park is so beautiful and the perfect place to go on a nice Spring, Summer, or Fall day. There is a big lake, a botanical garden, lots of trees, and ice cream stands. And if you are in Lyon during the warmer months, you can visit the zoo, which is my favourite part of the park! There are lots of different animals, including giraffes, lions, monkeys, and flamingos. Spending a few hours in the Parc de la Tête d'Or is the perfect way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some quiet time.

Wine Tasting in the Beaujolais

No trip to France is complete without a nice wine tasting, and Lyon has one of the most famous vineyards in France close by: the Beaujolais. I went on a wine tasting with my program to a vineyard in the medieval town Charnay. We got a tour of the vineyard, learned how the wine was made, and of course got to sample lots of wine and cheese! The region has great red and white wine, but the wine that the Beaujolais is especially known for is rosé wine. It is so delicious, and the myth that wine is cheaper than water in France is actually true, because you can get a great bottle of Beaujolais wine in Lyon for 3€! Wine tastings are such a fun experience, and definitely something you need to do during your visit to France.

Fête des Lumières

If you get the opportunity to visit Lyon during the Fête des Lumières weekend in December, you can not pass it up! The Fête des Lumières is a light festival that attracts millions of tourists from other parts of France and Europe. The festival began in the 1600s when Europe was suffering from the plague. The people of Lyon decided to put candles in their windows in honour of the Virgin Mary hoping it would help spare the city from too many deaths. Ever since, it has become a tradition for the people of Lyon to put a candle in their window on December 8 every year. Since the start of the tradition, the Fête des Lumières has expanded to include an entire weekend of festivities. There are so many impressive light shows and the city really feels magical with all of the decorations! I know just explaining the light shows won't do them justice, but hopefully the pictures above will give you an idea of just how beautiful the festival is!

La Croix-Rousse

Every city needs an artsy, eclectic neighbourhood, and in Lyon, that neighbourhood is La Croix-Rousse.  This section of the city was full of silk workshops a couple centuries ago and for a while was considered a working-class area. But now, La Croix-Rousse is becoming more popular and is emerging as one of the trendiest parts of Lyon. La Croix-Rousse is full of little shops, restaurants, cafés, street markets, and has a great view of the city. Walking around in La Croix-Rousse, you can really pick up on the artistic feel of the area with lots of galleries and bright colours. Since the neighbourhood has so much history, it really blends the old with the new and has a great atmosphere. I only ventured into La Croix-Rousse a couple of times during my semester in Lyon, and I really wish I explored the area some more because it has such a cool feel to it.

Let me tell you about the food in Lyon...

And now for the part of the post you are probably most excited about—the amazing food in Lyon! Lyon has a lot of diverse restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Turkish, Japanese...), but by far the most popular type of cuisine in Lyon is traditional French food. Everywhere in the city is full of tiny little French restaurants that have some of the most amazing food ever! In France, the cultural norm is to spend several hours eating a meal and talking to the people you are with. so if you go out to eat in a French restaurant, it's completely normal (and encouraged!) to sit for several hours, eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine. Most of the restaurants in Lyon are independently owned rather than chain restaurants, so you get a really authentic dining experience most of the time, especially in the bouchons of Vieux Lyon. A ton of restaurants also have prix fixe menus, so you can get an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and glass of wine for a fixed price. (This is what I usually did!) Some of the most amazing dishes I had in the French bouchons were quenelle (similar to manicotti with chicken or fish and a cream sauce), salade chèvre (goat cheese salad), and salade lyonnaise (salad with bacon, croutons, and a poached egg). And of course I can't leave out dessert! Chocolate mousse is a delicious and common dessert to order in France, but my favourite dessert experiences were the crêpe stands in Vieux Lyon! At these stands, you can watch your crêpe get cooked, and then you can add whatever toppings you would like—strawberries, bananas, nutella, whipped cream, powdered sugar, and endless other options. Crêpes are so delicious and are definitely something you need to try while you're in France. Just writing this has really made me miss the food in Lyon and has made me hungry :)

La Confluence

Next up is a part of the city that has really developed over the past few years, the Confluence which is the spot where Lyon's two rivers meet. Lots of businesses and apartment buildings have been built in the Confluence, and it has become a major economic hub in Lyon. When I lived in Lyon in 2012, there was lots of construction being done in the area, and by the end of my semester abroad, the area had transformed so much! A big mall was built with lots of great shops and a movie theatre, and being right between the rivers Rhône and Saône, there are some really beautiful views in La Confluence. La Confluence is probably the most "up and coming" section of the city, and definitely somewhere worth visiting!

The Lumière Brothers Museum

Something really interesting about Lyon is that movies were actually invented there! The Lumière Brothers who lived in Lyon invented the cinematograph in 1894 and became the first filmmakers in history. A lot of their short films were shot in Lyon too! Lyon has a museum called the Institut Lumière where you can learn about the history of les Frères Lumières and filmmaking, tour the Lumière house, and see some of the Lumière Brothers' films. I have always had an interest in movies and filmmaking, so I loved this museum. I learned so much while I was there and enjoyed it even more than I expected. It is definitely something worth checking out if you are in Lyon!

