But Paris blew my expectations out of the water. I seriously loved it. To my surprise, KC loved it as well. Everything went perfectly and according to plan. The weather was beautiful, the people were friendly and our embarrassing French was accepted with gracious smiles everywhere. I don't even know where to start.
We were in Paris for 3 full days (4 including Versailles) which I think is great for a first visit. Of course, we didn't see everything there was to see, didn't even scratch the surface, but I personally think it was perfect to get an idea of the city.
I think you can guess what our first stop was. After that, we set about to explore the city. We saw Luxembourg Gardens, Shakespeare & Company (where I bought a copy of Jane Eyre), Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, not to mention beautiful architecture, super old bridges and yummy pastries. We had beer, pizza, chinese food and did I mention the pastries? I also got a French copy of Pride & Prejudice and yes I totally squealed when I found it. We went up the Montparnasse Tower which had the most beautiful views of Paris. We saw the Les Invalides (Army Museum including Napoleon's tomb), the Palais Garnier, Montmarte (including Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge). We hit all the tourist traps including the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. We ate lots of good food and saw the Eiffel Tower twinkling at night. It was amazing.
But let's just get to the pictures, shall we?
Linking up with Kate, Kerri & Emily.
Like I said, Paris blew my expectations out of the water. Everything was fabulous, everyone was ridiculously friendly (someone even told me my French was very good, to which I responded 'thank you! oops, I mean merci!'). Seriously though, it was the perfect first stop on a pretty amazing trip and we'll definitely be back.
<3!! Quite frankly, I think my heart stayed in Paris since the first time I saw it. Love your pics and I'm glad you had a extraordinary time!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I would have spent more time in Paris. I only spent a day and rushed everything and now I'm sad I didn't get tot see the Eiffel tower twinkling! Looks like you guys had amazing weather too! Umm Bubbles in the Sky Bar? How did I not know about that place? Yes please!
ReplyDelete<3, Pamela
Sequins & Sea Breezes
I adore Paris too!!! I'm so glad you both loved it. You certainly have some beautiful pics and memories to treasure! I've been twice and I don't think any number of visits would ever be enough for me!
ReplyDeleteyayayayayayayay!!! i love paris!! those pics brought back such wonderful memories. i'm so glad you had a great time. weren't the pastries THE BEST??
ReplyDeleteAll of your pictures are so pretty, and I seriously want to visit Paris right now! So cool that you found a French version of pride and prejudice while you were there!
ReplyDeleteyou are making me want to go back TODAY. where's my passport?? love the pics and your memories! thanks for sharing them with us!! xo
ReplyDeleteLove all of your pictures!! You guys look so happy! Ahhh, vacation mode! Such fun memories!!
ReplyDeleteum can we talk about your outfits for a second - all parisian perfection! especially that first one. and of course the photos are to die for. thanks for linking up girl! xo
ReplyDeletecheshirekatblog.com
Hooray for finding Pride & Prejudice while there!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are great and you look gorgeous! Can't wait to read more about your trip!
Such a wonderful recap! I'm so happy that you were able to see everything that you wanted and more!! Paris is a dream - such a gorgeous city and a place I think I could go back to time and time again!! P.S. I have the same picture outside and inside the Musee D'Orsay LOL! xo, biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you met good people in Paris! Aren't the grounds of Versailles amazing? I didn't care for the house - it was way too packed to really even enjoy it - but the grounds were awesome! And I don't know how you didn't spend a week at the Louvre. I did. But I had the time and also a student pass so I got in for "free" every time (I think the pass was like $20 and I got into all the museums with it. Yay being a broke student!) Ahhhh, Laduree. I don't get that place. I went and had a $35 CUP OF TEA that wasn't worth it and left broke and disappointed.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, everything is SO GORGEOUS!! I need to talk Nick into this trip! I'll be coming to you for all reviews and recommendations when that happens :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteYou packed in a lot! I'm impressed. Paris really is magical; sometimes I forget that but I think I need to get on the Eurostar more often... Glad you enjoyed your trip, and you've got some fabulous photos to frame!
ReplyDeleteI was following along on Instagram during your whole trip! It looks like you had a blast everywhere you went. Paris is definitely on my list to visit .. hopefully sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteI can't even handle how magical this post is - I am so jealous! Paris also is up there for me in dream vacations. It sounds like the time that you were there was the perfect amount and that you saw everything that you wanted to see - I bet Versailles was on another level, it looks so amazing in photos. Also, french copies of Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice?! I basically would've cried from happiness.
