A Paris Daydream

The annual photo-sorting event where I reminisce about the passing of yet another year and scramble to share memories that never made it to the ole' blog.

Paris was certainly a highlight. Here's to more adventuring in 2015. (And maybe more blogging? I think I forgot how to blog).

[Photos: June 2014 // Paris, France]

Magic Hour // Paris

Did you notice that I completely stink at making time to edit personal photos now, thus failing to share any from the Paris + Barcelona portions of our European trip two months ago? Glad we got that squared away. This post is me attempting to get my shiz together. You'll probably see the rest of the photos by Christmas.

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The most pressing problem we faced while in Paris was where to position ourselves the hour before sunset each night in order to take advantage of prime photo-taking light. If I'd had it my way, we'd utilize a cloning machine to be everywhere at once, or better yet, a time-traveling machine enabling us to relive the magic hour over and over again.

Alas, strolling along the seine proved to be the optimal choice.

I've decided that on our next visit to Paris, I'm only taking pictures at dusk. At the very least, it would mean a lighter bag and more time for baguette consumption during the day.

P.S. What's funny about these pictures, relative to my disclaimer above, is that I barely touched them in post-processing. The light in Paris is sublime.

La Tour Eiffel

We visited the Eiffel Tower a couple of different times during our stay in Paris. Our second night, we spontaneously detoured there late after a lengthy day spent walking all over the city. We stayed to watch the lights sparkle and then hopped on the metro to head back to the hotel.

We saved our picnic for out last night in Paris. We arrived an hour or so before sundown and plopped down on the lawn to share a bottle of wine and treats we picked up from a local market. We opted not to climb the tower this time, mostly because the lines were long and we were lazy (and who am I kidding, sufficiently drunk). Instead, we walked underneath the tower and headed up to the plaza overlooking the Trocadéro gardens to take in the view from there. We arrived at the top of the plaza steps in prime time to take a few photos as the sky turned the prettiest shades of pastel pink and purple.

To end, a quintessential midnight shot, at which point anyone in vicinity of the view stops to gaze up and watch the lights.

Never gets old.

Smile, You're On Camera

That's the translation above those butt cheeks. I observed several people walk past the graffiti and smile broadly, so it would appear the artist was successful in his or her message.

All of this street art was seen on Rue des Rosiers in the Marais. A favorite spot for sure.

[Photos: June 2014 // Paris, France]

Musée du Louvre

On a particularly hot day in Paris, we decided to spend the afternoon exploring the Louvre. Museums have always been a huge source of inspiration for me and this one immeasurably surpassed my expectations.

We knew we couldn't feasibly tour it all in one visit--the place is seriously enormous!--so we started out in search of Cupid & Psyche and then wandered over to find the Mona Lisa. We got lost along the way but had loads of fun figuring out where to turn next. We ended up touring several different floors, thus seeing more than we originally planned, which was great.

After about three hours, we decided we'd gotten our tickets' worth and headed out for a stroll and cold drink in the (very sunny) Tuileries gardens. All in all, an afternoon well-spent.

Five fun facts about the Louvre:

-It is the largest and most visited museum in the world.
-The oldest artworks date back over 7,000 (!) years.
-Before it became a museum in 1793, the palace originally served as a fortress and later a residence to multiple french kings.
-It takes 2,000+ employees to maintain the museum and all of the art.
-The collection is comprised of over 1 million works of art, of which 35,000 are on display at any given time.

June 2014 Self-Portrait: Parisian Treats

[Just barely squeezing this one in under the deadline. July tomorrow, say what?] 

Of course my June self-portrait pays homage to our trip to Europe: it was the main event of the month! I selected this shot because of the memory it evokes; a coffee & dessert date at Ladurée followed by a stroll in the Jardin du Luxembourg. We polished off the box later that evening while perched along the Seine watching the sunset, happily buzzed from a bottle of rosé.

If this all sounds too cliché, that's because it is, although with Paris, everything feels cliché in the best possible way.

Our hotel was nestled in my favorite neighborhood in Paris--Le Marais. We were a stone's throw from Place des Vosges, argued by many to be the most beautiful square in the city, a fact I cannot dispute (here's a shot on instagram). If I'm remembering correctly, I think we stopped briefly to eat one or two of the macarons there before wandering off to finish the rest by the river.

In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Paris to keep it simple. Splurge on good food, wander everywhere and pause often to slow down, sit back and take it all in.

Two Frames // Paris

I've spent most of my morning going through photos from Paris and feeling completely overwhelmed with choosing what to share here. I remember feeling the same way after my first trip there three years ago. A part of me very much wants to share larger travel-recap posts but I have a feeling Paris imagery will be shared in smaller bits and pieces over the coming weeks while I take my time to work through the edits and put photo stories together.

This feels appropriate and aligned with the way I view Paris; a city to be savored slowly, luxuriously, deliberately.

Much more soon.

[Photos: June 2014 // Paris, France]

The World Is A Book

"Why do you go away?

So that you can come back. 

So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. 

And the people there see you differently, too. 

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving."

-Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

It has been said that the world is a book. This book is superbly crafted, filled with plot twists, adventure, conflict, romance and billions of multi-dimensional characters. Every new place is a new chapter (or perhaps a new page, if you're one of those lucky souls who travels to new places regularly). 

Imagine if you lived your whole life only having read a handful of chapters from the book. On the contrary, imagine if you've read ten, twenty, fifty, one thousand. With each, you interact with new characters, taste new flavors, experience new emotions, witness new ideologies. 

Of course it's impossible to read every chapter in a single lifetime, but shouldn't we aspire to devour as many as possible?

Traveling is a privilege for most. It will certainly always be a privilege for me, but it will also always be a priority. 

Here's to the next chapter.

[Photo: June 2014 // Paris, France]

P.S. I just returned from a two-week trip to Europe (Iceland, England, France, Spain) and am looking forward to sharing more of my adventures--both photos and stories--in this space soon. 

Good Americans When They Die, Go To Paris

Last night, I chuckled to myself as I read back through all of these Paris posts. I sound completely awestruck; full of wide-eyed wonder and adoration.

I never thought I'd be the one to--pardon my french--lose my shit over a city that tends to be excruciatingly idolized, but as these things go, Paris blew me away. Even Tiho felt its magnetism, and that's saying something, as he's a typical European who snickers at Americans who over-utilize adjectives. (guilty as charged!)

I don't know how to adequately do this city justice. Paris is unlike any place I've ever visited, and I have a strong hunch it will sustain that title for a long time.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "Good Americans when they die, go to Paris." I know I'm going to be extra good in this life so I become one of those lucky souls in my next.

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In unrelated but equally as monumental news: Happiest birthday wishes to my stellar little sis, Emma. Twenty-two today, hoorah!