Scenes from Paris
Bonjour and happy Friday, friends! If all goes as planned, Brandon and I should currently be driving from Interlaken to Montreux. And I should clarify, Brandon will be driving. A stick shift + steep inclines + foreign countries is not a good combination for moi.
Everything has been stunningly gorgeous so far and I’ve already taken a ton of pictures that I still have to sort through, but I did have some downtime earlier in the week while the husband was at the conference so I went ahead and put together a post from our time in Paris. The last time we were there was five years ago, during the summer and it was hot and crowded. This time we were only there for 24 hours but even in that small amount of time, I realized that autumn is a wonderful time to visit. The weather is beautiful, the streets aren’t even half as crowded and hotel rates are much cheaper. Good thing too because I’m sucker for a room with a view. I booked us a night at Hotel Duquesne Eiffel located in the 7th arrondissement and it didn’t disappoint.
Although the rooms were a little on the small side but it’s Paris so that’s to be expected.
The location, however, was perfect. We were within a 20 minute walk from virtually everything, including the Invalides right around the corner which we passed on our way to lunch at Le Pain Quotidien.
I started with a juice made from carrots, mango, apple, and parsnips {sounds strange but it was really good} and I also ordered a grilled vegetable platter with lemon lentils and beet hummus for my meal which was phe-NOM-enal.
From there we strolled along the surrounding streets of the Saint-Germain des Pres neighborhood which I have to say is one of my favorites in all of Paris. Everything is so clean and well-kept. We peaked into a few bakeries and eventually a wine store so that we could grab a bottle for a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Seeing how we were only there for one day, I really wanted to relax and just take in the surroundings and the picnic was perfect for that. We talked for a while and people watched until the wine started to kick in. Then the jet lag quickly caught up with us so took a walk along the Seine before heading back to the hotel for a nap. After we got some rest, we woke up to a gorgeous sunset view from the hotel room.
Le sigh.
For dinner, we went for a long walk so that we could try a restaurant called Le Soufflé. I ordered a mushroom soufflé and for dessert we shared the pistachio and chocolate.
Unfortunately I wasn’t impressed. We’ve been to a few soufflé restaurants back in the states (Café Jacqueline in San Francisco is amazing and Rise in Dallas is a close second) and they both blew this place out of the water. I was really surprised too because I would expect an authentic French restaurant to be the best but it lacked flavor and the ingredients just didn’t taste fresh. And pretty much every single table was speaking English which made me question whether or not it was a known tourist trap. I guess Yelp doesn’t work the same in France, ha! Oh well. C’est la vie!
Have you been to Paris? What was your favorite thing to see or do?
Have you ever had soufflé?
Le sigh. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I haven’t been to Paris since I was… 10 (??)… years old, and I think it’s safe to say that I didn’t appreciate it nearly enough when I was there. It’s definitely on my list of places that I’d love to visit, and fall sounds like an absolutely perfect time to go… Hopefully in the next handful of years!
Croissants, wine and lounging in front of the Eiffel Tower? Gaaah, I’m so jealous/excited for you! Your pics are gorgeous and I want to go to Paris so badly. So beautiful. Safe travels!
I’ve been to Paris twice. I wasn’t impressed the first time, I liked it better when I visited it again after my graduation a few years ago. I’m not a fan of French cuisine but Paris is always Paris! p.s. I love France, especially southern France: the French riviera is stunning. One of my favorite cities in the world is Nice.
Yes, French cuisine is much different than Italian! ;) We are staying the south of France but not in the Riviera. I hope to come back in the summertime and see it though!
I’ve never been to Paris! I wish. The only place I’ve visited in France is Nice on the coast. The treats look quite amazing as do the views. I love the idea of picnicking in the main part of town to people watch — perhaps the best way to see the city. Enjoy!
Loved seeing the pictures. Wish you had photographed where your Great Grand Aunt Lucile Panis sang, The Paris Opera House. My favorite places were the Musee ‘Orsay and LesEnvalide. Enjoy the rest of your stay. Hope you make it to the Midi where your ancestors are from.
