Paris held such a place in my heart; the dreamy food, the sights, the sunsets…
I played the dutiful daughter and took my Mum to Paris for a long weekend as she’s never been, and she loved it. We had pastries for breakfast, walked to Sacré Coeur, and saw the Eiffel Tower glisten, but it wasn’t everything that I remembered. I had always gushed over how much I loved Paris, but it just wasn’t what I had created in my mind. Maybe it was the company (again!) but Paris was disappointing.
We stayed at a hotel only 10 minutes away from the Eiffel Tower, ate mini pastries each morning, and visited the amazing Museé D’Orsay to see the Van Gogh exhibition (which was more magical than I could’ve imagined!). After a recommendation from a friend, we adventured to the Galeries Lafayette. If you haven’t heard of this department store, then you HAVE to see it.
It looks incredibly boring from the outside, but as soon as you walk through those glass doors, your eyes are assaulted by the bright colours and huge selection of concession stands. There was Hermes, Chanel, Givenchy, and even Louboutin! But look up. The ceiling is dominated by an ornate dome that filters the sunlight and throws a rainbow onto the stands below it. There’s even a terrace that you can visit and see a panoramic view of Paris.
Yes, the views from the hilltops are STUNNING, but Paris itself just seemed like another city. Maybe I’ll go back on my own and try again, but maybe Paris isn’t as magical as I thought…