The Paris I’d Go Back For

Paris was everything I thought it would be—and somehow still a city I left feeling unfinished with.

We went in late March, just for a quick trip, and stayed in an Airbnb apartment called Sleepoo Paradise. It was cute, bigger than expected, and walkable too, which ended up mattering because Paris is one of those cities best experienced on foot. The kind of place where even the sidewalks feel cinematic.

The first thing I learned about Paris is that it really is a destination of love. Not only in the obvious romantic sense, but in the way people love food, style, long dinners, perfume, architecture, and the simple act of sitting at a café and watching the world move around them.

Prices were high, which I expected, and for the most part people were kind. Language was never really a problem since most people did speak English. We were quick to learn that the French prefer you to speak your own language rather than try to speak, and butcher, French. Paris somehow communicates with you anyway.

The Eiffel Tower was the moment. It is everything you think it is and somehow so much more. Seeing it in person at night felt surreal. Huge, glowing, impossible to ignore. One of those landmarks you’ve seen in pictures your whole life, then suddenly there it is in front of you.

We landed at night and rushed to get a taxi into the city to see the Eiffel tower twinkle. We rushed and rushed and finally made it right before midnight. We sadly missed the twinkle but the minute we arrived and saw the tower in person for the first time, we no longer cared.

We were so giddy, dancing and spinning around the tower. We took silly photos, laid on the grass looking up, and laughed the night away. The Eiffel tower is a landmark I knew from very young, so this one meant more to see in person than others. We stayed until they turned the lights off and then wandered our way to our accommodation. 

One of my favorite things we did was visit Musée du Parfum Fragonard. Lydia and I did the self-guided tour and got to see how perfume is made in Paris. I bought Belle de Nuit, which felt like the most Paris purchase possible. It was really interesting to see how much went into a perfume.

They put so much emphasis on the importance of perfume, that it is not just something to smell good but an experience that goes with you throughout the day, creating first impressions to others, changing the mood of your day. I treasure my Paris perfume and use it sparingly! 

We also made our way through some Emily in Paris locations, including Gabriel’s restaurant and Emily’s apartment. Very cool to see in person, I am a film nut! We found food nearby after, and the boys somehow guessed exactly what Lydia and I would order. We really were traveling like a little family by then.

And then there were the cafés.

La Crêperie for breakfast. Firmine for chicken BBQ pizza and an open late vibe. Midoré for one of the best croissants and coffee I had there. Kanopé for a small breakfast spot with French toast. Everywhere we went felt local, warm, and delicious. Paris knows how to make eating feel like an event.

Sometimes my favorite moments weren’t landmarks at all. Just walking around. Seeing the cafés spill onto sidewalks. Watching intersections buzz with energy. Passing bakeries. Hearing a language I didn’t speak. Feeling like I was inside a movie for two days.

If I could do it again, I would stay longer. I wouldn’t fly into Beauvais airport. I wouldn’t go only on a Tuesday when so much was closed. I would make more time for hidden places, neighborhood spots, and slower mornings.

But maybe that’s why I loved it.

Paris gave me enough to fall for it, and left enough unseen to pull me back.

Some cities are beautiful once. Paris felt like the kind of city where beauty is permanent.

Cannes, Beyond the Red Carpet

When people hear Cannes, they usually think of flashbulbs, film premieres, yachts lined up in the harbor, and celebrities stepping onto the red carpet. And yes, that version of Cannes exists. But the Cannes I found with Emma felt softer than that. Slower. Sun-soaked. A little glamorous, but still grounded in everyday French life.

We spent our days wandering instead of rushing, which felt like the right way to do it.

One of my favorite stops was Forville Market, where the city feels most alive. Stalls full of fresh fruit, flowers, cheeses, breads, and people who clearly know exactly what they’re buying. It had that kind of effortless energy European markets do—busy without being chaotic, beautiful without trying too hard. We picked up bread and cheese there for the most simple and perfect French lunch. Nothing fancy, just fresh ingredients eaten outside in the sun, which somehow made it taste even better.

That became one of the best parts of Cannes to me. It wasn’t about reservations or dressing up. It was about slowing down enough to enjoy things done well.

We explored the old side of the city too, climbing up toward Le Suquet where the streets wind higher and the views get better with every turn. We saw the Tour du Masque, one of those places that feels tucked into the story of the city, then made our way to the Castle of Castre for sunset.

Watching the sun drop over Cannes from up there was one of those travel moments that doesn’t need much talking. The rooftops below us, the sea stretching out in front of us, the warm light hitting everything just right. It made the city feel elegant and peaceful all at once.

We also visited Notre-Dame d’Espérance, standing above the town like it has watched Cannes become what it is now. Quiet, beautiful, and a contrast to the sparkle people usually associate with the city.

Of course, we walked the famous stretch where the Cannes Film Festival takes over each year. There’s something fun about standing in a place you’ve seen in photos for years. Even without the crowds and cameras, you can feel the history of it—the idea that for a little while every year, the whole world looks here.

But what I loved most was everything in between.

A beach day with nowhere to be. Walking the port past rows of boats that looked unreal. Wandering streets with Emma, talking about everything and nothing. Letting Cannes be less about what it’s known for and more about how it felt to actually be there.

Because Cannes surprised me.

It has glamour, yes. But underneath that, it has markets, old streets, sunset views, sea air, and lunches made of bread and cheese eaten outside with your childhood friend.

And honestly, that was the version worth seeing.

Paris… I am BACK!

I told you Paris keeps you wanting more.

I visited Paris with my bestie girl Linz. We stayed in a small room with a twin bed. We had a view of the Eiffel tower though so it was WORTH IT. The things you do when you are young, cheap, and have a passion of seeing the world.

We went to the Lourve, saw Mona Lisa, with a thousand other people! The art in this museum pulls emotions from you in so many ways. You could spend hours on end here.

We walked and walked until my tights were torn and our feet ached for elevation. This was a fun girls trip were we treasured our time together.

As Disney lovers, we went to Disneyland Paris!! It was my first time at an abroad Disney park. It was an interesting experience. Nothing beats Anahiem. It was special to be there and feel the magic of not only Disney but France as well. It lost the sense of escapism that Disney in the states provides. Simply because it is all in a different language. The Avengers ride was our favorite and the food was delicious!