Winter in Paris

Falling in Love with Paris!

What an immense impression Paris made upon me. 

It is the most extraordinary place in the world! 

-Charles Dickens

- Thanks Mr. Dickens, you explain my sentiments exactly! - 

I knew that winter in Paris would have a completely different vibe than late summer in the same city, but we live so close, so why not experience every season in "The City of Light?!" My hard working husband had Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday off of work, so it was the perfect excuse for his first Parisian adventure. We downloaded a few French podcasts and brushed up on our language skills during the two and a half hour drive. We found a great rate at a four-star hotel right off the freeway called Oceania Hotel, and the location was close to a metro stop with easy 15-minute access into the heart of Paris. (Trip planning note: this hotel is great if you're driving a car because the parking rate is reasonable at 20 Euro a night, and you won't have to deal with the headache of driving your car into the heart of the city.)

The weather this time around was a little wet and overcast, but it didn't keep us from seeing most of Paris' landmarks. We spent the first (rainy) afternoon trying to take in as much of the Louvre as possible. What a remarkable museum, and what tired feet we had after a few hours in there! I had done extensive research and reserved a table for two at FL Restaurant. The cozy little restaurant is a few streets away from the Eiffel Tower, but with only 12 tables, it is an intimate escape from the super touristy spots on the main drag. Two friends own the place, one is the chef and the other the front of house manager, and their service is just impeccable! 

We started our second day with an early morning swim and sauna before hitting the streets for some serious sightseeing. It was overcast, but luckily it didn't rain on our second day in Paris! The Paris Metro system is fairly easy to use so we were able to see a lot in a few. Enjoy some pictures of our time at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower. We also explored two of the big Christmas markets that had opened over the Thanksgiving Holiday, but I will write about those in a future post. 

Hope you all are getting excited for the Holidays! What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? This year I am loving the European Christmas markets, but I have to say that my favorite part of Christmas is that we get to fly home for three whole weeks of family and friends!

When you're hungry in Paris - a baguette is always a convenient and cheap option. 

November weather in Paris - bring a rain jacket!

Love locks and a quick kiss on the Pont Des Arts bridge - Paris, France. 

Inside the Louvre - Paris. 

Art classes were taking place all throughout the Louvre. 

A romantic dinner at FL Restaurant in Paris, France.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Paris. 

Outside Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris. 

I love the Notre Dame rose windows! I remember studying these in art class!

As the sun set, we said goodnight to Paris with a (mini) bottle of wine, and the Eiffel Tower sparkled on cue as if to add romance to our evening.
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