Girl’s Trip to Paris
Dress (also) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet || Watch
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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