I wish I had remembered to visit the Opera House! It would be much easier to remember these things if I had you here with me! :)
We have been to Paris once or twice…:) I recall several absolutely gorgeous salads and food markets and delicious French bread and cheese and croissants and coffee – the simple things are my favorites! Lovely photos, hope you are enjoying a safe journey winding along steep Alpine roads…..
Thank you, Karen! :)
Stunning photos. Can’t wait to see ALL your Europe pics!
gorgeous photography!! Never been to Paris, although it is on my Bucket List :) The Eiffel Tower pics made me so happy inside, and I’m so glad you could visit such an awesome city. Have fun!
Thank you, Mercy! I hope you get a chance to check it off your list one day soon. :)
Your pictures are gorgeous!! Looks so beeeeeautiful there! Never been to France or Europe for that matter and would LOVE to go soon!! Hope you are soaking it all up!!
Twenty-four hours in Paris! Oh, where to start? I’m dying to visit France but, with some big events on the horizon for us, I doubt it will be anytime soon. Glad I could live vicariously through your post for now! That sunset view is super-duper-uper le sigh.
I hope you get a chance to go one day! :)
This post is making me want to go back to Paris. I only went for two day in 2007 and never thought I’d reallllly want to go back but now I do! I remember not being super impressed by the food at all, but I think I just went to bad places, unfortunately. I also remember thinking it was pretty dirty is some places and couldn’t stand the smoke in restaurants. Sounds like I had a great time, right? I really did have fun though!
That was actually the first meal that I remember being disappointed in. Most of the other restaurants we stumbled into or the vegan/vegetarian ones that I researched ahead of time have all been great. However, the cigarette smoke is still a problem. Not inside the restaurant but if you sit outside or near the door, that is all you smell. It’s like that in most of Europe and it drives me nuts!! If you can get past that then it’s very enjoyable. ;)
So basically, I just really need to go to Paris…:-p
Gorgeous! I would so love to stay/live there for 2 or 3 months to really see it and feel it!
I have only been to Paris once and want to go back! I loved getting soaked up into the scenery and local shops, etc. It is also totally a tourist attraction, but I loved the Eiffel Tower too.
So so pretty! Those pictures from sunset … gorgeous! Sounds like you had a fantastic time!
I was in Paris once … I was only there for I think two days and it was okay. It was with a high school tour type thing so I blame that for the eh kind of experience! Maybe someday we’ll get to go back!
Gosh, I´m soo behind in reading blog posts that I didn´t even realize you´re in Europe. Have fun, too bad that Germany isn´t on the list. I´d love to visit Paris again, i think I was 14 the last time I´ve been there
Oh my goodness Sarah, These pictures are amazing. The view from your room?? How romantic to visit Paris as a newlywed. :) I’ve never been myself, but it is on the travel bucket list for sure. I love European cities. Thanks so much for sharing!
OOOOOh your trip looks so beautiful. I’ve never been there so I’m still not quite sure why I wasn’t put into your suitcase!! :)
It seems very romantic and the FOOD… gasp, dreamy!!
Looks like an amazing day, Sarah!! A picnic sounds like it was the perfect idea. I mean you know my love of picnics, and in a romantic European setting, even more so! Have a WONDERFUL rest of your trip :)
Ugh, I’ve never been and am SO jealous! Doesn’t help that everyone around me seems to have been there all of a sudden. Guess I’ll just haaaave to go now ;-) Enjoy the rest of your trip, lady!
Beautiful! I feel like we lead parallel lives, haha! Reading about your day there makes me want to go back right now. We kept meaning to have wine by the Eiffel Tower but never got to it, and now I’m regretting it. Can’t wait to see what the rest of your trip is like!
Aww, sorry about your disappointing souffle! I was wondering how your experience being vegetarian in Paris was… but now I know :) I love all your travel photos, and am living vicariously through you as I struggle through a Monday afternoon in the office!
I love living vicariously through you with all the awesome vacations you go on! Your photos are beautiful! I’ve never been to Paris, but it is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and now I want to go there even more :)
Le sigh indeed!!! What an AMAZING trip! I have always wanted to go to Paris, so I can living vicariously through you guys right now! Safe travels!!
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I’ll be there in 3 weeks. Definitely want to visit the St. Germain de Pres neighborhood.