Party time!

If you like to go out and party, Lyon is a great place to do that! During my semester in Lyon, I became very familiar with the city's party scene, so I can definitely recommend some great places to go. First of all, Lyon has a huge student population, including a lot of international students. If you have never heard the word "Erasmus," that is what studying abroad is called in Europe, and there are student groups that organise Erasmus parties for the young people of the city several times a week. I went to so many Erasmus parties while I was in Lyon, and they were so much fun! They usually took place in a nightclub, and sometimes even in a different venue, like big indoor hot tubs or a castle! If you are looking for a fun bar to go to, the regular spot for everyone in my program was a New York-inspired bar called Cosmo. Monday nights are especially awesome because beer is 1€ and the bar is always packed! The French really know how to party, and people always end up dancing on the bar and tables! If you're looking for somewhere low-key to go, there are steps next to the Rhône River that are always crowded at night. There is a great view of the city, so it can be so fun to go to the steps with some friends and a bottle of French wine. Vieux Lyon is also full of some cool, relaxed pubs where you can get a beer or glass of wine and spend time with friends. Other great spots to check out are a bar called Boston and an Australian bar called Ayers Rock (which has two locations—one standard bar and one on a boat!) I have never experienced a city with a better nightlife than Lyon, so it really is the perfect city for students and young people!

And some bonus places to check out:

I hope this post has taught you a little about Lyon and gave you a good feel for the city. If you are a student considering a semester abroad in France, I would highly recommend going to Lyon! I had such a great experience there, and it really felt like home to me during the semester. I made some of my best friends and had some of the best experiences of my life there. Writing this post has made me feel really nostalgic and has made me remember all the great times I had in Lyon!

Thanks for reading! If you made it to the end of this post, leave a comment saying what part of Lyon you'd most want to visit or some cities you'd like me to feature in future posts!

Eurotrip Part Four: Paris

This is the fourth and final blog post about my recent trip to England and France! If you would like to read about everything I got up to in England, you can scroll down to the three previous posts, and if you'd like to hear about my time in Paris, keep on reading!

On the last morning in London, my parents and I got up super early, ready for a long day of travel ahead of us. But London and Paris are so close together, you say? Well, they are... if you take the Eurostar. But since we had waited until so last minute to book our transportation to Paris, we decided it was more economical to take a bus instead! The bus actually ended up being really perfect for us because 1. we were all so exhausted from all the walking we had done during the trip so far and really needed a day to rest, 2. taking the bus meant seeing pretty views of the English and French countrysides, and 3. it meant we got to experience driving under the English channel! (By the way, how that works is they have all of the cars, buses, and trucks drive into a really long train car, and the train takes us under the channel at  a high speed while you sit in your car. Mind-blowing!) The ride ended up being a really pleasant one in the end, and about 8 hours after leaving Victoria Station in London, we had arrived in Paris!

Rather than booking a hotel in Paris, we had taken the recommendation from one of my mom's friends to rent an apartment instead. Our apartment belonged to a girl named Élodie who, we came to the conclusion, must be a travel photographer based on the photos around her apartment. The apartment was in a really cute and very Parisian looking neighbourhood in the Montmartre district. This is the district I had stayed in last time I was in Paris, and it is such a great area. The architecture looks so classic Parisian, and there are so many great restaurants and landmarks like the Moulin Rouge and the Sacré Coeur. When we arrived after our long bus ride, we were pretty tired, but still decided to walk around and get some dinner. We found a little Italian restaurant that had amazing pasta and wine, and we walked right past the Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge

The next day, the weather wasn't too great, so our original plan to climb the Eiffel Tower was postponed, since we wouldn't have been able to see anything from there. So instead, we got croissants and a baguette and had a relaxing morning in the apartment and then headed to a mall to do a little shopping. We wanted to hit one more Primark while we were in Europe, and the Paris one ended up being pretty great!

After shopping, we took the metro over to the Arc de Triomphe. I love the Arc de Triomphe a lot. Unfortunately, while we were there, it started to downpour, so we had to take some pictures quickly and then find a restaurant where we could stay dry. 

the Arc de Triomphe

For dinner, we stuck to the same Italian theme as the night before, and this time we found a restaurant with a really great prix fixe menu (which means you pay one fixed price and get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert). This food was amazing as well! I ordered a goat cheese salad, steak, and tiramisu. We also got a delicous bottle of rosé wine, and once the waiter brought it to our table, we saw that it was called "Christi", so then my mom wrote an "e" on the end, so the wine was named after me :) Something interesting that happened after we finished our meal was the waiter brought out three limoncello shots for us at no extra cost. The waiter the previous night had done that too, so I wonder if it's an Italian tradition at the end of a meal. We also noticed that no other tables were brought the limoncello shots, so I guess the waiters liked us better!

This wine was named after me!

complimentary shots of limoncello that we got after dinner

The next day, we were worried the weather would be bad again, but it ended up being so perfect! There were lots of places I wanted to go with my parents before I would be leaving the next day, so we had a lot to fit in!

