Paris 2013

merciparis

We returned home last Monday night from a summer vacation adventure to Paris.

"We" included me, Katie, her fiance Peter and my boyfriend Aaron. "We" also included my sister Jessica and her family and her friend Rebecca for part of the time.

We went to Paris to just be. To see some sights. To take our time. To absorb. We stayed up late and slept in late. We drank wine. We walked and walked and walked.

There are lots and lots and lots of photos - especially because all of us were taking photos. I love that seeing through the lens is one of the ways we each like to travel. We were able to capture each of us in the experience (vs. one person behind a camera for the duration) and found that fun balance between candid shots and monuments.

The process of going through them is a bit daunting but here are some of my favorites (taken by me, Katie, Peter, Aaron or Jessica):

tower1

We started our trip with an evening visit to the Eiffel Tower. Over the course of our trip we would come back here a bunch of different times - mostly in the evening. It was surreal to actually be there and it never got old. Love that I have real life memories to go along with the iconic images now.

view

The window we looked out of everyday.

We stayed in the Marais, very close to the St. Paul metro stop. We found our apartment on vrbo.com (vacation rental by owner). We were going for something economical for our two week stay and this was a good fit to split between four people.

stairs

The beautiful three flights of stairs we climbed up and down multiple times most days. We might have complained a few times. And Katie and Aaron may have done timed races to the top a couple times.

crew

Our adventure began and ended with the four of us.

red

The walking began on the first day as we walked from our appartment over to the area near Notre Dame. Loved the red awnings in these windows.

sc-front

On our first full day we headed over to Sacre Coeur.

view_SC1

The weather was awesome. Beautiful sunshine most days. Too hot on a couple and just right on others. Aaraon and I climbed the dome at Sacre Coeur and were greeted with these amazing views.

sc-pano

Love that panorama feature on the iphone.

aa1

Me and Aaron.

He's fun.

crepeplace

Back in the Marais on one of my favorite streets with a great crepe place and a bunch of falafel places. We came here a few times over the course of the two weeks.

crepe

A savory crepe with ham, cheese, olives, and mushrooms.

gelato

We had ice cream or gelato most days. Is was just the thing to do.

metrosign1

We rode the metro everywhere we wanted to go. So loved checking out all the different metro signs.

metro-goingin

metro-findingourway

metro-waiting

We visited a popular home/clothing store called Merci. Tons of eye candy there and a great little restaurant on the street out front.

mercistore

merci2

My sister arrived a few days after us and it was fun to be there with her. She and her family have spent a month in Paris each summer the last few years - it was one of the reasons we chose to go there.

walking

And she takes fun photos.

rodin1

We visited the Rodin Museum.

jessica1

rodin-floor

rodin-boys

And Musee d'Orsay.

mo-view

mo_kp1

Katie and Pete in front of one of the clocks.

findingourway

Lots of figuring it out as we went along.

eiffel2

Back at the Tower. Our picnics started before it was dark and then lead to this:

eiffel-sparkle

You might know that the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour for a few minutes every evening. It's a lovely combination of the yellow lights that light it up generally + the white sparkles. You might not know that if you stay up until 1am for the last sparkle you get to see the coolest thing - the yellow lights go away and it's only the white sparkle lights. Definitely one of my favorite things.

I just love that people are out and about late into the evening.

lunch-steps

My sister's friend Rebecca joined the crew for a few days.

lookingup

lookingup2

Lots of looking up. And just soaking it up and breathing it all in.

louvrelunch

And eating outside (this is in the gardens near the Louvre).

hands

And some of this.

self1

And funny shots that captured bits and pieces of our adventure.

arch1

At the Arc de Triomphe.

kp1

photobooth

A great old photobooth at the BonTon children's clothing store.

mirror

We did some hanging out in our apartment. Often it was at the end of lots of walking. We'd rest our feet and check-in online.

kp2

Katie rocked the black bow.

kp3

Heading out on another evening adventure.

sunset

Seriously.

sunset2

afterboatride

playingcards

We hung out at my sister's apartment a few nights. Card games and wine.

mona

Aaron and I ventured over to the Louvre on our own. This is what it looks like when you enter the room where the Mona Lisa lives. At least on this particular day and time.

climbingeiffel

We walked the stairs to the second level of the Eiffel Tower.

viewfromeiffel1

My anxiety got the better of me and I didn't go all the way to the top. A combination of heights and that enclosed elevator took it's toll.

vieweiffel2

But man the view from the second level was a-okay.

eiffeltalks

eiffellookingdown

eiffel3

We were there for the golden hour. It was awesome.

eiffelend

After coming down we met up with Jeffrey, Jessica and Gabrielle.

jeffreyeiffel

kg

Katie is well-liked.

jjg

Jeffrey ready and waiting with the cotton candy.

capp

Yes.

locks

We visited a couple of the lock bridges. Found this one on the bridge near the Louvre.

market

We browsed the flea market at Porte de Clignancourt.

walking2

And then headed back to the gardens to take Gabrielle to the little fair outside the Louvre.

fw1

And we rode the big ferris wheel.

fw2

Love my sister.

fw_view

Awesome views from that ferris wheel.

street

It was a really lovely adventure with some very special people. I definitely missed Simon and Anna and had many moments I wished they were along for the experience.

