The Streets of Paris, The Louvre, The Notre Dame, and The Eiffel Tower

 

Six-minute video here.

Voila! And just like that! Paris is now part of my cities-I-love list (with Kuala Lumpur, New York City, Adelaide, Makati, and Muntinlupa).

I managed my expectations when the family decided to visit. The city is at the bottom of my trip priorities because of the stories I heard. Past travelers said so much about pickpockets and tourist traps. So when we came, I had to up my antennae to be always on guard.

But it first captivated me. Seeing its Christmassy streets, adorable decorations, well-placed parks, and Christmas markets, some stars popped out of my eyes. Haha! "Lovely" is an understatement.

I like that everything is walkable, especially for people like me and my husband, who collect 10k steps or more daily. 

The highlight of the trip is our Eiffel Tower Tour, which is featured on the YouTube short above. Our Facebook page also features a reel about one of the glitzy Christmas markets in the city. 

If you try the Eiffel Tour, you have two choices: go up to the second floor only or go to the Summit. The second floor has a restaurant and food stalls and a glass floor where one can view what's going on in the ground. The Summit, as expected, presents a 360-degree view of the city. It is a majestic spectacle! Be ready to wear your Winter clothing if you visit during this season. Temperatures could reach zero. Lucky if you get snow!

The tour could last three hours, including lining up at the well-guarded entrances and waiting at the lifts. Of course, if you're already at the top, you have to maximize the experience. Some shops at the top sell champagne, souvenirs, and goodies like macarons and croissants. You will also learn a bit about how Gustav Eiffel constructed it. His office is also situated at the top of the structure.

If you travel in December, do not miss their festive Christmas markets. We spotted two, one in a "rue" (street) and the other at the foot of the Eiffel, although it is located outside just across. Check out our reel on our Facebook page.

When you're in Paris, a fashion capital, expect to see Dior, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton shops left and right. We saw a long queue outside a Dior store. The shop's facade was elegantly adorned in a gold Christmas theme.

You will never run out of choices when it comes to restaurants. They have all sorts. We saw Thai and Vietnamese places, Spanish, Mexican, Italian, and more. For our first breakfast, we had pain au chocolat, baguette, hot chocolate, and coffee at a patisserie. My son had a steak and fries. The waiter had to make sure he heard my son correctly when he said "steak"! Hahaha! For breakfast, huh!

We thoroughly enjoyed Paris. We will come back for sure. 

Several travel services offer a wide selection of tour options going to Paris. If you're coming from The Netherlands, like us, you may subscribe to Slangen Reizen's offers.