C'est magnifique!

Ah Paris. What a dream. I still can't believe I actually made it to Paris, and boy was it a whirlwind! For those of you wishing to live vicariously through my adventures, here is my version of Paris in four days.

Day 1: After a 10 hour flight and 2 hour train ride, arrive at the crowded, smoke filled train station. Drag your luggage half a mile down the creepy, sexy streets (this became the nickname of all the streets we passed of an adult nature) and find yourself standing in front of a huge wooden door in a Parisian alley way. Enter the secret code and step into a beautiful hidden courtyard. Enter the second secret code and enter the building. Drag your luggage up five flights of a super skinny, spiral stair case. Five flights. The blue carpet and the fact it is Paris made it worth while. Now enter the tiniest apartment a la IKEA you've ever seen in your life. It was adorable. A pit stop is necessary, you've been traveling all day. Head back out into the Paris air and on to the Louvre - it's four miles away, you say? I would never walk that far in the states, but when are you going to be this close again, plus you have your Dr Scholls on - what's stopping you? Wander/get lost in the streets along the way, taking in the sights, smells and luxury you've always dreamt about. Rest your weary feet while starring at the Parisian sky and watching the illegal selling of flashing, flying helicopters. If they weren't 7€, I would have illegally bought one because they were awesome. Stop for a fresh crepe on the way back. I swear, you've never tasted anything so brilliant in your life. Head back to the rented Parisian hideaway, falling asleep before you head hits the pillow.

Day 2: Awake with the Parisian birds...and trash man. Find another pastry to surprise your taste buds and tackle the Paris metro. As it turns out, even Dr Scholls can't handle 8 more miles of straight walking. There you are standing outside of Notre Dame. It is as daunting and beautiful as it looks in the history books. I've never seen more intricate handiwork in stone, wood and glass in all my life. Check. On to the long line for the famous St Chapelle just in time for the skies to open up and dump out more rain that Texas has seen in 2 years combined. Huddle under the chapel entrance with all the other Asian tourists. Check. Stop at a quaint street side cafe to enjoy a bucket of mussels for lunch where the adorable French waiter takes pity on pretty American tourists and teaches them how to properly eat mussels. You use them as forks - of course! Forget trying to avoid second hand smoke induced cancer, Parisians love their tobacco as much as their mineral water. Both are unavoidable in this town. After sipping down the 7€ Dt Coke head to Museum d'Orsay. I was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed museums, considering I always felt morally opposed to them. However, after 45 min of starring at darkly lit galleries on a full stomach of Parisian mussels you are going to fall asleep staring at a sculpture...while still standing. The best part of the Orsay, the French bodyguard stopping to tell me how beautiful my smile was. But oh no, the day is not over yet, you still have the sparkling Eiffel tower to visit. About face and head to the south bank to join a South African high school trip on a boat cruise down the Seine. Paris is even more beautiful at night and on the top of every hour, even the Eiffel tower sparkles just to prove it's unattainable glory. Oh and there are the flying buttresses...oops - how did we forget to see those up close and personal when we were there just there hours ago? Silly goose. After the lovely, but extremely chilly cruise, stop by another cafe for your first French macaroon. And again, nothing compares. Asleep with a smile.

Day 3: Hop on the train to Versailles...the ultimate residence of decadence. It certainly does not disappoint. Just walking through the gilded halls, with all the marble, the gold, the mirrors, the statues, oh such extravagance. It's truly remarkable and rather easy to imagine how ticked the French were to find the monarchy dancing and eating their cares away while the people starved in the countryside. Get lost in the acres and acres of pristine manicured gardens. How many statues and fountains does a mansion need? The answer is none, but a dozen certainly makes for a wondrous site to behold for a bright-eyed American. Versailles has so much to take in, a half day barely does it justice, nevertheless, more of Paris awaits! Returning to the Louvre, there is another long list of must sees. Be careful of lines in which you are not 100% sure what you are waiting for. You may think it's the Venus, but really it's a terribly boring Asian empire exhibit, that just ate 45 min of your precious time. Ay, yi yi. No worries, on to the real Venus, the Picasso's and of course the Mona Lisa. If you're not careful, the Louvre will eat you alive, I managed to escape just in time to enjoy a midnight dinner in the open French air, following up with the most delicious chocolate cakey thing I've ever had in my life. Dreaming in French at this point.

Day 4: Last chance to take in all of Paris. Head to one of the most famous flea markets and find the perfect tea set for your traveling buddy. A must have, so on to the hunt for an ATM - like a mirage you can only find when you don't need one - to get the Euros necessary. Watch out for the hundreds of 'one in a lifetime deals' along the north end of the street. They can smell the Euros burning in you purse, hold on tight. Head back to the fancy part of town to explore the high end shopping in the malls built in castles. Grab a few Parisian scarfs, perfume samples, macaroons and head back to the Eiffel tower. Pick one of three ridiculously long lines. Forget trying to decode them, it's a trick and you'll just end up in the stair line. You've just walked 50 miles across Paris, what's a few thousand more steps, straight up? Besides, the view is totally worth it! Climbing down, you realize it's time to leave the city of magic. Pick up the last souvenirs on the way back to the apartment. Drag your bags back down 5 flights of the old windy staircase and back down to the train station, this time avoiding all sexy streets. Haul your bags back on the chunnell on through the 20 mile tunnel under the English Chanel. Deep breath, did all of that really happen? Yes, and on to the next string of adventures in England!

Au revoir, Paris! You sure stole my heart.