Exploring the Left Bank
📍 Le Pont Alexandre, Paris

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The beautiful Seine River. It’s one of the most important markers in Paris and is a great guide to help navigate the city. Paris is often divided into two areas, Rive Gauche and Rive Droite. This translate to Left Bank and Right Bank. While frequent visitors and locals alike may be partial to one over the other, they are both worth exploring. The Right Bank boasts the Louvre and other incredible museums, while the Left Bank seems to have more history and renowned vintage shopping. On previous trips, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Rive Droite via Le Vendome and Le Marais. That’s why I decided to make the Left Bank a top priority on this most recent trip. Join me for some exploring on Left Bank.

Breakfast at a Historic Cafe

Excited for the full day ahead of us, we got bright and early and started from our hotel in the 2nd arrondissement. The first destination was for a quintessential Parisian breakfast at one of the famous Left Bank Cafes. Essential their are two camps, Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. Both were a favorite amongst the Paris literary set, think Hemingway and Fitzgerald, and have an identical menu. While I can’t strongly recommend one over the over, I genuinely loved our breakfast at Les Deux Magots. We watched the city come alive with our croissants, café alongé, and jus d’orange. Next time, I’ll give Café de Flore or La Bonaparte a try. 

Visiting the Musee Rodin

After breakfast and some aimless exploring, we made our way to the Musée Rodin. Auguste Rodin is best known for The Thinker and The Kiss (see above) but is also considered the founder of modern sculpture. Many friends so highly recommended this particular museum. I was so excited to see the space in person. He had such a gift for expressing such emotion in his 3-Dimensional work, and it was a joy to see it up close and personal. As always, I highly recommend the audio tour to completely understand what you’re taking in. After the interior tour, enjoy a coffee to stay and enjoy the back gardens that have even more of Rodin’s work. 

Exploring Les Invalides

most widely talked about museum, especially compared to the Louvre and D’Orsay. If you’re a history buff or francophile, I cannot recommend this museum enough. Inside this complex, you’ll find several museums about the military history of France. Just beyond the cathedral, which was absolutely stunning, you’ll also find the tomb of Napoleon. Although he was exiled twice, I was in awe of how much his country still feels for him and the memorial that was created in his honor. With its gilded sculptures, the famous Pont Alexandre III bridge leads straight to Les Invalides and serves as the perfect path to fall in love with French history.

There’s just so much more to be said about Le Rive Gauche. From picnicking under the Eiffel Tower to dinner at Le Procope, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, there’s is so much to love about the Left Bank. If you’re planning your very first trip to Paris, please be sure to make both sides of the Seine River a priority.

Love from Paris,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

What to Know About Paris
📍 Palais Garnier, Paris

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Bonjour de Paris! After an unintentional break away from social media and blogging, I’m so happy to be back after a long trip to Paris and Provence. The perfect recipe for a stellar vacation was equal parts exploration and relaxation. I kept thinking it felt like a second honeymoon, and I’m so thankful for our time abroad. I’ll be sharing all of the details from our trip soon, but first, I wanted to talk about the preconceived notions of traveling to France. You may have heard some negative comments from loved ones who have traveled to the ‘City of Lights.’ If you’re toying with the idea of traveling to Paris yourself, I wanted to help squelch some of those misconceptions. Here’s what to know about Paris.

Are Parisians really that rude?

No. This comment is probably the number one feedback from traveling Americans. Maybe it’s just because of luck, but I’ve never really encountered the rude Parisian. The biggest thing to remember is that Paris is a bustling city. Like in any city, locals don’t have time to cater to tourists. From a restaurant standpoint, it’s critical to have a few French phrases in your pocket to greet and ask for a table. This little act truly goes a long way.

Is Paris a safe city?

Yes, but with reason. Again, Paris is a big city with different levels of ‘safety’ in particular neighborhoods. On this trip, David and I took the crowded metro, had late night walks back to our hotel, and strolled through more touristy parts of town. There was never a point where I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. Keep in mind that I was never alone and am very used to city living. It’s most important to trust your instinct and know that Ubers are readily available in the city for you to get to your next destination.

Is French food even worth it?

A resounding yes! I have a deep love for food, and it was one of my top reasons for wanting to visit Paris in the first place. The ingredients are simple, the flavors are awe-inspiring, and the meals are so memorable. I genuinely don’t think we had a bad meal once while we were in France. There’s your standard French fare, think escargot and bœuf bourguignon, but don’t forget to try different cuisines that have made their place in French culture, like Vietnamese and Lebanese.

Is speaking French essential?

No, but make an effort. The vast majority of Parisians will speak English to varying degrees. At hotels, boutiques, and restaurants in particular, you’ll be less likely to have a language barrier. However, as a guest in their country I think the least you can do is learn a few key phrases to help bridge the gap.

• Parlez vous anglais? Do you speak English?
• S’il vous plaît. Please.
•  L’addition, s’il vous plaît. The bill, please.
• Bonjour (day) and Bonsoir (evening): Hello.
• Merci. Thank you.
• Au revoir. Goodbye. 
• Ou sont les toilettes? Where are the toilets? 
• Excusez-moi. Excuse me. 

Is the fashion like Emily in Paris?

No. From my point of view, most of the people who were dressing like Emily were American tourists looking for an Instagram moment I know we really want to believe that French fashion is all bright colors and designer labels, but that’s just not typically the case. Parisian style is undoubtedly effortless and chic, but it’s also extremely practical. Imagine staples with a twist and comfortable sneakers to get around the streets of Paris.

