A Week in Paris
If you follow me on instagram, you probably already know that I spent a week in Paris with some hometown friends! It was so refreshing to have a small piece of Texas come to me! I am so thankful to Rebekah and Andra for inviting me along their Paris adventure.
Although we did a lot more, here are 22 highlights of the trip! 22 things to do while in Paris. Enjoy!
Eiffel Tower
1. HELLO! Number one is obvious. You just cannot miss visiting the Eiffel tower. The first time I visited Paris, which by the way was only a 20 hour visit, I was stunned by the Eiffel Tower's architectural beauty.
You can enter the tower for a fee! You can even treat yourself to a gourmet dinner inside the tower's restaurant. For me, admiring its beauty from afar is enough.
Tip: Head to the Trocadero Station for this specific view.
Seine River Cruise
2. Take a river cruise on the Seine! Sometimes, I stray away from doing touristy things, but this was a pleasant surprise for me. I recommend going at night when Paris is brightly lit. It is very romantic, but be sure to take a sweater! It can get chilly. Prices range between 10-14 euros per person!
The Panthèon
3. I had no clue this building existed, nor did I know it contains the dead bodies of distinguished French Citizens. Although the latter statement is morbid and may influence you to dismiss it, don't! It is quite beautiful, some of the most beautiful architecture I've ever seen!
Centre Georges Pompidou
4. If you are really into unique architecture and museum exhibits, you should check this center out! It is kid friendly, and if you are early you can beat the lines and see all the exhibits. To get to the top of the building you must ride several escalators. As you go up further, you are gifted with a bird's-eye view of Paris!
There is also a restaurant terrace within the building, we stopped to have coffee and hot chocolate to take in the pretty views.
Le Marais District
5. Definitely check out the Marais district! The area we wandered through was full of amazing boutiques with vintage clothing and cozy-looking cafes. It has a very hipster and upscale vibe, but nothing intimidating! It's a fantastic place to take a stroll through or get lost in.
Shakespeare and Co.
6. If you are in need of a great chai latte and a good read head to Shakespeare and Company! It started off as a book store and they expanded by adding a tiny and quaint coffee house right next to it! The bookstore and the coffee shop are both tiny, but there were still tons of people popping in and out! The bookstore was enchanting. It was a maze of shelves packed to the brim with books.
Unfortunately, you cannot take photos inside the book store which stinks! It was such a fantastic spot. It is very popular with tourists and locals so make sure to get their early if you want to calmly pick out a book!
Devour Macarons
7. I think this is another given when in Paris. You can find a macaron ANYWHERE. I didn't have a favorite patisserie where they sold macarons because they were all just equally amazing!
Savor a Crèpe in the Latin District
8. Yep, you got to savor one! I highly recommend this crêpe shop. Not only is it near the Latin quarter, but their crêpes will cause an explosion in your mouth. Sooo good! They also have gluten free options (the more you know!)
I recommend ordering the marshmallow Nutella crêpe!
Montmartre District
9. This was probably my favorite district! Everywhere I turned I was impressed by all the architecture (can you tell I appreciate architecture?) and creative atmosphere. To get to the actual district is quite a challenge. The district sits on a hill, so be prepared to climb tons of stairs, especially if you arrive via the metro. It was such a workout but so worth it!
There are loads of people who just hang out and have a bite to eat outside the Cathedral.
Exploring the district will lead you to all kinds of instagram worthy spots!
Savor a Plate of Fish + Chips
10. Okay, I hear ya, Paris is not London, but if you are in the Montmartre district you should check out this Irish pub, Corcoran's Sacre-Coeur. The fish and chips were fantastic! The vibe was insanely chill. It is very spacious, has amazing background music, and great service. Check it out if you are in for a laid-back lunch date.
Marie Curie Museum
11. Visit the Marie Curie Museum because 1. Madam Curie was a Lady Boss during her time 2. She invented a portable x-ray machine during WWI 3. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize! 4. She's just amazing, you need to read up on her.
Bonus! The museum is free.
Take a Ride on a Carousel
12. Let your inner child out and hop on a carousel. There are several in Paris! One in the Montmartre District and two near the Eiffel Tower.
Paris Science Museum
13. This museum like many of the museums in Paris is massive! I could have spent an entire morning just reading up on the evolution and genetics exhibit. There were so many other interesting and interactive exhibits that I wish I had time for.
If you get hungry, which we did, there are restaurants within the building including Burger King, haha.
The Louvre
14. Oh my, the Louvre, a fantastic place! Yes, this is the museum that houses the famous Mona Lisa painting. Prepare yourself for tons of pushing when you get to her. There will be many determined people trying to get a selfie with her. Take cover!
