[2013] Paris, France

Since I've lived in Europe, I've made a point to go to Paris at least once a year. This trip to Paris was especially memorable because I met up with Emily and Souba from Korea. It was sad that Kirstin couldn't join us this time around (we met up in Milan the year before), but we managed to enjoy ourselves still.

Coincidentally my friend from university was in Paris with his wife, so we met up with them at La Duree for a coffee and treat.

Each time I visit Paris, I learn a little bit more about it, but I feel like I've still only scratched the surface.

[2013] Paris, France with Faith

Highlights:
1. Bastille Day = Firefighter Parties with CHAMPAGNE. Each fire station around the city converts into a club each Bastille Day for a few nights and they literally sell Champagne by the bottle. It was amazing!
2. Concert on Champ de Mars. We sat right in front of the Eiffel Tower and listened to famous French opera singers singing La Vie en Rose backed by the Paris Philharmonic. Finished off by some great fireworks. Could it have been more romantic?

Another successful trip to Paris!

[2012] Epernay, France

We enjoyed a 2 nights in Epernay with our friends Mari and Liam during our spring break. We really liked the Moet and Chandon tour to their underground cellars that are massive! Supposedly they have F1 races down there?! Our minds were boggled trying to calculate how many bottles were stored in the one hallway we went through, let alone how much it was worth. The unfortunate part of the tour was the promo video they played for us right at the beginning. We were put in a room to watch a ~7min long commercial, while Scarlett Johansson narrated with key words like: luxury, fragrant, effervescence, etc. BARF! What a major turn off. They almost won us over when we were forced to pick up our two glasses of champagne at the same time, encouraging us to double fist white and rose champagne. Classy~

Our highlight was the restaurant La Grillade Gourmande. Wonderful food, great atmosphere, really really good wine pairings and an amazing owner that made you feel like special guests to his personal home.

We had another one of our meals at a Thai restaurant where local musicians performed. At the end of the evening I had the courage to asked one of them if I could try out their accordion. The accordion is my new favourite instrument. (I actually have a personal rule that if a street performer is playing the accordion I must give them some money--this is my attempt to ensure that accordions keep being played) I was able to push out a um-cha-cha beat while I made a simple melody with my left hand, even though it was my first time trying one out. I think everyone was impressed, or at least they feigned it when they applauded my efforts! **It should be noted that there were only a handful of people left in the restaurant at this point, mainly my friends and the staff.

Hopefully next time we go Perrier & Jouet will be open because it was NEVER open to sell us their pretty bottles of champagne. Or their pretty champagne flutes at that.

[2008] Eiffel Tower, France

Ever since I studied the Eiffel Tower for a grade 4 project with Mr. Dawson, I have dreamed of visitng Paris to visit it. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of my Eiffel tower model made out of toothpicks...but I was finally able to visit it. It was during the week of Bastille Day and so it was a beautiful blue Eiffel tour.

 

[2008] Versailles, France

By the time we visited Versailles, we had had our fill of touring and sightseeing, so we perused through the inside of the estate quite quickly and spent most of our time just hanging out to enjoy the wonderful weather. It was beautiful inside and out! We visited on Bastille day, and they were having a party; dresscode: white! It was pretty interesting seeing the Parisiennes picnic-ing along the Grand Canal, and a pleasure to the eyes since they always do everything with such style.
I also realized this day (along with my friend) why a lot of French artists have such beautiful cloud-filled skies in their artwork. The skies here were filled with fluffy white clouds that look like they've been placed there strategically.

[2010-2011] Nice, France

[2008] Paris, France

Whenever I think of Paris, the song Aux Champs Elysées pops into my head. Does that happen to anyone else? This trip was my first time in France and it was everything I thought it would be an more! Cheesy? Well of corse! This trip was filled with savoury crepes (fromage, a must in them) and we made sure to try fondue.We went to the same crepe place in the Latin quarter by our hostel EVERYDAY, sometimes twice for a sweet one too. I must go back next time!

 Besides the cheesy food and wonderful crepes, I really enjoyed the architecture and art. I had just spent about 2 weeks in Italy and was starting to get tired of the Renaissance art. Blech~ Sorry Renaissance Art, but you are not my favourite style!  The Rodin museum and garden were a breath of fresh air to me. How expressionful and beautiful...

On the flip side, I found Le Louvre to be disappointing. It was just too busy, and huge!! It was a little stressful trying to see all the masterpieces in the time we had alotted for the visit. On top of that, the Mona Lisa, was tres tres underwhelming. The crowd of pushy rude people lined up to see it may have added to this fact. I must say though, DaVinci's paintings are stunning!

We missed out on the Centre Pompidou and Musee d'Orsay because of time, so I definitely want to make another visit to just walk through these Art museums.

I can say with confidence that this is where I started to appreciate art...Thanks Paris!