TRAVEL | paris photo diary

My neighborhood: Montmartre

 

 

 

 

The steps seen in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. Woody had them scrubbed clean for the shoot.

Shooting outside the Palace of Versailles. I didn't go in that afternoon because I figured I could spend 15 Euros on something else. I'm saving this trip for another time--and perhaps next time I'll be here with a friend or two and we'll make a day trip out of it.

Flashy cards at Colette. I wanted to buy them all.

 

 

  

It's true what they say about Paris. It is the most beautiful city in the world--she's the most photogenic at least. But like most ladies, she can be temperamental at times. There were some days during my trip when it was rainy, overcast, and cold, and those in those moments I just felt downright depressed. But then there are those other moments when the sun decides to shine after a gloomy morning and the light just hits the buildings just right, the sad grays and moody blues melt away and the city is just bathed in gold. If that isn't the definition of beauty, I don't know what is.

Like most people who visit France, the first thing on my mind each morning is 1) good food and 2) where can I find it? Deciding what to eat quickly became the most difficult task of the day. Which is ironic since there are over 7000 cafes and brasseries in this city. This is why the only way to weed out the great joints from the mediocre ones is through yelp, tripadvisor, or my favorite, friend recommendations. In hindsight, I think I ate rather well in Paris (to stick to my budget I allowed myself two meals per day: breakfast--gotta have those croissants--and either lunch or dinner). My personal recommendation: L'as du Falafel in the Latin quarter makes the most bomb diggity Shawarma pita you'll ever have the pleasure of eating. Grab it to go and walk about the neighborhood--it makes for a good afternoon.

And speaking of walking, I cannot stress what a walkable city Paris is. So far it has been my absolute favorite city to wander in (I'm still madly in love with London but it can't beat Paris for walkability). There is literally something interesting to see on every single street. Some of my favorite moments were a result of me just stumbling upon it. For example, I spent my last night in the city partying it up along the Seine at some mini techno concert with some new Parisian friends I had only met at the event. I can definitely say it was one o the highlights of my trip and I didn't even know about it until I passed it during the day as the stage was being built.  Best part was watching those crazy party-hardy Parisians cut loose on the dance floor--they really do enjoy their techno! It was like a whole other side to Paris I didn't get to experience on my first trip. It sounds a little self-important to say, but it almost felt like the city was giving me my personal little sendoff--except I didn't know it yet--but that's a story for another time.