because my mind is all over the place these days, my productivity rates have been rapidly declining. so since i wasn’t able to get all this done yesterday for my previous paris post, here it is today! the problem with paris is that there is so much to see and do. as i was remembering my time there and everything i did, i remembered a hundred things i didn’t do. so. i just need to get back. : )

so many things to photograph, so much french to speak!

 

 

explored the famous paris flea market- Marché aux Puces. so many incredible antiques and curiosities!

 

 

strolled along the seine. every angle, every bridge, every tree is beautiful and filled with peace.

 

 

walked through the tuilleries and right past the louvre. been there, done that 10 years ago. no desire to return in the near future. but the surroundings are a wonderful way to pass a lazy afternoon.

 

 

enjoyed my breakfast and people watching in the Place des Vosges. this was definitely one of my favorite things. the sunshine was perfect, the people were interesting, and i felt at home.

 

 

went shopping in the Marais. one of my two favorite neighborhoods, i was just meant to enjoy this area. so much vintage and fashion. i could have spent a week shopping here alone.

 

 

 

 

enjoyed an evening of modern art. i know most people think it’s weird, but i love modern art. Le Centre Pompidou in paris is definitely one of the best modern art museums i’ve been to. i got to see a lot of works that i’ve studied in the past. and one of the best parts is that the building itself is a piece of art.

 

 

and perhaps my favorite evening was the one that i spent watching the sunset over paris from the top level of Le Centre Pompidou. the view was incredible. on each level there is a terrace and this one had a water/sculpture installation. it was so peaceful.

 

 

i did a free walking tour of Montmartre, my other favorite neighborhood in paris. as they say, it’s like being in a completely different place right inside of paris. it’s famous now for being the setting of Amélie. but it was once the place the artists flocked to. and the ones who can still afford it flock there nowadays.  anyway, i really enjoyed the tour with discover walks.

 

went shopping in a fresh open air market in my neighborhood, montparnasse.

 

 

relaxed in Les Jardins Luxembourg and watched the children play with sailboats in the fountain.

 

 

 

 

notre dame and the ile de la cité.

 

 

beautiful architecture everywhere i looked.

 

 

spring!

 

 

Le Musée de L’Orangerie. famous for housing Monet’s Nymphéas- a collection of 8 large paintings of water lillies. they are in two oval rooms that give the impression of actually being out in nature observing them. probably my favorite works of Monet because the installation is just as important as the paintings themselves. unfortunately photographs weren’t allowed. but i was able to see some other impressionist and post-impressionist paintings that i studied in school.

 

Sacre Coeur.

 

 

the Arc de Triopmhe. last time i saw it at night and i think it’s stunning both in the day and night.

 

 

Champs Élysées. though not my preferred shopping destination, i felt that i should at least walk down the champs élysées towards the eiffel tower.

 

 

and of course, the eiffel tower!

 

 

both the moulin de la galette and the moulin rouge. the moulin de la galette is famous because it used to be where the people who didn’t have money to go to the ritzier places would hang out. from it came the famous renoir painting pictured below.

 

 

café des 2 moulins. the cafe from the movie Amélie!

 

 

little things that constantly reminded me i was in paris. : )

 

 

saint germain des prés and the neighborhood where the students hang.

 

 

 

crêpes, crêpes, and more crêpes.

 

 

croque monsieur.

 

 

a few of my favorite things. speculoos, fresh baguette, rondelé, and red wine.

 

 

steak tartar and fries!

 

 

as i said, crêpes. sweet ones…

 

 

and salty ones.

 

 

quiches!

 

 

 

so i did the best i could to capture some of the most important things and food. but of course there were so many things i saw, and did, and ate- that i could never write about it all.  the important thing is that i loved paris and will do what i can to return as soon as i can. : )

 

and lastly, here are a few of my favorite photos from my other session in paris! aurélie and stéphane were so sweet and so easy to photograph. though they have had an engagement session before, they also wanted to do one with me. and it was perfect because they were pros at posing by the time i came around. next time, you two, ewan must join the photos!