Paris: Part One

I love Paris. I love the lights along the Seine and the Champs Elysees at night. I love Notre Dame, the view from the Arc de Triomphe, the courtyard of the Louvre, the tiny, perfectly decorated apartment balconies and people watching from a cafe. I love warm croissants in the morning, enjoying perfectly cooked baguettes with brie and delicious wine that borders on expensive at 5 euros a bottle. (The same wine would cost $25 a bottle in the US.) Paris has its downfalls. Like any other big city, it's loud and crowded and not always clean but it still seems a bit more magical than other cities. Perhaps I've been sucked in by the marketing (my first memory about Paris comes from Audrey Hepburn's romanticized notion of the city in Sabrina) or maybe I just want to be a part of the French club (speaking French and being a little rude to whomever I chose just because I can). Either way, I'm a fan of the city and taking people there for the first time always feels like witnessing one of their dreams come true.

Our dear friends Lexi and Barrett came to visit us in Leiden (all the way from New Braunfels, TX!) and since Paris is only a 3 hour train, we had to make a weekend trip. Paris wasn't the most relaxing part of their trip because there's so much to see and do in only a few days but we ate well, we drank well and we had fun touring the City of Lights.

Lexi and Barrett showing their excited faces on the train ride!

We took a champagne boat tour of the Seine at sunset where a sommelier taught us about 3 different champagnes (while we drank them) and answered any questions we had about Paris.

Us with our wonderful tour guide. Big thanks to O Chateau winery.

Me and Lexi on the Seine. Everything on the river starts to light up as the sun sets.

The Eiffel Tower! Our camera in hand group shot was better than the one the strangers took of us thanks to Cole's long arms.

Gig 'em! Shout out to all the Aggies! (Don't be jealous. I already posted about our eternal support for KU basketball.)

The courtyard of the Louvre.

We had wonderful weather in Paris. I have to say the city is much nicer when it's almost spring that it is in the winter. Stay tuned for Paris: Part Two when Dave and Diana (Cole's parents) come to visit!