Paris, je t'aime

Paris, thanks for one of (if not the best) experience so far in Europe. I thought Dublin would have been the highlight, but it seems every new city I go to changes my view on...everything. That may seem trite and insincere, but I've learned a lot about myself while in Paris for 3 days.

First: For people who know me well they know that I have a seriously crippling fear of heights. I can't seem to find out what it is, but not having my feet on the ground freaks the bejesus out of me. My friend Erin and a girl that we met, Beka, really wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower. To the top. 1,063 feet off the ground. In the pouring rain. Needless to say I was a little skeptical and utterly freaked out. But after an hour and 1/2 wait I made it to the second level...not allll the way to the top, but still an amazing feat for me. Standing up there among hundreds of other people you can feel an odd sense of peace and solitude. All you can see for miles is lights and sounds. As the girls made their way to the very top I stood as near to the edge as I could and took it all in. I breathed in the air and felt so alive and proud of myself for not fainting. As I turned to walk down...yes walk... the whole tower lit up with lights that you can see reflected in the buildings opposite the tower. It was such a remarkable moment and you share it with strangers. Definitely one of the best experiences of my entire life.

Second: I love walking. There's something incredible about meandering in the streets of a new city on a beautiful day that feels so exciting. I speak no French, so I really felt a sense of isolation but also like a voyeur; I could listen and watch without really eavesdropping on people's conversations.

Third: I'm a history nerd. I loved learning about Versailles and the history of Paris and their shops and just how majorly the city has influenced art, music, film and how people view love.

We travel by ferry from Dover to Calais, France then a 3 hour coach ride to Paris. The only downside of the trip was that SeaFrance was on strike so we were stranded in the channel for a few hours...but we made it alive and safe. Now all I want is a nice cheese plate and an amazing glass of red wine :)

On sunday: Rome and Florence :)
Going home is going to suck

on the seine river

hall of mirrors in versailles

palace of versailles

oscar wilde's grave

so thrilled...to be back on the ground

erin and I on the river by our hotel