My fascination with this place was the interior. The design was simple yet stunning in my opinion.
There's a mall within the Louvre, mostly upscale brands. Of course, there are cafes and restaurants, so you won't go hungry walking around this massive building.
Palace of Versailles
15. Oh Versailles, just wow. I was totally impressed with the grandiosity of this palace. My goodness, the lavishness of it all was enchanting. All the detailed work and luxurious design were impressive.
Since the gardens are huge, we rented a golf cart to tour them and the surrounding chateaus. It costs 40 euros per hour, a little pricey if you are on a budget, but it was well worth it!
There is also a hop on and hop off train that circulates the whole palace with 4 stops for 7.50 euros.
One of my favorite parts was visiting the chateaus Marie Antoinette had especially made for her during her reign.
Enjoy a Meal at Angelina
16. Definitely check out this chain restaurant in Paris! There are several spread throughout the city, but there is also one inside Versailles, score!
I recommend the quiche, it was scrumptious. IF you are daring order their original hot chocolate. It was so decadent I could not finish my cup, which is very rare. Definitely, a one of a kind hot chocolate!
Shop at the Antique Markets
17. Also known as the Paris Flea Market. This was the first time I had ever gone to a flee market in a foreign city, and it was marvelous. There are so many stands that will make you want to impulse shop because everything is so darn chic. The way everything was set up was just perfect! If you want to find some antique and unique furniture or other miscellaneous things, you must stop here to take a look.
Arc de Triomphe
18. Like the Eiffel Tower you can't miss this famous and well-known landmark! It's just one of those things you have to see.
Have Your Portrait Done in the Montmartre District
19. This was a unique experience I got to witness. Both Rebekah and Andrah got their portraits done by a professional painter who owns a studio in Paris! His work completely stood out from the rest. He was just a marvelous and talented man! I'm hoping to one day return and get my portrait done by Bernanrd Menac (I believe that's how you spell his name).
Notre Dame
20. Don't be fooled by the long line, it takes just 10 minutes to enter the famous Cathedral, well at least that's how long we waited. This is another iconic landmark of Paris that you have to see. The church is just gorgeous and so detailed. We walked around for a bit as there was a mass being held. Kind of awesome!
Even if you are not a religious person, you must visit, the architecture is just stunning!
Wander the Streets of Paris
21. Best tip, get lost in Paris! Every street I turned there was just something to look at, whether it be a patisserie, a cafe, a boutique, a chocolate shop or just simply beautiful buildings and houses.
Have a Picnic
22. Apparently it's a thing to have a picnic when in Paris! Although ours was short lived due to some rain, it was still nice to sit down on the fresh cut grass with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.
Make sure to buy fresh baguettes, cheeses and meats. Pair it with some wine and voila!
Tips:
Don't be afraid of the metro! Just use google maps to find your route. It is fairly simple.
Uber is available for use throughout the city! One even took us to Versailles.
The Charles de Gulle airport is kind of intimidating. Make sure to know your terminal since there are three different departure and arrival terminals apparently! I got lost for about an hour.
Until next time,
Arlene
Italian Summer Adventures
For two weeks Klaas and I explored Italy! It was definitely two weeks to remember.
I feel blessed that through the traveling I experience with Klaas, I learn so much more about him within in short windows of time. It's pretty amazing. It's awesome to see how he reacts and deals when under pressure and when on cloud nine.
Just like I did for my Florence blog, I'm gonna leave this post with some of the pictures we took during our stay in Napoli, Capri, and Lake Garda.
If you have any questions about any particular photo, location, recommendations on where to stay let me know in the comments below! I love hearing from you all!
Oh! Let me just say, Lake Garda and Capri both took my breath away. I defintely plan to return to Lake Garda one day. <3
Cinque Terre
A Day in Cinque Terre
I was so close to skipping out on visiting Cinque Terre due to the saturated amount of content on social media. I felt like I had already visited this place through vlogs, blogs, etc.
I'm so glad I got off my horse. When people say you have to visit this wonderland in Italy, it's because you have to! It's so magical. The streets, the buildings, the shops, the beaches, everything! Out of the five neighboring towns, my favorite had to be Manarola (pictured down below).
Since we only spent a day, we only visited 3/5 of the towns: Manarola, Monterosso, and Vernazza. Unfortunately we only hiked half of a trail from Monterosso to Vernazza. Y'all, I'm out of shape. Also, it was almost 100 degrees!
