“When I was ten years old, my father and I took a trip to Paris, leaving my younger brother and mother in London where she was filming a movie…We went to the Pompidou museum, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre – the usual spots. On the plane back to London he asked me if I knew why we had gone, just he and I, to Paris for the weekend. I said no, but I felt so lucky for the trip. He said, ‘I wanted you to see Paris for the first time with a man who would always love you, no matter what.'” – gwyneth paltrow

The city I was most excited to visit on this Europe trip was Paris. I had some spotty memories from trips there when I was younger, but half of these were based off of photographs and recollections my parents shared. Happily, it turned out to be my most favorite city on the trip. Paris is not romanticized and exaggerated in the least. It is just as gorgeous as the photos you see in magazines. It is just as stunning as described in books. It is just as ridiculously classy and lovely and romantic as the movies. It is everything everyone raves about, and truly one of the most magical places I have ever been.

And it is not just the buildings,
and the museums,
the corner cafes,
the tree-lined promenades,
the chocolate mousse –
it is also the people.

I’ve always maintained this opinion, even before the trip, but I’d like to confirm again – I never found French people to be rude in the least. From literally the moment we stepped off the train, everyone was warm, friendly, helpful, polite. An old woman at the station smiled at us and asked us where we were from and about our trip so far, a girl in the subway stopped to ask if we needed directions as we stared bewildered at a map, every server we had was cheerful & patient and just as great as the food they were serving (AND OH WAS IT GREAT), even on the plane ride home, the elderly French couple next to me were so sweet & friendly even with their limited English and my even more limited French. It warmed my heart :)

On an added note, I swear even the light is prettier in Paris, is it not?