Week 25: Paris

This weekend I decided to take a nice little trip to the neighboring city of Paris, about 3.5 hours driving from Brussels. My first day was spent at the Palace of Versailles, which lived up to all the hype about being enormous, especially the gardens. I was privy to viewing the most famous rooms of this enormous building, including the king’s bedroom (complete with a bed about my height) and the hall of mirrors. Following this tour through the gaudiest of households, I took a trip through the magnificent gardens, the truly spectacular part of the complex. These stretched over an enormous amount of area, and were resplendent with fountains, sculptures, and lots of water, the last of which turned into a prime location for crew practice as the sun was setting. These gardens were also the location of my first encounter with hot wine, a Christmas season tradition throughout Northern Europe. There are few things better this time of year than strolling through the streets of the old city or along the lush garden pathways with a steaming cup of wine.

After getting back to Paris, I went to the Montmartre neighborhood to see Basilica of the Sacre Coeur at night. I was not disappointed by this view of the magnificent building at night, with lights gleaming off the white exterior. I was also treated to a view of the city overall, as the basilica is on top of one of the highest hills in the city. While this did mean walking up a good number of stairs, it did not disappoint!

Sunday I went for a morning walk along the canal near my hostel. I felt very French as I munched on a Croissant and found myself in a weekend market that took up a small park between the buildings. After packing up, I made my way to the Avenue Champs-Élysées and walked down to the Arc de Triumph for the best view of the city. Once I had secured my requisite pictures of the Eifel tower, I continued back along the avenue toward the Louvre, pausing at the Parisian Christmas market for more hot wine and to admire the stalls and buzz of the area.

My walk continued through the central park and past the Louvre to the Cathedral de Notre Dame, and then up to a neighborhood recommended by a friend. From a small corner diner I enjoy the traditional Croquet Madam and watched a yard sale-type market happening right outside the window. Upon finishing my French delicacy, I walked through this charming market, observing the excellent habit Europeans have of sitting together, drinking wine, and enjoying their lives in a way rarely experienced in the United States. I also treated myself to more hot wine, which is an excellent way to keep off the cold as I traveled.