Vernazza
We stopped at a restaurant within the hills for a drink of water because I felt like I was about to faint. This was our view! :)
Monterosso
This is where most of our time was spent hanging out in the ocean and relaxing under an umbrella. I took a nap for over an hour. It was the BEST nap ever. The sounds of the waves dancing with one another put me to sleep like a baby.
From our 2 week Italy trip, I must say this was one of my favorite days.
Florence
Tre Giorni a Firenze
I usually write a huge blog post on my recommendations, but this time it will be a little different. When going through this set of photos from one of my favorite cities, I decided to leave this as a simple photo Diary. I really hope you enjoy this photo journal I'm sharing with you all!
I hope Florence's magic, through these photos, will spark an idea to go to Italy for your next adventure!
Tell me, have you ever been to Florence? Do you plan on heading out there someday? If you need any recommendations on where to eat, drop a comment down below! I'd love to answer any questions you may have!
A Different Way to Explore Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
Let me just say this. As I continue to explore Mexico, I fall more and more in love with its vibrant and spicy culture, its hard working people and its architecture and design. I now understand why many of its inhabitants love their country, despite what the media tell us.
Last summer I was fortunate enough to head to Mexico City with my mom and Klaas. This year I was able to explore more of this awesome country with my mom and sister, Amanda. It was a different dynamic but amazing nonetheless. Inside jokes were made and tears from laughter shed.
Here are some of my favorite moments from the trip and my recommendations!
If you plan to visit Cancun during June, be prepared to pack an umbrella. Cancun's raining season generally runs from May to October.
My family and I only had time during June to make this trip, but we didn't let the water stop us from stepping outside and discovering the non resort area of Cancun.
I was a bit skeptical that I wouldn't get the full experience of Cancun, having booked an airbnb outside the hotel zone, but I soon learned staying outside the hotel zone would breed a richer Cancun experience.
Pik Nik
We stayed in an area that was just a few blocks away from several local shops, cafes and restaurants, which was a plus! Most of the restaurants had a Mexican islander theme, an aesthetic birthed by Yucatan or Mayan culture.
I don't think have to explain how yummy the food was at Pik Nik. We were in taco heaven. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out. It had such an authentic feel, the food was great and the service was spectacular. The owner opened up shop early just to keep us out of the rain. He readily made us food and served our drinks. BONUS: There was chips and salsa!
Parque Palapa
This park was about a 10 minute walk from our apartment, and I am so glad it was there. There were so many food vendors! It was food heaven. You could smell the sauteed vegetables and meats being cooked, tortillas being rolled and flipped and local children running around and playing.
Everything was CHEAP! If you are looking for cheap eats and local culture, you have to head over to this park. We went a couple of times, and on our last night there was a huge community gathering and local music playing, while kids begged their parents for churros or any other sweet that was being sold. Don't be fooled by those photos above, those were taken at 8:00 am on our way to church. Trust me it is a much more vibrant scene in the evening!
Church
Of course we couldn't miss out on church. Even if you aren't religious it’s always nice to see how the locals gather as a community to share their common interests. In this case, their love of God.
I loved being able to join my mom and sister for mass. It was such a small yet beautiful church, and the priest was pretty chill, too.
Mercado 28
I had read a lot of rave about this market. Basically it’s a covered market with TONS of vendors. If you get a chance to visit, you should! Everything is so colorful! It's an experience for sure.
The vendors sell a variation of the same things, but it's really fun when they don't have the same prices.Cool thing about this market is that you get to HAGGLE, one of my favorite things! My mom had so much fun, too! Though you have to remember that some of the things they sell are actually handmade, so don't haggle too hard. They deserve some profit!
Just be prepared to deal with aggressive vendors. Keep in mind that aggressive does not equal dangerous. When I say this I mean they will try to sell you anything and everything and call you their "amigo/a" to get you to enter their tent to shop.
And of course, there is FOOD! Food stands and proper restaurants. There will also be people playing some awesome music. Be sure to tip them!
Walking around Cancun Neighborhoods
I think the best way to explore a new city is by foot! I absolutely loved discovering all of Cancun’s rustic beauty. There were so many picture-worthy streets filled with plants, super chill dogs and again, COLOR.
Another thing, I noticed while walking around the town was that there are so many old school beetles! Which I am obsessed with. Seriously, you have to get out and know all of Cancun, not just the touristy areas.
Playa Delphines
Okay, so although you should explore the lesser known neighborhoods of Cancun, you can't skip out on the amazing beaches ( the main purpose for being there right?!)
We spent a whole afternoon at Playa Delphines, the most known beach in Cancun.
