Crossing off My Bucket List: Paris

Happy August Everyone! I legit can’t believe I just wrote that. How is August already here?! I’m ready for all things “fall” but I’m so not ready for summer to be over!

I’m SO FREAKIN’ EXCITED about today’s post, because I get to talk about one of my favorite memories of all time. Last week, I told you all about the new travel series I was starting… and the day is finally here!

I hope you have a few macaroons by your side, because today, we’re off to Paris!

Ever since I was a little girl, I was obsessed with all things Paris. Do you remember that show with the girl that used to talk to the moon and wanted to go to Paris so badly and then she actually ended up getting to go?

I was basically Dorothy Jane Torkleson. I just didn’t talk to the moon.

As I grew up, the idea of Paris was everything to me. Shopping on the Champs-Élysées, standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, eating macrons at a cafe and riding on the back of my French boyfriend’s moped. (Too many Mary Kate and Ashley movies, perhaps?)

Whenever we talked about seeing the world when I grew up, my place was always Paris. I wanted to go to Paris in the WORST way, and my mom always told me “Someday we’ll go.”

And “Someday” came my Junior Year of High School.

My super awesome French teacher was organizing a Spring Break trip to France. It was with EF Tours and we were going to see Paris, Normandy, The French Countryside and The South of France. The second I heard about it, I knew I had to go. So I took as much information from Madame as I could and took it home to my parents.

5 months later, my mom and I were on a plane to Paris.

To say I was excited is the understatement of the century. You know how sometimes, you build up an idea in your head, and then when it happens it’s a bit of a let down? Paris wasn’t like this. It was everything I’d imagined and more.

Thanks to EF Tours and our ADORABLE tour guide, Maurice, I was able to cross everything off my Paris Bucket List. They planned for us to see every.single.thing. that makes Paris so perfect.

Oh Hey Maurice! Aren’t you just the CUTEST!

Before we move on, I want to shout out EF Tours. EF Tours is an educational based tour company that takes groups of students around the world. (College students too!) If you’re a student and interested in seeing the world, you really should check out one of their tours! Click here to learn more.

OMG It was SO COLD while we were there! None of us packed winter coats and we were super sad we didn’t. So here I am in a rain jacket and my boyfriend at the time’s sweatshirt, lookin’ SO GOOD. HAHA

*Disclaimer… this post is NOT sponsored by EF Tours. I really just had a great experience with them. 

Okay guys! Ready to see what I crossed off my Bucket List while I was in France?! Eeeek I can’t wait for you to see these pictures! I was SUCH A BABY! These were taken in the Spring of 2007. So please, don’t judge the quality of the photos. Like I said, these posts aren’t about blog quality photos, they’re about high quality memories 😉

Americans ready to take on Paris. 

 

 

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Visit the Louvre 

Look at that baby face! Can you say tourist?! My backpack and passport holder are givin’ me straight Jamie vibes on Euro Trip. Fresh off the plane in Paris!

See the Eiffel Tower

Years later and I still remember this EXACT moment. It was so surreal for me! 

Visit Notre Dame

Signing the guest book at Notre Dame!

See Sacre Coeur

DYING at this picture hahaha We visited Sacre Coeur at night to see the lights of Paris. And it was stunning! However, it was rainy and this is the only picture I have left of the experience. HAHA

Walk the Champs-Élysées

This photo is awful and doesn’t do it justice whatsoever. 

Visit the Sorbonne 

For awhile growing up, I was CONVINCED this is where I’d go to college. 

Visit Versailles 

Legit one of the prettiest palaces I’ve ever been in.

Take pictures of the Arc de Triomphe 

Iconic.

 

Eat a REAL Crêpe

#NotACrepe I know. We lost more than half of our France photos so I’m workin’ with what I got!

Go to the Musée d’Orsay

I was SO EXCITED at Musee d’Orsay because while we were there, they had an entire Degas exhibit. I got to see ALL of his ballerina paintings and it was the BEST DAY EVER. (He’s my favorite artist.)

Picnic at Champs de Mars

Okay.. so we didn’t get to picnic by the Eiffel Tower, but we did get to wander through the Champs de Mars!

Take a Boat Cruise on the Seine 

We took our river cruise at night and it was STUNNING. 

Ride the Metro 

We took pictures of the Metro… I just can’t find any! I’ll never forgot. The first time I ever got hit on outside of someone from my high school was on the Metro in Paris. This French guy stared me down the entire ride and before we got off HE ASKED FOR MY EMAIL ADDRESS. So 2007 hahahahaha

See The Place de la Concorde

It’s legit so pretty in person. 

Wander through Place de Vendome

We toured with another group of students from New Jersey. Here we all are at Place de Vendome on our first day in Paris.

After we left Paris, we got to see a whole bunch of other amazing parts of France. BUT you’re totally going to have to wait until next week to find out about everything else we got to see! (Lame… I know!)

Part 2 comin’ at you next Tuesday!

Alright guys, I’m off to get a packin’! I’m heading Up North for a few days. I’m so dang excited! Trev has a bunch of stuff going on all weekend with his athletes coming back to school, so I decided Jacksy Cat and I would take a little mini vacay Up North.

So because we are traveling tomorrow… no post. I’ll be back on Thursday!

Xx.
Savannah