Bonjour! Rediscovering Paris, France

Paris truly felt like a movie, filled with delicious pastries, walks through parks and stunning sunsets. Last time I was in Paris was 2012, so it was nice to visit and discover some new spots. Although some days were gloomy and a bit chilly, I couldn't complain, as there was still plenty to do, see and taste.

My "mama" (mother) met me half-way through my week in Paris and joined me for my travels through France for the next couple of weeks. Thankfully she speaks French, so I have a translator by my side! Taking a break from Google Translate for the time being ;)

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La Tour Eiffel - built in 1889 and currently being repainted/repaired along with much of the city as it prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics. We were lucky enough to view Paris from above at dusk and right when the city started to light up for the evening.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - currently under renovation after the fire in 2019, the Cathedral is surrounded by descriptive boards outlining the horrific event and how restoration is being conducted to preserve the long history and original artwork.

Musée Rodin - known for "The Thinker", the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin. In addition to the indoor museum, the outdoor grounds are covered with a garden and many sculptures. It's a great spot to read a book, enjoy a coffee or treat!

Musée du Louvre - a trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without seeing Da Vinci's painting of "Mona Lisa". Tucked away behind glass, 2 wooden barriers and another rope, I guess you could say it is safe, as I'm not sure how much more protection the painting could receive. Another must see painting in the museum is "Liberty Leading the People", depicting the July Revolution of 1830 and people's fight for freedom. Very timely and moving, as people across the world fight for freedom, democracy and peace.

Basilique du Sacre - Coeur de Montmartre - on the north end of Paris, in the 18th Arrondisement sits the white basilica, looking over the rest of the city.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe - it was lovely to walk from the Louvre, up avenue des Champs-Élysées and check out some nice stores along the way before reaching the Arc De Triomphe.

Ladurée - on the way to the Arc, we dropped into the famous French pastry shop and tried some divine pistachio cream puffs and a coffee éclair. It was certainly difficult to resist buying more pastries, as they all looked beautiful .

Le Comptoir de Relais - we stopped into a traditional French bistro for dinner one evening and had some delicious classics, including escargots!

*escargots with an herb + butter sauce

*scallops au gratin

*beef cheek stew with vegetables + almonds

Printemps and Galeries Lafayette - these two department stores are located on Blvd. Haussmann and each have 3 buildings with a variety of clothing, shoes, home décor, groceries, restaurants. I must say, I think the best sunset over Paris can be seen from the rooftop of Printemps; it was mesmerizing.

#StandWithUkraine - the support for Ukraine is certainly visible in all corners of Paris. Flags hang from balconies, are prominently displayed at city hall and the statue in Place de la République is fitted in a blue + yellow shirt. Donations for Ukrainian charities and humanitarian relief efforts are collected in restaurants, grocery and department stores, and Ukrainians living in Paris organize drives to send over necessities. I also made sure to visit the Taras Shevchenko statue (a famous Ukrainian poet) and met a few Ukrainians who were in the area.

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Merci beaucoup Paris! It was lovely to explore some new places and revisit some familiar spots.

P.S. While in Paris we decided to join a perfume making workshop one rainy afternoon. Over the course of 2 hours the Candora Paris team walked us through the history of perfume making, various scents and had us create our own concoction. It was also a great opportunity to meet new people. I'd certainly recommend this workshop if you're looking to do something besides visiting the regular tourist attractions while in Paris.