First, we headed to the Louvre. I think the Louvre is so cool and it is probably one of my favourite places in Paris. My parents said it was smaller in person than they expected, but I don't know what pictures they've been seeing of it, because they expected it to be the size of the pyramids in Egypt haha. 

the Louvre

It took my mom about 30 attempts to finally get this picture! She kept taking it when my
hand was too high above the point of the Louvre or too low. I made her put on her glasses
and she finally got a few decent ones! :)

Next, we walked over the the Pont des Arts which was really close by. You may also know this bridge as the "lock bridge" and have probably seen some pictures of it before. I didn't get to see this bridge last time I was in Paris, so this was something that I really wanted to do. I knew there would be a lot of locks on the bridge, but I was really blown away by just how many their actually are. There are so many that it's impossible to find a spot to put a lock on the actual bridge now. You need to lock it onto another lock! Of course, while we were there, we added a Goyette family lock to the bridge! I would say I'll try and find it next time I'm in Paris, but I'm sure there will be thousands more locks by then, so it would be pretty impossible to find!

the Pont des Arts

pointing to our lock on the Pont des Arts

Next up, we walked through the Tuileries Gardens. This was something else that I didn't see last time I was in Paris, and it was so pretty. It was really relaxing, and the architecture surrounding the Gardens looked so classically Parisian.

the Tuileries Gardens

We saw an old couple napping in the middle of the Gardens and could not stop laughing!

Once we made our way through the Gardens, we came out into Place de la Concorde. Right in the middle is the obelisk, and on either side are two big fountains. These are the fountains that Anne Hathaway's character throws her phone into at the end of Devil Wears Prada, so I was tempted to recreate that, but decided against it for obvious reasons!

the obelisk

the fountain that Anne Hathaway threw her phone into in Devil Wears Prada

Then, we stopped to get some lunch at a little outdoor café on the Seine. Unlike our waiters from the previous two nights who had been so nice, the waiter at the café was extremely rude to us and openly ignored us if we tried asking him something! I'm guessing he didn't like us because we are American, but even when we tried speaking in French, he scoffed at us haha! It is really funny though, because the stereotype that waiters in Paris are rude is actually true a lot of the time!

And then it was time for the main attraction of the day... the Eiffel Tower! We walked along the river toward it and got lots of pictures. We decided to walk up the stairs rather than take the elevator, because it really does make you feel more accomplished, and the stairs are tiring, but not as bad as you would expect. We had timed our climb up the tower perfectly so it was still nice and bright for most of the climb, and when we were on the "second floor" of the tower, the sun started to set. The views were incredible, and by the time we got up to the very top, it was nighttime and the city was all lit up and looked so beautiful!

view from the first floor of the tower

view from the second floor of the tower

The view of the Arc de Triomphe from the tower was so cool!

family picture at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

the view from the top

the view from the top. City of Lights, you are beautiful.

After walking back down to the bottom, we met up with a guy I know from French classes at Elon named Jackson who is studying abroad in Paris now. We all headed to an outdoor cafe that ended up having an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night! I got a glass of rosé wine (French rosé is amazing) and had a fun time getting caught up with Jackson.

the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night was so surreal looking and so pretty

After saying bye to Jackson and the beautiful Eiffel Tower, my parents and I hopped back on the metro to Montmartre. Once we were there, we realised we had never actually had dinner, so we stopped at a French chain restaurant called Hippopotamus. I had been to Hippopotamus a couple of times in Lyon when I studied abroad and really liked it. And rather than dinner, I decided to go for a delicious dessert instead! I got a fresh-backed huge macaron that came with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. It was so amazing and the perfect final Parisian treat!

yum yum yum this was amazing!

The next day, I was leaving Paris, but my parents were staying an extra three days. I had booked my flight home out of London rather than Paris because it was much cheaper, so I was off back to London for one more night! I ended up taking the Eurostar on the way back, and it was really fast and efficient! Once I got to London, I headed to Ciela's to pack up all my stuff and start getting ready to leave the next morning. After Ciela was out of work, we headed to a little café for crepes that were so good, and then she had to go to a work event that evening, so I took that time to go to a couple souvenir shops near Marble Arch. Later on in the night when Ciela's work event was over, we considered going out, but instead just walked around which was really nice. I got to see Oxford Street one more time as well as Carnaby Street, and there were so many pretty lights all over!

Oxford Street in London

Carnaby Street in London

The next morning, Ciela and I went for one final Full English Breakfast (which was really good, but still not as delicious as that very first one that Lexi and I got in London!), and then it was time to head to the airport. Leaving was pretty sad, because after spending almost three weeks in England and France, I was enjoying myself so much and really didn't want to leave. Going back to the US, I was flying into New York City to start my new job, which of course I was excited about, but there's something about England that just makes me feel so at home. I love New York too, but it has such a different feeling and energy than London, and I feel like London is definitely more "me" between the two. After this trip when I got to spend a lot more time in England, I can definitely confirm that that is where I want to live someday, so I am going to do everything I can to make that happen!

Now, I have been in New York for a little over a month and am all settled in for the most part. I am really liking the company I'm working for, and I love the city, but I will tell you all about my experience here so far in another post. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed hearing about my European adventures!