ReplyDeleteMan, this is making me want to go back so bad. Now that you've been, you should read the book Paris. It spans the whole history of the city but has a fictional story based in too. It really lets you envision the places you've seen and where they came from, if that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip!! Paris is on my list.
ReplyDeleteIn other news... I LOVE your hair.
You are so cute! Your trip looks super fun. And from all the positivity, I'm guessing you didn't run afoul of the string scam people at the Sacre Coeur, which is good!
ReplyDeleteOMG your pictures are so amazing!! I wish I could jump on a plane right now and go. So happy to hear that you had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! It looks like you all had an amazing time! We went to Paris last year for our honeymoon and I'm already dreaming of my next trip.
ReplyDeleteAmmmmaaaaaaaaaaazing! You guys really made the most of your three day! Beautiful city!
ReplyDelete~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
acutelifestyle.blogspot.com
ugh I would love to go to Paris! Your pictures are amazing
ReplyDeleteUh-mazing pictures! Loving your stripes! :)
ReplyDeleteThese photos are amazing and it looks like your trip was just fabulous! We're thinking about going to Europe next summer and now you have me wanting to go even more!
ReplyDeleteMoulin Rouge... I'd die. I'd totally want to wear a top hat & sparkly one piece singing while swinging on a swing...
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got some books over there. So worth not buying the copies you saw here to save up money!
Love all the pictures.
I love this! Look at those photos... AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI love all your pictures so much! I am so happy for you that everything went perfectly and according to plan! Paris is like number one on my list of places to visit! Maybe next Summer!
ReplyDeleteOh this makes me want to go back and do the things we didn't get to see while we were there! Love all of your stripes too! So glad you loved it!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this post so much! Can we first talk about how cute you guys are, and how much I'm loving that striped dress?! Looks like an incredible trip, I still can't believe I went to France last year and missed out on Paris! And a Bubble Sky Bar? Yes please :-D
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I cannot wait to go next year. I have one less day I think, but I know I'll see some of what I want to see, and we can always go back!
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! I'm glad you had such a great time!
ReplyDeleteYour Paris trip looks amazing!!! So many things to see, do, EAT! Haha! Those pastries...mmmmm. I can only imagine how awesome they were. I really need to get over my fear of flying so I can go explore Europe like you did!
ReplyDeleteoh, beautiful!!!!! I love, love, love this! What incredible pictures. PS I love how your outfits had such a touch of Parisianish (I just made that word up) to them. You can see the happiness emanating from both of you in each shot. Love travel posts- especially Paris ones!
ReplyDeleteLove your pics! Looks like y'all had a blast. :)
ReplyDeleteI want to go!! Also, I love the striped dress and the striped shirt! For some reason whenever I picture myself in Paris I totally picture myself in stripes. It just seems so very Parisian.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you mentioned the name of the army museum!!! My daughter is obsessed with Paris so I was showing her pictures of when I was there 20 years ago and couldn't remember the name of the place.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are amazing and I'm glad you had such a fabulous time. You're making me want to go back!
So happy for your finally getting to fulfill this dream! All of your pictures are gorgeous and you are gorgeous in them. You picked perfect outfits and everything looks so...Parisian :) I would love see Paris but it's never been a bucket list place for me...but if I ever do a trip to that part of Europe again I definitely want to go there.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!! I really do love Paris. It's so huge it's extremely hard to cover ever corner of that magical place. I've been twice and I still have only seen like 2% of the city, I feel. Aren't you glad you brought those Nikes?!?
ReplyDeleteI cannot get over all the beauty in this post—of Paris, of course, and of YOU! I am so glad you were able to take this trip and that it was everything you wanted it to be. How amazing, and rare at that. Thanks for sharing these lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Paris!! I feel like I could go a million times and still not be satisfied. Great pictures! I've always found people in Paris to be very friendly, I don't know where that misconception comes from. I think as long as you make an effort, people appreciate it. You guys got so much in! I still have not been to the Louvre and I've been to Paris twice now.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love your pictures! Paris has never been at the top of my travel wishlist (probably the only person who's ever said that) but you're making me change my mind! Also, that dress looks absolutely fantastic on you!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh so amazing! Love all of your pics! I went to Paris years ago and this post is making me want to go back! We had so much yummy food there, including croissants and nutella for breakfast every morning, which I could basically live off of and be happy! :) So glad you had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteParis is seriously so magical! I love all your photos and the stripes you wore are so cute! I love that you tried to speak French! What most people don't realize is French people are usually really nice if you try to speak their language!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel a strong desire to go to Paris (I prefer smaller, less-tourist-y towns and cities), but it does seem like a lovely place!