I've got all kinds of things collected for a travel album. I'd planned to work on it while we were there - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I even brought along my little Epson printer in case I was really gung-ho. I ended up just collecting things along the way and have added it to my list of things to do in the coming months.

As for now I'm getting back into the swing of things - hanging out with my kids, working, enjoying some of the last few weeks of summer before they head back to school. I hope to get back to sharing more words and projects here this week.

Merci Paris. I'll definitely return again.

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104 thoughts

  1. laura g. says…
    08/19/2013

    Thank you Ali, for sharing your travels with us! would love to go to Paris one day...along with a list of other things...so happy you are living life to the fullest...as a cancer survivor I am so more aware of life and what it has to offer..so glad that so many people are traveling and seeing the world! bet Anna and Simon will love to go next time! (me too!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Jessica says…
    08/19/2013

    Beautiful! Must've been an awesome trip!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Denise says…
    08/19/2013

    ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE PICTURES!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Debbie says…
    08/19/2013

    Amazing photographs! We are planning to return to Paris one day soon. My husband and I only spent one day in Paris 14 years ago and ever since we have both wanted to return. Our daughter has it number one on her bucketlist! Thank you for sharing your holdiay.
    Would you stay at the same apartment again?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      08/19/2013

      Yes. Katie and Peter slept on a pull-out mattress and they were okay with that :). It was a great location.

  5. iHanna says…
    08/19/2013

    Oui, Paris is a beautiful city that you can visit many times! I enjoyed "following along" via your instagram photos, and will look forward to the travel photo album. I'm planning to make a travel photo book of previous holiday travels, via Blurb. It's so much fun to make photo books!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Jenny says…
    08/19/2013

    Ali - love seeing the pict of Aaron & you! You deserve the happiness! Enjoy!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Kathy P says…
    08/19/2013

    Thanks for sharing your fabulous adventures and photos with us here, Ali....looks like you had a wonderful trip!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Patti L says…
    08/19/2013

    Nice views. Looks like fun. Want to go back now! thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Shannon says…
    08/19/2013

    Something I just read in a kids' novel by Elise Broach called "Masterpiece" made me think of you: "When you saw different parts of the world, you saw yourself. And when you stayed home, where it was safe, those parts of yourself also stayed hidden." Glad you get these chances to explore.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Shannon says…
      08/19/2013

      PS- and glad to know someone else didn't love the idea of going all the way to the top of the Tower!

  10. stacyk says…
    08/19/2013

    Wow Ali, thank you for the tour. I've never been to Paris, but man I feel like I've visited after reading your post. I'm definitely going to plan a Europe visit in 2015.

    Thanks again for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Tinka says…
    08/19/2013

    Welcome home! I'm so excited to see all the pictures and read about your experience. I've promised my oldest niece a trip to Paris and this has given me some great ideas!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Carol Mc says…
    08/19/2013

    Looks like you had a wonderful time. Thanks for
    sharing such great pictures.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Pam Abbott says…
    08/19/2013

    Beautiful! Makes me want to go right now!!!! So glad you had a good trip. Welcome back, we've missed you.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Jessica @The Mom Creative says…
    08/19/2013

    What a beautiful trip. So glad you had that time together. :) Loved the photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Susan A says…
    08/19/2013

    Your trip and photos were amazing. Thank you for the one of the Mona Lisa. As an art major I always thought the painting was huge. My grandparents told me it was small, protected and you couldn't get near it. That picture gave me the visual.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. young c says…
    08/19/2013

    Looks beautiful, fun and relaxing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Lauren U says…
    08/19/2013

    Awesome, Ali! I take myself to Paris every Summer, so 95% of what I scrapbook is Paris. But I've been really scrap-blocked lately so I'd LOVE to see what a Master Scrapper does with HER lovely Paris photos!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. nicole prather says…
    08/19/2013

    Magical Ali !!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Claudia says…
    08/19/2013

    I LOVE Paris! So far I´ve been there 8 times (last visit in May of this year) and I can see myself going there again and again (bonus: I live approx. 3hrs away in NL ;-) You probably won´t remember me but we actually met back in 2006 when you gave a workshop at Pien´s in Rotterdam)
    Great photos and Aaron certainly is a handsome guy! Lucky girl! :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Lisa W. says…
    08/19/2013

    Yes Ali..magical it is. LOVE seeing your pics and more to come!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Stacey says…
    08/19/2013

    Looks like such a magical trip - I have it on my travel wish list for within the next 5 years!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Vanessa Babin says…
    08/19/2013

    Looks lot a wonderful time and beautiful memories! Thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Carolyn Carter says…
    08/19/2013

    Thank you Ali for letting me live vicariously through your photos! Paris looks wonderful through your eyes...

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. StephJ says…
    08/19/2013

    Thanks for posting your gorgeous pics of Paris! It brings me back to 2003 (I can't believe it's been 10 years since I've been to Paris,) seeing your pics brings me back there like it was yesterday! Can't wait to see what you create with these fantastic images. J'♥ Paris!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. donna c says…
    08/19/2013

    Ahhh, Paris. I'd love to see you someday!
    OHHH LA LA......AARON IS A HOTTIE!

    Reply 0 Replies

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