Are the museums touristy?

Yes, but that’s the fun! I recently read that there’s a huge difference between a spot being touristy and a tourist trap. There’s no shame in going somewhere that is popular amongst tourists. The top art museums in Paris host some of the most precious pieces of art in the world, but you won’t always see local Parisians there. Bar Hemingway is a favorite amongst Americans, but it’s a must-visit for any literature lover. When visiting a new city, let yourself be a tourist and have fun finding local favorites along the way. 

Is Paris too big to enjoy fully?

Not with a Metro card! It’s easy to underestimate how spread out the city of Paris is. It could take you hours to walk from one site to the next. My first piece of advice? Wear your most comfortable pair of sneakers. I highly recommend Vejas sneakers. The second piece of advice? Get from Point A to Point B via the Metro. It’s clean, efficient, and surprisingly easy to navigate. It saved us so much time as we traveled around the city and is cheaper than Uber.

Is a trip to Paris worth it?

Absolutely, 100%. Paris has something to offer every single visitor. Whether your focus is shopping, art, dining, or history, there’s so much to uncover. Often, all of those mediums are infused together. It should be every traveler’s bucket list. I promise you, especially if you come with an open mind, that you’ll be sure to fall in love with this incredibly romantic city.

Paris, I absolutely love you! I can’t wait to keep sharing my travels and adventures. If you have any questions about French travel, I’m more than happy to answer. If I can convince anyone to finally take the plunge and book your trip, than I consider my posts to be a success!

Love from Paris,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Girl’s Trip to Paris

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Whew! It’s been an absolute blur these last few weeks. After jetting off to Europe, I hit the ground running almost as soon as I landed back in NYC. If you look back on the past week, I’ve been uncharacteristically quiet and it’s all because I feel like I haven’t had a day to reset and regroup. The heatwave that hit New York gave me an opportunity to unwind and enjoy the AC. Clearly, I desperately needed it! Finally recharged, I feel ready to share all of the amazing little details on my trip to Paris. Reader beware: you may end up wanting to book a flight ASAP!

First, I have to start with these gorgeous pictures! Since it was a girl’s trip, my loyal photographer and husband, David, wasn’t invited. Not wanting to miss out on some iconic pictures, I turned to a company called Flytographer. I’ve been looking into this company for quite some time and I think it’s an incredible business idea! For a flat rate, you can book a photographer from their worldwide network. Better yet, you can take a peek at past portfolios to get a really great sense of personality and aesthetic.

I met with Rachael at the Debilly Footbridge one morning to shoot these amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. She was such a doll to work with and her talent speaks for itself. While David will always be my go-to photographer, I can’t wait to use Flytographer again on our next vacation. If you are interested in trying this for yourself, and want a $25 discount in the process, be sure to click this link here and start daydreaming about your next international photoshoot.

My friend and I stayed at the positively dreamy Hotels des Grands Boulevards in the 2nd Arrondissement neighborhood. Set in a building as old as the French Revolution, the culture and history of the city has been brought to life with the use of Art Deco decor and vintage details. The hotel itself is small and intimate, but still has all of the luxuries you would hope for from a boutique hotel. The Shell is their rendition of a vintage inspired cocktail bar and seemed like the place to be every night. During the day, you can stop by to grab a bite to eat or sit down for a gourmet meal. The thoughtful staff was absolutely amazing. No detail was overlooked.

More importantly, I absolutely loved the neighborhood we stayed in! A small trek from the major tourist attractions, it gave an amazing opportunity to live like the locals live. The streets were lined with quintessential Parisian cafes and packed nightly with the young professionals of the city after a day’s work. There was something so satisfying about sitting down and being fully immersed in the French language and culture. Although my own French skills are extremely minimal, I spoke what I could and tried to listen as often as possible. As far as recommendations, you will not find a bad pick in this neighborhood.

Since it was such a quick stay, I wanted to see as much as possible! The best way to do that is throw on your comfiest sneakers and clothes that you won’t mind breaking a sweat in. From our hotel, we walked all around the city stopping by to take in the sights. Personally, the Notre Dame Cathedral was the major highlight. As cliche as it sounds, the Hunchback of Notre Dame has always been one of my favorite Disney movies and to see it in person, was amazing.

Even through the construction zone, you can still catch glimpses of the incredible detail in the architecture. I pray that the renovations will be finished in my lifetime so I can go back and really be able to take it all in. From there, we walked all the way to the Eiffel Tour and then back again to our hotel, taking everything in along the way. Grand total, I think we walked nearly 18 miles that day. It’s over a week later now and my legs are just feeling back to normal.

The one attraction I booked tickets for was the Louvre. How could I travel all the way to Paris and not cross that off my Bucket List? Of course, seeing the Mona Lisa was wonderful, the building itself is truly a work of art. It was originally built as a palace and all of the regalia can be seen in the decor. Sadly, we didn’t have time for the Musee D’Orsay or Musee de l’Orangerie, but it’s all the reason to return soon!

I was seriously nervous about being a first timer in Paris, but now that I’ve been able to experience the city for myself, it will hold a special place in my heart. It’s a city that has become entirely enveloped in romanticism, but still fully lives up to the expectation. I can’t wait to bring David here because I know he will love it too!

In the upcoming weeks, I’ll be posting more snapshots from my trip, but also feel inspired to talk about my tips for traveling abroad with friends. Regardless, be sure to check back often to hear about my latest adventures.

Love from NYC,
Katie

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