ReplyDeleteI want to go to Paris, but only to shop and the coffee shops! I'm sure its beautiful, the art especially! x
ReplyDeleteI've been to Paris twice. Sometimes I feel like a weirdo, because it didn't grab hold of me like it does so many others. Look, I'm eternally grateful I've experienced Paris. But, my heart swelled and raced in other places. The first time I went, I was with two other Texas girls. The French were not kind to us and our accents. One taxi driver told my friend to quit trying to speak French; it sounds ridiculous. Another waiter was similarly rude. This particular friend of mine was living in Paris at the time and taking French classes. To my untrained ear, she sounded awesome! I think those experiences tainted it a little :( I did think that Versailles was magical, Moulin Rouge was tons of fun!, and there was a cathedral there, St. Eustache (I think), that I sat in and stared at the stained glass windows for almost an hour. My fave pic in the bunch is your sock feet on the hotel bed with macarons and a pastrie :)
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are AMAZING!!!! I can't wait to visit one day!
ReplyDeleteWow girlie your trip to Paris sounds amazing and you got some fabulous pictures! I'm so glad you had a great time. My friends that recently returned from their honeymoon didn't so much enjoy some of the people, I think mainly the taxi drivers. Nonetheless, you've convinced me I need to get my butt there and explore ;-)
ReplyDeleteYour snaps are amazing! Paris really is magical, isn't it?! We went for our anniversary and hit up most of the spots that you guys checked out too and I never wanted to leave, haha. I need to go back to Shakespeare and Company and get a book to add to my collection of knick-knacks I've picked up from travels! Can't wait to read about the rest of your adventures!
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures, and I'm glad you loved the city! Eric and I decided that Paris was probably our favorite city of the 4 we visited last year (though it was tough to choose). I was afraid I'd be let down, but no ... It really is that beautiful and magical and amazing. I definitely want to go back to do some more exploring!
ReplyDeleteOMG Im so jealous! These pictures are amazing!! I cant get over the architecture there! So gorgeous! I will definitely make it there one day! :)
ReplyDelete<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I have never been to Paris but I am obsessed with the place. I love Paris and I will definitely go there soon. Beautiful beautiful pictures Kristen.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I am so glad yall got to see so much. Also, I am having major hair envy. Seriously how does your hair look so good in every picture!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Beautiful pictures. And I hate you for looking fabulous all day long while on vacation, lol JK. My hair usually gets pulled up within the first hour ;) Can't wait to see the rest of your vacay!
ReplyDeleteparis is the best! looks like you had a great time (and im glad KC had a good time too!) love all the stripesss xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteAhh so fun! I haven't done Paris yet, but I'd definitely be snapping lots of pictures of the Eiffel Tower too :)
ReplyDeleteI love all of your stripes! You look so Parisian :) I love that you guys had such a good experience, I feel like Paris is the one place I always hear of people saying that people are rude-- or maybe people say that about London too? haha Anyway, I loooove this post. Admittedly, I basically just think of the Eiffel Tower when I think of Paris, but this makes it look so much better! You might have talked about this already and I just missed it, but where did you guys stay and how did you get around??
ReplyDeleteYou took great photos!
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun! So glad that KC liked it as well! I would love to see these places in person. Especially Moulin Rouge! Oh and the macarons.... yum. So glad you had fun in Paris!! XO -Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Aww:) such nice pictures! So cool that you got a French copy of P&P for your collection :) I've always wanted to go to Paris even though I've heard mixed reviews... so much history and beauty and after hearing about all the landmark places to see I just want to see them for myself, you know? And of course, the pastries!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou look so incredibly happy in that first picture of you and KC with the Eiffel Tower! I am so happy the Paris surpassed your expectations. That would have blown if you were disappointed!
ReplyDeleteCathédrale Notre-Dame looks very amazing! great pict.
ReplyDeleteWatch movie bluray
So I've been excited to go to Paris ever since we decide to do extend our layover there, but reading this post (and looking at all your pictures) has me even MORE excited!! :D
ReplyDeleteRandom question: do you remember where you were when you took this photo?? http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnBTxK9iA2Y/VY2x1Bu6N7I/AAAAAAAABi0/uN-jsIvaMyE/s1600/IMG_5799.JPG Hopefully that comes through. I know we'll take photos close to the tower (like your first couple of shots of it), but I like that further away shot too!