When we stepped off the bus it was breathtaking. I had read about the beautiful blue ocean water and the white sandy beaches, but actually seeing it had me dropping my jaw! Sooo pretty. Even if you don't spend a whole day sunbathing like we did, you still have to check it out.
That same beach is where you can find the Cancun sign. There is an organized line to get a photo in front of it! Yay for organization.
Renting a Palapa - If you spot a palapa stand by and a man will come over and tell you the palapa is 300 pesos to rent for the day. If you buy food though from the restaurant, you won't have to pay that fee.
We ended up going with an organization that was tip based. Look for blue lounge chairs and yellow umbrellas with the corona label, and there will be men lingering around usually with buckets full of drinks. You can ask them where the kiosk to get the blue chairs is. You will have to leave some form of ID, but don't worry it's a safe organization.
Isla Mujeres
If you are in Cancun, you MUST take a day trip to Isla Mujeres. I don't think my pictures do it justice, but seriously GO.
To get to the island you must take a boat or a ferry. We went with a guided tour. Don't feel pressured to go with a tour, honestly you will have so much more freedom going on your own!
Again, the boat ride to Isla Mujeres was magical! My goodnes the water was heavenly and some of the prettiest colored water I have ever seen. Amanda and I got to kayak, which was pretty fun. Mostly we ate and lounged with all the other tourists on the tour ( there wasn't too much time to explore). That's why I don't recommend tours! Your time is always limited.
Fortunately, we had time to explore Playa Norte on the island! My favorite part of the tour! We only had an hour (boo!), but my mom, Amanda and I made the most of that hour.
We quickly started exploring the busy streets of the island. Remember if you go during summer time, you are most likely going to find the streets flooded with tourists!
There were tons of scooterists and many tourist on golf carts! I've heard this is the best way to explore the island. If you have time, you must look into it! Just within an hour, Amanda and I were enchanted by the busy vibrant streets.
There were so many vendors. It was a big party. Oh and they had shaved ice, or what I grew up calling them, raspas, one of my favorite childhood treats!
If we had more time, I'd have so many more picture of this lovely island.
The pastel colors contrasted with the dark ruby reds or the deep aqua hues fascinated me. I wanted to take pictures in front of everything!
I took the opportunity to take some pictures of Amanda in front of the pretty buildings. How pinterest and instagram worthy is this photo?
Y'all. Just visit Mexico.
Chichen Itza
My goodness, this is another MUST do thing when in the Yucatan. Mayan culture at its finest! The summer before, I got to witness the grandiosity of the Aztec's Teotihuacan, and this time I experienced the Mayan's world wonder.
Again, try and visit this landmark on your own! There are tons of blogs out there that will tell you how. Again, we fell into the trap of doing a guided tour. Had Amanda and I not escaped the walking tour around the pyramid, we wouldn't have had time to take photos!
My mom loves a good walking tour loaded with history facts. So if history is your jam, she recommends doing a guided walking tour when visiting this world wonder.
Cenote Ik Kil
There are so many cenotes in the Yucatan region! This was one of the ones we visited because it was only a 15 minute drive from Chichen Itza and was included in our tour guide package. Unfortunately, we only had one hour to hang out. Ugh. Wish I could have had more time. I decided to just observe it from the top! Everybody was enjoying themselves, it looked like so much fun!
Valladolid
This old spanish town was also in proximity of the cenote and chichen itza! I'd recommend taking a visit. We weren't there for long, but it was very enchanting. Walking around the main plaza was great! It has so much Spanish influence in the architecture.
It was a very tranquil town I'd go back to and explore a bit more!
So many fun memories made in Cancun and its surrounding areas. I have to say don't have any hesitations about going to Cancun or exploring Mexico. The media loves to make Mexico seem like a dangerous place, but as long as you’re smart and not engaging in risky behaviors you will enjoy all the amazing culture Mexico has to offer.
Tips
If you are arriving late into Cancun, know that a taxi is the only way you will be able to get to your hotel/airbnb/hostel. The Ado bus (the local public transportation) stops running at around 10pm. Cab fare will generally be about 40 USD from the airport.
Use the public transport! It’s soooo cheap and very efficient. You can pay for your ticket upon entering the bus terminal, so make sure to have change with you at all times.
Yes, UBER is available in Cancun. It's actually illegal to use it due to the Taxi Union there. We didn't have any trouble, but know that if you are caught using/riding with Uber, there can be a fine you will have to pay.
Yes, you CAN haggle with the Taxis! It's pretty awesome that you can do that! So do engage in exercising your haggle skills.
PS.
The rest of the time in Mexico was spent in Tulum, read more about it on my Tulum blog post!