The Louvre Museum in Paris

The Louvre museum in Paris is one of the most popular museums in the world and in my opinion probably one of the most beautiful. The buildings seem to go on forever and the exhibits, paintings and murals are extensive and beautiful. We only went to a small area of the museum, our tired feet wouldn't allow us to continue very far but I doubt you can see the entire museum in one and maybe not even two visits.

If you plan to visit this museum then put on your waking shoes and be prepared to stay awhile.

One of my favorite things about the museum was the actual building itself. I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at it.

And a day at the Louvre wouldn't be complete without seeing the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa. It was very difficult to get close to the painting, people were shoving and pushing their way to the front, and to get a glimpse you have to be aggressive. I'm not particularly impressed with this painting but with all the people waiting to catch a glimpse of it and get a photo you don't even have time to browse and admire the art work at your own pace.

The art on the ceiling was what caught my eye the most, it was beautiful!

And the famous Venus de milo statue

Attractions in Paris: Boat cruise & Latin Quarter

If you come to Paris you must take the sightseeing river cruise. This is by far one of the best ways to see Paris and get some photos of the most picturesque views you have ever seen. The river boat cruise tickets can be purchased at the base of the Eiffel Tower by the river. The one hour sightseeing tour that I took was 13 euros but there are also romantic dinner cruises.

Here are some photos of the cruise even though no photo could do these scenes justice. 

The Latin Quarter

If you are looking for great nightlife, bars and a variety of restaurants and outdoor patios or you just want to spend the afternoon strolling the beautiful streets then the Latin quarter is where you need to be. These tiny cobble stone streets are jam packed with tourists looking for a great evening out and this is also one of the best places to buy your souvenirs.

You can also find many restaurants here and you can get some great deals. I went to a restaurant called Le Jardin du Roy on 28 Rue Huchette where we had a delicious three course dinner for 14 euros each. The French onion soup was great and they also had fondue which seemed to be a favorite. As a true pasta lover I chose the penne, and for desert chocolate gelato ice cream!

We loved this area so much we plan to visit again for dinner on Wed night.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. After seeing the tower in many photos throughout my life and seeing it in person I can say firsthand that the photos do not do it justice. The tower which is surrounded by the gardens, streets and fountains is a majestic and beautiful tribute to the history of the city. I was shocked at just how large it was and walking under the base while munching on a delicious fresh crepe was a dream come true.

The area around the tower was bustling with tourists, street performers and tasty treats. As my family and I sat basking in the ambiance of the tower while having a drink and watching the sun go down we felt surprisingly at home.

The Eiffel Tower located in Champ de Mars is 324 meters high and was the highest monument in the world for 47 years! (Wikipedia). Gustav Eiffel, the mastermind behind the tower actually built a room in what is now the observation deck for him and his daughter. He also used the room to host parties!

Since we stayed a 3 min walk away from the tower I was a bit obsessed with it so I decided to dedicate an entire post to this attraction.

Enjoy the photos!

The tower in the glow of the sun

  Night shot

View from the top:

I loved admiring the tower from afar but while on the tower's observation deck I got to admire the entire city. Paris is truly beautiful, you can see that the buildings go on for miles and the city looks thoughtfully designed.

Things to know when visiting the Eiffel Tower: 

None of the attraction passes allows you entry into the Eiffel Tower. Tickets can be purchased  in advanced but it is not required. The lines are usually quite long so buying tickets in advance will allow you to bypass the ticket line but not the entrance line. 

I found all the different lines to be a bit unorganized and confusing. There are 4-5 different lines and no one is directing people where to go. Many of the attendants were not bilingual so they were not very much help. The tower is wonderful but very crowded when you get to the top. There are many intersecting lineups on the observation decks and people pushing to get up or down so I would suggest going early in the morning.

I also recommend visiting the observation decks on a clear sunny day if you can, this way you have a clear view of the city below and get the best photos. You can also go up during the night if you wish to.

At 11pm and 12pm the tower has a twinkling light show which is beautiful! I would suggest trying to be there around that time to see it.

There is a fine dining restaurant located on the first deck of the tower. I suggest you to make reservations if you would like to dine there.

 Pick pocketing is a very big problem around and at the top of the tower. There are signs everywhere asking you to be vigilant but I would advise that you do not take valuables with you when visiting especially documents like passports. Keep your bags in front of you and avoid taking backpacks. 

There are 2 observations decks to the tower, floor 2 and the top. The price to visit the second floor is €8.50 and to go all the way up it is another €6. I would definitely recommend going to the very top observation deck when you visit Paris because the view is breathtaking!

The Streets of Paris

One thing I love most about Paris is the fact that the streets are beautiful. The architecture is designed so that the buildings all look similar and they meet at a triangular point in the streets. We did a lot of walking and went to the Luxembourg Gardens today.

Here are some of the photos I took while strolling around 

I am completely in love with this city! Everywhere I go I marvel at how beautiful it is! Stay tuned for some more photos.

Pierre Herme Paris

Today I went to a famous pastry shop in Paris owned by the renowned chef Pierre Herme. Pierre is said to be the best pastry chef in the world and is known as the “Picasa of pastry.” He is famous for his macaroons which come in flavors like raspberry, pistachio, salted caramel, rose, passion fruit and many more tasty creations for a collection of about 23 different flavors. He is also known for his chocolate and using savory ingredients in his deserts. Like some fashion designers he uses themed collections for his pastries.

We bought an assorted box with 15 macaroons which cost €28 approximately $38.20 Canadian. There was a long line up outside the shop which is not unusual.

I found the macaroons to be soft, creamy and rich. I can definitely see that they would be a difficult pastry to master, however I did not care for many of the flavors. My favorite was the apricot and pistachio flavor called arabesque. If you are a macaroon lover then this is a shop you wouldn't want to miss.