8/10/2016 0 Comments Musee du LouvreToday, on our last day in Paris, we visited the Louvre. It is the world's largest museum and one of the most overwhelming places I've ever been. There is so much to see, so many crowds, and so much ground to cover. Still, it was unbelievable to witness one of the greatest collections of art and history. The museum itself was originally built as a fortress under Philip II. In the 15th century, it was transformed into a palace and the primary residence of French kings, the first being Francis I. After the French Revolution, the palace was made into a museum. The museum did remain a residence for Napoleon III years after, who's extravagant apartment is now part of the exhibit. After the museum, we grabbed something to eat and then checked off one of my biggest bucket list items for Paris: visiting a jazz club. We decided to go to Chez Papa Jazz Club simply because it was the first one stumbled upon. We got lucky. Great vibes and great music, perhaps my favorite night in Paris.
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8/9/2016 0 Comments The City of LoveWe didn't have any plans today, so we decided to walk to the Eiffel tower and have a mini picnic. How surreal it is to sit under the tower and drink champagne on a sunny day. After, we bought tickets for a tour boat along the Seine to get back to the hotel. When we passed under the Pont Neuf (the love lock bridge), we hopped off to buy locks. Missing my love today, but now we have a lock in Paris (A+B).
8/9/2016 0 Comments The Moulin RougeMoulin Rouge! has always been one of my favorite movies. The jukebox musical takes place in bohemian Monmartre in 1900. While I knew Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman probably wouldn't be there, it seemed necessary to see the cabaret show. Tickets were fairly pricey, but it was completely worth it (and it came with a bottle of champagne). Before the show, we explored Montmartre, climbing the steps up to Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur to see fantastic views of the city. We arrived to the Moulin Rouge around an hour before the show started. No pictures were allowed inside the theater but it was lovely. The show itself lasted about 2 hours and it was SO FUN. My mom and I both loved it!
8/8/2016 0 Comments Bonjour ParisWe arrived in Paris last night. Once again, traveling was a bit exhausting so we only took a walk around the area and found a place to eat before going to bed early. This morning, we ate breakfast in our hotel garden and took the metro to Notre Dame. Though we did not go inside due to the absurdity of the line, the exterior was beautiful. There is a French flower market a few streets over that will definitely make you wish you could pack orange trees in your suitcase. After, we walked around the Latin Quarter just across the river. Come here for the bistros and bookshops! The most famous is Shakespeare & Company, there were no pictures inside the doors, but it is absolutely magical. Once a 16th century monestary, it was modeled and named after Sylvia Beach's previous store, opened in the 1920's. There are beds and various pieces of furniture tucked around the shelves for writers to sleep in in exchange for help around the store. Upstairs, there is a huge room of historic poetry books for anyone to read. When entering the reading room, you are greeted by the shop's motto: ""Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise".
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